The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-01
DIVORCES OUTNUMBERED
LICENSES TO MARRY.
March Seems TO Have Been an on
Month with Match-Mnker Cupid.

: March Seems TO Have Been an on
Month with Match-Maker Cupid.
The divorce mill ground in the SUI
perior Court yesterday and as a re-
suit numerous parties who had made
unhappy matrimonial ventures We're
granted the relief afforded by the
judiciary, together with an opportuni-
ty to rub out and begin all over again,
if they so desired. The number of
divorces granted during the past
month to white persons has exceeded
the number of licenses granted, a con-
dition which rarely exists
The number of white licenses issued
by the Ordinary during March was
twenty three. This number is con
siderably smaller than the number is
sued in the corresponding month in
1903, and is much smaller than the
number issued in February, when,
though the month was shorter by
three days, eightyfour licenses were
issued, of which number nearly half
were to white persons. 1t would seem
that after the brisk February business,
in which, no doubt, St. Valentine had
hand, Cupid had rested from his
labors. In the meanwhile the divorce
mill grinds with renewed energy.
Mrs. Marguerite Lane told the jury
of her husbands unwonted cruel treat
ment of her, at the trial of her case
yesterday, saying that though she had
tried hard to live with him as an ODE
dent wife, that, disrespecting his mari
tai obligations, he steadfastly treated
her with the greatest cruelty and dis
respect. He was, she said, habitually
intoxicated, spending his money for
other things than her support.
The defendant, who was represented
by w. f. Slater, did not appear in
court. He asked that if a divorce were
granted his wife, that he be granted
the privilege of marrying again. The
jury returned verdict without ieav-
ing their seats. BY the decree of the
court, predicated on the verdict, both
parties are granted the privilege of
marrying again.
In the case of M. f. Moorehead the
tables were turned, he getting a di-
vorce against his wife, Mrs. Mary G.
Moorehead. The grounds for the di-
Vorce were desertion and other statu-
tory grounds, but before the case was
called the charges of infldelity were
withdrawn, the wife submitting to the
granting of a divorce merely on the
grounds of desertion, though she de.
MED that she had ever voluntarily de.
serted her husband. By the decree Of
the court, both parties were allowed
to remarry, and the maiden name Oh
the wife, Miss Mary G. Richardson, was
restored.
Several other marriage knots were
severed, or partly united by the or.
ders of the court, the grounds for the
undoing of the infelicitous bonds OF
matrimony being, in almost every in.
stance, desertion and non-support
There are many other divorces and
alimony suits set for this week. and il
is probable that the greatest number
of divorces ever granted at one tern
will result from the present term OF
the court. Some of the proceedings
have been hanging fire in the courts fol
a long time, but Judge Barrow is en-
forcing the rule that the cases must
either be prosecuted or dismissed. The
payment of costs has, in many in
stances, operated to keep a case in the
courts even after the dOmested breach
has been altered.