The San Francisco call., 1903-09-22
JUDGE FAVORS
OLIVE BRANCH
Thinks the Gelhaus Fam
lily Should Live in
Peace.

There is chance that the matrimonial
difficulties of Wilhelmina Gelhaus and
Frank Gelhaus may be settled without the
interference of the divorce court. 1t is
a slim chance, TO be sure. but Judge Gra-
ham has determined that it is worth the
risking. and because he thinks so he
made an order yesterday directing the
entire Gelhaus family, father, mother and
ten children, to appear before him next
Friday so that he can hear little more
OF the difficulties that beset the path of
the plaintiff and defendant, and if needs
be, send them home to patch them up.
The case came up for hearing before
Judge Graham yesterday, and his decis-
ion was arrived at after he had heard the
tale of woe told by Mrs. Gelhaus.
Gelhaus is coal dealer, with a yard on
Fourteenth street, between Mission and
Market Some three months ago his wife
sued him for divorce on the ground of
cruelty. He answered, denying her
charges, and in a cross complaint he ac-
cused her of being the cruel one. When
Mrs. Gelhaus took the witness stand yes
terday, It became very evident that the
action for divorce was simply the result
of a quarrel that had been preceded by
many others, and which happened to be
a little bit more trying than the ones that
occurred during the first few months of
their married life. She testified that she
had been married to Gelhaus for ten
years and that during that time she had
borne him seven children, in addition to
caring for the three children that were
his b. a former marriage. She said that
he had slapped her a few times during
their married life. and had also said many
Unkind things to her. She said that other
wise Gelhaus was a good husband. He
frequently did her washing for her and
helped her with her household duties.
Iier actions IN court showed that she was
a little bit overwrought, and Judge Gra-
ham told her attorney that a little rest
would do her some good, and he put the
case over for a few weeks, asking Mrs.
Gelhaus to appear before him next Friday
with all her children, even to the little
one born to her after she had Instituted
the divorce proceedings.
The divorce suit of Libbie Dexter
against Charles Dexter, gambler was
heard by Judge Trout yesterday and
taken under submission. Mrs. Dexter
wants divorce on the ground of extreme
cruelty, claiming that her husband made
her life unhappy by accusing her of being
too friendly with one Joseph Spinney.
She said that he was so jealous of Spin
ney that he once struck her. after quar-
rel that was caused by a discussion over
Spinney's standing in the family.
Dexter was called to the stand and ad-
mitted that he had been at times a little
bit harsh to his wife.
Il had TO reprimand her several times
because Of her conduct with Spinney. He
had money and came between my wife
and me. Why, on one occasion, a little
more than year ago, bought an oyster
omelette at the request of my wife.
had twelve oysters put in that omelette,
and expected to share in it, but she gave
my share to Spinney. In fact she gave
him the whole thing, even refusing to
give me one oyster
A divorce was granted to W. ]. Dicker-
son from Hazel Dickerson for desertion
and Blanche Crowther@ from Andrew f.
Crowther for neglect. Suits for divorce
were filed by Rosa Viola Vassels against
George r. Vassels for desertion, Sarah
Schultz against Samuel Schultz for
cruelty and Amelia McMinn against Jo-
seph McMnn for neglect.