The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-27

CONSPIRACY ALLEGED
IN DIVORCE CASE
Ernest Burleigh Files Answer
to Wife's Petition.
FILED IN DISTRICT COURT
Defendant Says Mother-in-
Law Caused Trouble.
FILED IN DISTRICT COURT

| Earnest e. Burleigh, IN his answer to
the $4,000 divorce suit recently filed
| against him, charges his wife, mother
in-law, and sister-in-law with having en-
tered into conspiracy to obtain the pos
session Of his money and property.
The answer was filed yesterday in the
| district court by his attorneys. Stanley
& Stanley. In it he denies each and every
allegation set forth by the plaintiff in
her petition for divorce and alimony, with
the exception of the following:
The defendant admits that he married
| Fent w. BurIeigh at ST. Louis July s.
| 1903 and is still her lawful husband He
further admits that he is the owner of
160 acres Of land situated in Pawnee coun-
ty, Nebraska; also an undivided three
fourths interest in the northwest quar-
| ter of section 6, township rs. range 1, east.
and an undivided quarter interest in the
southwest quarter of section g. township
IS, range /, east, all of which is situated
in Sedgwick county. He admits that he
is the owner of 107 lots located in this
city. The defendant claims that at the
commencement of the suit he owned the
household goods located at 431 South Law
renee avenue. All of the above men
toned property he AYERS belonged to him
prior to his marriage to the plaintiff, and
he says that the sedgwick county real
estate mentioned IN the first part prior to
the commencement Of this suit, was, and
is at present mortgaged in the sum Of
1890, with accrued interest.
The defendant denies that the land in
Nebraska is valued at $1,000, and says
that it is worth no more than 5000. He
also denies that all the property is worth
$4,000 and states that it Is only valued
at $4,000. The household goods which
she claims are worth $1,000. he says are
only worth $500.
The defendant states that he has al
ways been a faithful and loyal husband
to the plaintiff. He alleges that under the
influence of her mother, Mrs. Fannie
Walker. and her sister Mrs. Myrtle Skeels
his wife was made to bring about the
marriage. That is was through no love
for him that she married him but only
as part of the conspiracy against him
TO gain possession of his money He also
makes allegations against the character
of her mother, and says that he was
ignorant of this state of affairs prior to
his marriage. He claims that he has
always generously supplied the plaintiff
with money for her support and that he
paid $32 per month for rent Of the home
now occupied by her. He claims that the
mother and sister have lived with them
since his marriage and that on several
occasions he has plead with his wife to
leave them and have a home to them
selves, but her mother threatened to
make her get a divorce if he did not
allow them to live at his home. He al
ieges that on October H. they ordered
him to leave the house and not to re-
turn. which he did. going to the Hanil-
ton hotel. When he returned in the
morning Of the following day the house
was locked and he was refused admit
lance. He also states that on several
occasions he had been accused of fire.
quenting gambling houses and other
places of i'll repute. all of which he de-
MES, stating that the only poker game
in which he engaged was at home with
them, and which were usually at the re-
quest of Mrs. Walker. Burleigh further
declares that they tainted him with hav-
ing consumption and that his mind was
not right
Imediately after the marriage. accord
ing to the answer. they demanded of him
to obtain his legal rights of majority,
which he did September 26 It was then
demanded that he make over certain
properties to the different members Of
the family, which he rfused TO do and
whereupon Mrs. Walker cursed him and
said that she would poison both he and
his wife. and that for two weeks prior 10
the filing Of the suit she threatened to
have her daughter bring proceedings for
divorce.
The defendant declares that by reason
Of this he was continuously kept in q
disturbed state Of mind and kept him
from transacting business in connection
with his property. and that whenever
he asked to be pernitted 20 transact any
such business they refused to allow him
unless in consideration Tor which he
would deed 70 them certain pieces of
property.
BY reason OF the foregoing the defend
ant claims that the p;aintin has been
guilty OF extreme cruelty and he prays
the court to grant him an absolute di-
vorce and control of his property and
costs Of this action.