The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-09
ASKS FOR DIVORCE
MRS. w. j. sPEER NOT HAPPY
WITH HER HUSBAND.
FORMER STATE TREASURER
DEFENDANT IN A SENSATIONAL
SUIT IN ATLANTA.


Drunkenness and NOn-SuppOrt
Charged Mr.. Speer Known
Throughout Georgia Plans for
Exhibits at the st. Louis Expo
sitiOn - Automobile Accident-At-
lnnta News Notes.
Atlanta Sept. s-Mrs. Geraldine q.
! Speer has filed suit in the Superior
Court here for divorce from her hus-
band, w. J. Speer, former state treas
urer. Mrs. Speer asks for a total di-
vorce and for temporary and perma-
nent alimony. Argument on the pc
tition for alimony will be heard Sept.
30.
The petition of Mrs Speer recites
that her husband is an habitual drunk
ard, having been continually drunk
| for over a year; that for three years
they have lived in a state of separa-
ton, although in the same house,
| handsome residence at North avenue
and Peachtree, belonging to the plain
| tiff. Two weeks ago, the petition al
leges, Speer returned home in a state
of intoxication and made an assault
upon John Speer one of his children.
1t is recited that frequently he has
cursed and abused his wife, until now
she has fears for her life when he is
about.
The petitioner further claims that
for three years Speer has failed to
contribute to the support of his fam
lily. rarely ever giving the plaintiff
more than enough to cover the ex-
penses of his board
Accompanying the petition of Mrs.
Speer is a schedule of the property
owned by Speer 1t shows that he is
the owner of property to the value of
$4,000 in real estate scattered over At
! lanta.
Mr.. and Mrs. SDeer were married in
1869. and for years Mr.. Speer has been
one of the most prominent men in
Georgia, having occupied the position
of state treasurer for quite awhile.
Gordon Commissioner.
Fred b. Gordon of Columbus. presi-
dent of the Georgia Industrial Associa-
ton, was appointed by Gov. Terrell to-
! day a member of the Georgia commits
sion for the Louisiana Purchase Expo
sition to succeed w. Fl. Venable, who
| resigned some time ago. Mr.. Gordon is
one of the best known manufacturers
in the state.
Gov. Terrell has been anxio1s to en-
list the manufacturers in the work
of getting up an exhibit from this
source. 1t is assured. 1t is stated Mr..
w. H. FELTON, Of Gainesville will have
charge of the manufacturers exhibit.
NJ 49,
commissioner general for the st. Louis
Exposition, was here to-day and it was
arranged that he, together with AS
sistant Commissioner of Agriculture r.
F. Wright State Geologist w. S. Yeates
and the committee from Atlanta, which
win investigate the matter of city
exhibit, will go to st. Louis next Mon
day night, spending several days there.
At that time space will be secured
both for the state exhibit and that of
Atlanta.
Commissioner Hughes will not begin
the work of getting up Georgia's ex-
hibit until after the close of the State
Fair in Macon.
liza an Automobile Wreck.
A rapidly moving automobile was
overturned and wrecked on the East
Point road, several miles out of the
city, this morning, as the result of
striking high street car rail in an eff
fort to get out of a farmers Wagons
way. l.. e. Fain, representative of an
automobile company, who was running
the machine, was thrown out violently
and had both legs broken. DIR. Frank
Cawthorn, George Muse and Frank
Adair were also in the machine, and
were badly bruised in the wreck, al
though none of them We're seriously
hurt.
Mr.. FANS condition is quite serious,
his right leg being broken at the thigh
and his left knee being broken. He
was taken to the Grady Hospital Mr.
Fain has a wife and three children.
Administrators Give Bond.
AS the result of hearing before Or
binary Wilkinson to-day, George W.
Collier, Jr., Judge J. N. Bateman and
Henry L. Collier were required to give
bonds of $4,000 each for the temporary
administration of the estate of the late
G. w. Collier valued at about $1,000, 900.
This temporary administration will last
only until the litigation over the estate
now pending can be settled. Opposing
attorneys wanted the bonds made $780,
900 each.
Public Schools Open.
Atlanta's public schools opened to-
day, and the rush was so great that
from 700 to 1000 children are unpro-
vided for. Efforts will be made by the
board to furnish them school accom-
modations as soon as possible, but II
will probably be some months before
all are provided for.
Was Touched Tor $500.
]. E. Riggs, a well-to-do merchant Of
Bremen, Ga. claims to have lost $500
by having his pockets picked at Ponce
DeLeon, local amusement resort He
reported the matter to the police. The
money has not been found.
HObsOn a Defendant.
Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson Is
one of the defendants in a suit now
on trial in the City Court here. in
volving $1,650. The suit is brought by
the Winder Banking Company of Win
der. against Beatty, Hobson g. Co., of
which firm Capt. Hobson is a member.
check was given. 1t is claimed. for
$l.650 for fifty bales of cotton. Be
fore the check was finally honored the
cotton was burned and payment was
refused. The question at issue Is as 70
who is responsible for the loss.