Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-18
SUIT FOR DIVORCE
Brought by Mrs. Amelia Eaton Of Wal
dohoro Against Husband.

The Journal recently told the story OF
the rescue from an insane hospital OF
Mrs Amelia Eaton of Waldoboro, by
Lawyer L. M. Staples of Washington. The
following from the Rockland Star will b.
read with interest:
One of the leading cases entered il
court, yesterday, by Senator l.. NJ. Sta
pies was a libel for divorce brought by
Amelia a. Eaton of Waldoboro, against
her husband, j. Edwin Eaton, formerly
of Waldoboro, now a prominent insurance
man in Boston. Property of Mr.. Eatot
to the extent of $4,000 has been attached
In all probability the bill will be tried a
the next term of court and should it be
it promises to be one of the most sensa
tional divorce cases ever heard in Maine
Mr.. and Mrs. Eaton We're married il
Waldobor, Nov. 70, 1873 The genera
charge i'll the libel is cruel and abusive
treatment. In the writ it is alleged
THAT in January, 1903, she was sick
needing surgical operation. and under
a false prctence of taking her to Il med
zeal hospital where such surgical treat
ment and operations could be performed
wickedly and without her knowledge
caused her to be incarccrated in the Re
treat for Insane in Brattleboro, VT
where she remained for the space of 81,
months locked up with the insane, anG
the said defendant we'll knowing that his
said wife was sane and needed no treat
ment for any mental disorder. but design
eddy, cruelty and WiCkedly for some wick
ed motives caused her to be imprisoned
tor the space Of six months. When and
while there she suffered intense agony
both in mind and body being imprisoned
as an insane person by her said husband
who well knew that your libellant was
perfectly sane, and in all this your libel
liant AYERS that the said husband was gull
ty of cruel and abusive treatment. And
your libellant further AYERS that her said
husband has treated your libellant for the
past 10 years i'll such Il manner as to ue-
stroy her happiness
The libellant then asks that a decree of
divorce be granted, that he be ordered to
dcfray certain expenses for counsel fees
and also ordered to pay her certain sum
as alimony and a monthly sum for her
support.
Mrs Eaton since her release in July
from the Retreat at Brattlcboro, has
been visiting at 61 Park street, this city.
with her sisters. Mrs Joseph GreenhalSh
and Mrs. Hartman, with occasional visits
to her old home in Waldoboro. Her father
was for MANY years proprietor of the
husband. !. Edwin Eaton, conducted the
hotel afterwards. Both Mr.. and Mrs. iia-
ton are well known in Rockland
The story in brief of Mrs Eaton's in
generation in the Brattlcboro Retreat is
that in February of this year, beng i'll,
was advised to go to a hospital to have
an operation performed. She met her hus-
band in Boston and he took her to Brat
tlcboro. and she says she was put i'll Il
ward with insane persons and her liberty
restrained for six months, although Mrs.
Hartman, her sister, made strenuous eff
forts to secure her release but without
avail.
In July, Senator Staples went to the Re-
treat and, in a dramatic manner. secured
her release. threatening to expose" the
institution if his demand was not com
piled with instantly. The manager of the
Retreat in an interview later claimed that
she was released ON orders sent by tele
phone by her husband.