Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-07-03
FOR SUPPORT
Wife Of Fighting Preacher" Az
tell Granted a Divorce.
THE PARSON IN COURT ROOM
Merely as Spectator-Owosso Mar
Refuses TO Pay Wife Almony, Cla m
ina He Never Married Woman Al.
legged His Wife.

Detroit, Mich, June 30.-"For the
sake of his calling Rev. j. j. AXtell
who was heralded all over the country
few years back as the fighting
preacher of Royal Oak" refused to
make a defense in the suit for divorce
brought against him by Laura Il. AK
tell when the case came on for hear
ing before Judge Brooke Monday. AK
tell was present merely as spectator,
and when the court awarded Mrs. AK
tell decree on the ground of non-sup-
port he remarked good-naturedly: we
shall continue TO be friends, neverthe-
less"
Rev. Axtell says that the only rea'
son they could not get along together
was that Mrs. Axtell was not in sym
PATTY with his work and did not like
the idea of being the wife Of a simple
country parson."
Mrs. AXtell's testimony on the wit
ness stand was not altogether harmo-
NOUS with this view Of the case. Ac-
cording to her allegations. the parson-
husbands Incidence was the only thinS
that stood in the way OF their domestic
peace and happiness. One witness ties
tilted that the reverend gentleman
used 10 Law in bed as late as 1l:30
in the morning
The Axtells were married in 1894
and have two children, aged and Z.
Rev. Axtell is pastor Of the Congrega-
tional church at New Baltimore and
found himself in a dilemma with his
parishioners when the news of the di.
vorce suit first came out Rev. AXtell
formerly combined the barber trade
with his pulpit duties.
Owosso, Mich, June 30.-A sequel
10 the sensational meeting Of John Nc
Cullough OF Pontiac with his wife on
the streets OF this city Saturday, at
which time he tainted her with never
having been married to him. followed
Monday when Judge Smith ordered
him 10 pay her SO alimony within
tOrty -elEDt hours or 20 10 jail.
Married In Windsor.
Mrs. Mccullough, formerly Miss Zoe
Millspaueh, compositor in one OF the
local printing Offices, claimed TO have
married John Mccullough in Windsor
June II, 1901. They lived together
and moved to Cincinnati, where a child
was born. Because OF alleged cruelty
she last week secured a divorce, hav-
ing left him and returned 10 Owosso.
He followed her here and tainted
her with having lived with him with.
out ceremony, and at hearing In
the morning produced an affidavit from
Canon HiIcKs, who was claimed to
have performed the ceremony, 70 the
effect that he had not done so, and
that the records fail TO show any such
marriage. Mccullough also presents
time checks from the Owosso Carriage
works, where he was employed at the
time, showing he had not been absent
that day or for several weeks before
or afterward. In his own affidavit he
claims the story OF the marriage was
invented to save the girls parents, who
live at Perry, humiliation.
The order OF the court was made in
the face Of this proof, and Mccullough
says he will 60 10 Jail rather than
pay the money. His attorneys imme-
distely asked a stay of proceedings
and will carry the case to the supreme
court.
Mccullough has applied to the pros.
ecuting attorney for warrant for the
girls arrest on a charge of criminal
SANDER.