The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-07-10
.HYMEN UNDONE
IN NTH[COURTS
Figures Which Show d.
vorces Ora nted In
Stark County.

DcHlty SOuuty SiCih N. We A6iSa
Tuesday completed his statistical re-
port upon the number of divorce cases
in the common pleas court during the
fiscal year ending July 1. The report
goes to the secretary Of state and be-
comes part of the state statistics. 1t
contains much information as to the
causes leading to divorce, the number
granted, etc.
The whole number Of cases begun
during the year was 142, or about IA to
every 100 marriage licenses issued.
There were carried over from the year
previous q cases which had not been
disposed of, making a total upon the
docket of 1863. OF this number 80 were
tried, So divorces granted. 38 were dis
missed by the parties beginning them
and Of those tried were refused by
the court.
MANY COOL DOWN.
It Is the history of divorce actions,
that many are begun in the heat of
anger, after the husband or wife has
offended in some way, but when
charges are filed and the cold facts are
published in the newspapers, the party
beginning them relents and goes into
court to have the petition dismissed
Sometimes the husband or wife prom
ises to be good. Occasionally these
enforced reforms are permanent, but 1t
is often the case that within few
months the case Is reopened and di-
vorce secured.
While the statistics do not show the
exact facts, it is known that a very
large per cent Of the divorce actions
are I'M families where there are no chill
dren, infidelity often being the charge
made by the plaintiff. There are two
theories with regard to this. One is that
q husband or wife will endure more
on account of the children; the other
is that there is usually dissatisfaction
in q home where there are no little
ones to cement the ties that bind.
-t.; CHARGES MADE.
/. !, .sOf the 169 cases upon the docket 1O9
% were brought by the wives and 60 by
husbands OF those granted the hus-
bands secured IL and the wives 80
Husbands dismissed 16 and wives ~
during the year. OF the 8 refused
upon trial, five men and four women
were among the disappointed ones.
Various charges were alleged in the
petitions as grounds why divorce
should be granted. There were II
husbands who charged their wives
with unfaithfulness and Is wives who
brought similar charges against theil
husbands. Willful absence and gros:
neglect of wifely duties were charged
in 21 cases brought by husbands, whil'
sc wives brought the same charge
against as many husbands.
In the matter of extreme cruelty thu
wives have the best Of 1t. Forty-seveI
wives brought this charge while bur
eight husbands we're willing to 60 int
court and say that their wives hat
struck and beaten them. In severa
of these the charge was not sustained
Five husbands accused their wives 0
babitual drunkenness and 10 wive
asserted that the husbands lingere,
too long at the flowing bowl
ALIMONY FOR FAIR DIVORCES
There we're but ten cases In whic
the custody of children was at stake
In eight of them the children went t
the wives and in two instances tn
father got control. 1t is the rule G
the court that where the children ar
Of tender age they go to the mother
In other cases the fitness of the parent
determine.
Alimony was allowed in "a cases,
every instance going to the wife. In
compatibility of temper and such tr
vial charges are not often brought int
court, as the judges upon the benc
are little too strict. In many ID
stances, two, three or more charges al
brought in the same petition and prov
en-, the court allowing the decree VI
ON the most glaring one.