The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-09
COMPLAINT FILED
IN MYATT DIVORCE
Sensational Allegations
of Cruel Treatment.
CHARGED IN DETAIL
Trouble eliminating in Separation o
Parties to Prominent Marriage AL
legged to Have Extended Over
Years. Mrs. Myatt Asks Gus
tody of Child and AIimony.

The complaint in the suit for di-
vorce a mensa ct thoro' of Mrs. Matha
Fowle Wyatt against her husband, j.
Walter Wyatt was filed in the Superior
court yesterday by her attorneys,
Messrs. Busbee and Busbee and Arm
istead Jones and Son. The pleading
is very voluminous. taking in matters
alleged to have occurred almost from
the beginning of the welded life of
the parties and continuing until Christ
mas day. 1904. when plaintiff left the
home of her husband in Johnston
county ana came to Raleigh where
she has since lived with her two year
old child.
to specifically on the charge that
they constituted cruel and barbarouS
treatment such as to render the con-
dition of the plaintiff intolerable and
to endanger her life, are some of
them highly sensational in view of the
prominence of the parties to the suit.
Among them are allegations tnat
the defendant had threatened to strike
her. that he had showed her, spoken
TO her with harshneSls and treated her
with disrespect before his step-chil-
dren; that he had SHOWN her cruel
lack of kindness and consideration
when she was sick; and that he had
scrupulously neglected her and
brought her into contempt for long
period of time.
Among these allegations instances
are cited that the defendant required
the plaintiff to cook his meals and
sought to compel her to cook meals
for negro farm hands; that he had re-
fused to permit her to come to Raj
foh w hpQn
urged by her physician until she was
too i'll to come; that he had allowed
during the winter but one fire in the
house and that in his own room, so
that plaintiff was compelled to go TO
his room to undress and nurse her
baby at times when four or five hired
farm hands would be in said room.
There are also detailed many trans
actions in money affairs alleged to
have caused discord between the par
ties with reference to the eXpendl-
ture OF the plaintiffs money, among
which is set forth circumstantialiy a
disastrous speculation Yin cotton flu
lures.
Altogether the complaint is of most
sensational character and the issues,
when the answer shall have been filed
are such as to call on the trial for
a mass of testimony and an almost
complete unwilling of the family life
of the parties.
Prominence of Parties.
The plaintiff is a daughter of the
late Governor FOwle and is known all
over North Carolina. During her girl
hod she was one of the famous bellies
of the State and noted for her beauty.
Her marriage with Mr. Wyatt is the
second matrimony venture she has
made. she having wed the first time
Mr.. David Avera. of Raleigh, VINO
died in a few years.
Mr.. J. Walter Wyatt, the defendant,
comes of we'll known Johnston
County family and has been known
for years as highly respected, hon
orable and successful farmer. He is
a brother of Mr.. w. A. Wyatt, of
Raleigh His marriage to Mrs. Avera
ten years ago caused some surprise,
but until the news of their separa-
ton last December their union had
been supposed to be entirely happy
one.
After setting forth the fact of the
marriage of the plaintiff and defend
ant in the city of Raleigh on the
9th of January 1895, and the fact
that both parties are citizens of the
State, the complaint opens:
Grounds of Complaint.
THAT since the said marriage the
defendant, by cruel and barbarous
treatment, has endangered the life of
the plaintiff; that he has offered Sucn
indignitieS to her person as TO nave
rendered her condition intolerable and
her life burdensome; that he has. VIZ
tuafly maliciously turned her out or
doors; and in particular, the plalntll
states the following, viz"
Here follow in detail various COM
plexites of married life, which arose
on account of the family, by former
wife. of the defendant, the plaintiff
alleging in particular that she had
married the defendant with the under
standing that the wedding was APP
proved by his children; that immedl-
ateIy she found this not to be the
case. particularly so far as regarded
the defendants daughter Annie,
whose conduct was such towards her
step mother that is became necessary
To send her to school, the expenses
being paid by the plaintiff; that the
defendant seemed Indifferent to
the treatment of his wife
by his daughter; that after
wards, when the defendant had no
cook at his house, plaintiff was in the
habit of cooking for the defendant 5
family; that there were at one time a
number of negro farm laborers on the
Mace. and that defendant ordered
the plaintiff to cook for them; that
she refused to do so and angry words
ensued; on other occasions, the COM
plaint alleges that the plaintiff was