Evening journal., 1905-03-24
COLONEL CODY
LOSES THE SUIT
Wyoming Judge Refuses to
Grant Buffalo Bill a
Divorce
POISONING CHARGE NOT PROVED

Sheridan, Wyo., March 24-"Bufalo
Bill" Colonel William F. Cody, lost
his suit for divorce from Louisa Cody,
Judge r. H. Scott, Of the district court,
deciding the charges Of attempts on the
part of Mrs. Cody to poison her hus-
band and other allegations had not
been proved.
Judge Scott asserted that the testi-
mony showed that Mrs. Cody had al
ways been a good mother and a proud
and indulgent wife.
Judge Scott in his opinion said THE
law Of the state does not make incom-
patibility a ground for divorce, but it
does read that extreme cruelty render
ing the condition Of either party to the
marriage contract intolerable is suffi-
cient grounds to allow the granting Of
divorce.
"The first cause of action in this case
is the charge Of poisoning on December
26, 1900, or some time prior thereto.
The evidence wholly fails to support
this, but shows the defendant was try
in to rescue the plainuff from a state
of intoxication sad administered no
poison, but remedies which she deemed
beneficial to him. His inability to speak
on this occasion did not come from
these remedies. but came from his use
OF intoxicating liquors at the banquet
board, and was as humiliating to the
defendant as to the plaintiff.
THE unhappiness caused by the ac-
tions of the plaintiff is shown by the
letter Of their daughter Arta Thorpe
whose beautiful character shown out
from her unhappy home in the words OF
her letter. written just before her
death:
"'Oh, papa, why did he do it? Ny
heart is just broken over it. Oh, why
did he do it?"
Judge Scott also found that the
charge of unbecoming actions on the
part Of the defendant toward the colo
neps guests was not proved; that
there was no evidence that she had
even threatened her husbands life
and that when attending the funera
of her daughter Arta, at Rochester
N. Y. in February, 1904, she Offered
a permanent reconciliation, and no an
swer came to this.
"She was an over-indulgent mothel
and wife, who always took pride in his
success and always looked forward t.
his homecoming and made great prep
arations to receive him." said judge
Scott "She entertained his guests
with cordiality. She did not use pro
fame language. The poisoning Of hi
pet dogs was accidental She neve
spoke disrespectfully of him to hi
friends or guests. She always accom-
panied him to the depot on his de
parture, and was there to receive hin
on his return. In her home she has
large statue of him in the hall; Il
her bedroom she has his portrait, don
by famous painter; on her stand sh
has his portrait, and the dishes sh
used were souvenir ones, stamped o
etched with his portrait Such in brie
is the character and conduct of Mrs
Cody, extending over a long period c
her married life.
an return for this wifely devotlo
the plaintiff has been cruel to her an
heaped indignities upon her Even If
we're true that the defendant had q
times been impatient with him, an
such impatience had been considere
as indiginties, it is also true that sh
has had much to contend with"
An exception TO the ruling Of tn
court was noted by Judge H. S. Ri
ley, attorney for Colonel Cody and HI
| request for 60 days for filing a petitio
E for a rehearing was granted.