The San Francisco call., 1905-03-24
TEAR SHEDDING
LOSES POTENCY
William Fl. Benson Divorces
Woman Who Said She Mar
ried Him for '.GoOd Thing"
GRAHAM UPSETS HOPES
Demands Presence i'm Court
of Henry V. Ness and
Proves Collusion Exists

Mrs. Theresa Foster, landIady, told
a story in Judge Hunts court yester-
day that ended the career of Mrs.
Myrtle NJ Benson as the wife of Will
liam H. Benson, stationer at 430 Sut-
ter street Benson was granted a de-
cree of divorce On the ground of ex-
treme cruelty after the landlady had
concluded her story and Benson had
corroborated 1t.
Mrs. Foster testified that Mrs Ben
son had stated that her husband was a
good thing" that she intended to be
his wife in name only and keep her
self thoroughly in fashion, because she
knew that all she had to do to get any,
thing she wanted out of her husband
was to shed few tears. Through this
process of tear shedding she said she
had so lacerated her husbands heart
! that he bought her six new hats in an
| equal number of weeks.
| Mrs. Foster, at whose place the Ben
sons resided, also testified that Mrs.
Benson and another married woman
entertained several japanese men in
their rooms, but when 1t was explained
to the japanese by Mrs. Foster that
| they were not doing right, that the
women were married and should not
|
! than their husbands, the japanese
apologized prCfusely, stated that they
| had been misinformed by the women
in question and withdrew, returning no
more.
WEDDING NIGHT WANDERINGS.
Benson testified that on their we'd
ding night his wife insisted on going
out for a good time, this by herself
| The result was that he did not see her
until the next day. Her habit of going
out on pleasure expeditions by herself
grew upon her, he said. as time passed,
! and in answer to his protestations she
only laughed at him and told him that
she had only married him because he
was a good thing" and she intended
to use him as such. This was enough
for the court and the decree prayed
for was granted without delay.
Decress of divorce were also granted
yesterday to Lucinda D. Buchtel from
John A Buchtel for desertion; John w.
Council from Mabel A. Council for
desertion; August H. Heintz from An
ME D. Heintz for intemperance; Maude
! Lawson from James A Lawson for
| desertion; Lottie NJ. Gabriel from Ern-
est c.. Gabriel for extreme cruelty and
failure to provide, and Mary E. Green
from George H. Green for extreme
cruelty.
Judge Graham's new rule requiring
the presence in court of all defendants
in divorce cases resulted sadly for An
ME E. Ness yesterday She sued Henry
V. Ness fer divorce. He did not an
swer the complaint and a default was
entered against him. Judge Graham
refused to hear the case, however, un-
less the defendant were present, and a
subpoena was issued for. him. After
Mrs. Ness had put in her case he was
put on the stand and forced to admit
that there was collusion between them
that they had agreed to disagree for no
real reason. Judge Graham forthwith
dismissed the suit and denied Mrs.
Ness application for divorce. This new
rule promises to cut off collusion cases,
which, in late years, have occupied
much of the time of courts.
SEVERAL ASK DIVORCE.
Vida Adelaide Phillips asks for a di-
vorce from Eugene ]. Phillips for ex-
treme cruelty. Mrs. Phillips alleges
that Phillips has beaten and choked her
on several occasions. Julia Neer COM
plains that Stewart S. Neer has treat
ed her cruelty, and she asks for di-
vorce from him on that ground. Ex-
treme cruelty is also the cause of ac-
ton in the suit filed by Nellie Lewis
Wise against Henry E. Wise for di-
vorce. Laura A. Tolles sues William
S. Tolles for divorce, alleging deser-
ton.
Edward w. Treadwell has sued
Sophia M. Treadwell for divorce, al
leging cruelty. Marguerite Hating
complains that Christian d. Hating
has failed to provide her with the COM
mon necessaries of life. and she sues
for divorce on the ground. Clara Rich
man Campbell asks for divorce from
Joseph Campbell Jr on the grounds
Of intemperance and cruelty. She COM
plains that not only does he frequently
appear before her friends in an intoxi-
Gated condition, greatly to her humilia- :
| ton, but that he has acquired the habit