The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-03-28
COL CODY LOSES SUIT
Wyoming Judge Refuses to Grant
Buffalo Bill a Divorce.
POISONING CHARGES NOT PROVEN

Court Says cody's Wife Was Trying
to Rescue Him From State Of lntoxi-
cation and No Poison Was Admins.
tered.
Sheridan Wyo.. March 2i-"8uffalo
Bill" Colonel William r. Cody. lost
his suit for divorce from 10 lisa Cody
Judge r. II. 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 test!-
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 IL
does read that extreme cruelty render
ing the condition Of either party 10 the
marriage contract intoeraDle is sulii-
cient grounds TO allow the granting OF
a divorce
THE first cause Of action in this case
is the charge of poisoning on December
20. 1900. or some time prior thereto.
The evidence wholly fails to support
this. but shows the defendant was try
in to rescue the plaintiff from a state
Of intoxication and administered no
poison. but remedies which she deemed
beneficial TO him. Ills inability 10 speak
on this occasion did not come from
these remedies, bur 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-
tons OF the plaintiff is shown by the
letter Of their daughter. Arte 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? NJ
heart is Just broken over H. 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
nels guests was not proved, that
there was no evidence that she had
even threatened her husbands life.
and that when attending the funeral
of her daughter. Arta at Rochester,
y. Y. in February. 1904. she offered
permanent reconciliation. and no an
swor came to this
she was an oyer-indulgent mother
and wife. who always took pride in his
success and always looked forward to
his home coming and made great prep
arations 10 receive him" said Judge
Scott. she entertained his guests
with cordially. She did not use pro
fame language. The poisoning OF his
pet dogs was accidental She never
spoke disrospectlully Of him TO his
friends or guests. She always accom-
panied him to the depot on his de-
parture. and was there TO receive him
on his return. In her home she has
/ large statue OF him in the hall; in
her bedroom she has his portrait. done
by a famous painter, on her stand she
has his portrait. and the dishes she
used were souvenir ones. stamped or
etched with his portrait Such in brief
is the character and conduct OF Mrs.
Cody. extending over a long period OF
her married life
I'm return for this wifely devotion
the plaintiff has been cruel to her and
heaped indignities upon her. Even If it
we're true that the defendant had at
times been impatient with him, and
such impotence had been considered
as indigihties, it is also true that she
has had much to contend with
An exception to the ruling OF the
court was noted by Judge II. S. Rig
ley. attorney for Colonel Cody. and his
request for 60 days for filing a petition
for a rehearing was granted.