Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-15
HICKEY DIVORCE
SUIT ON TRIAL
HUSBAND OF SOCIETY WOMAN
SEEKS SEPARATION
ALLEGES SHE DESERTED HIM
Details Of Their Domestic Troubles
Given TO the Public on
the Witness
Stand

The embarrassing details of the do
nestle troubles of George G. Hickey and
wife were given an airing in the superior
court yesterday when the husbands
suit for divorce upon allegations Of de-
sertion came to trial.
The case probably attracts more at
tention than any on the calendar. Mrs.
Hickey is the sole executor and heir
of the Bumiller estate, which at one
time was valued at many thousands OF
dollars. She is also prominent society
and club woman.
They were married in Oakland in 1888.
Shortly after the wedding they moved
to Los Angeles and took up their resi-
dence in the Bumiller home on South
Olive street. Some slight difficulty arose
later between the husband and the
five children of his wife by the former
marriage, and Mr.. and Mrs. Hickey
moved to hotel on South Grand ave-
nue., while the children remained at the
Olive street residence. :.
The troubles between the husband
and wife and the children continued.
Hickey took trip to Europe and his
wife accompanied him. Upon their re-
turn they spent a week at Redondo and
returned to Los Angeles, where the all
legged desertion is said to have oc-
Cured. Hickey rented some rooms on
Broadway, while his wife erected a
magnificent home in the new West
moreland Place tract. The home was
valued at $4,000, but Hickey was not
asked to live in 1t, and whenever he
saw his wife it was elsewhere.
Hickey on Stand
Hickey was the first witness on the
stand yesterday. He is a prominent
real estate dealer of Ocean Park, and a
number of business men of the seaside
resort were present to take note of the
proceedings
! MY wife and have been separated
about twelve of the eighteen years OF
our married life, and it is all on az
count of her children" said Hickey.
"They have always disliked me ard
trouble has been continual between us.
my wife deserted me in 1899 and a
short time later filed suit to recover her
property, which had been placed in my
name as community property. I gave
back the property without suit, and she
then filed suit for divorce, alleging nom
support. This also was withdrawn.
asked my wife why she would not live
with me and she told me that could
not support her in the manner which
her social standing in Los Angeles re-
quired.
"She announced to me in the presence
of men employed in my office that,
unless I would build and furnish a
home for her costing $4,000, she would
not live with me. She gave as reason
that her daughters had to be married
off we'll and they must have a fins
home. AS only one was married al
that time, and as there were two others
coming on, one of whom is now about
80 years old, decided that building q
home of that price might not be Of any
service in helping on the weddings
Later after she had left me, I asked
her to live with me again and she told
me that she would not live with ms
until her two daughters were married
thought over the matter and decided
that might die of old age in the mean
while, and so instituted suit for divorce
"I Offered to give my wife all made
about 5000 month, but she refused
On other occasions. when there was g
quarrel between myself and her chill
dren she would tell me should contro
them better. She is deaf and could moi
hear the insulting things the children
were saying about me, so I remon-
strated with her, and she told me thai
IL did not like the state of affairs
could pack up my things and get out.
when our legal troubles started
tried to speak to her one day when she
was in an attorneys office. but she
turned her back to me and put up hel
umbrella"
Mrs. Hickey had a different story t.
tell. She stated that Hickey did moi
have a cent when she married him and
that she had gotten him his positions
since the marriage. She denied thai
she wanted a fine house to live In, but
stated that Hickey would not furnish
any kind of home for her.
Mrs. Hickey told the court that hel
husband was peevish and, because one
OF her daughters had found his sus
penders on the parlor table and ha6
thrown them out of the place, Hickey
became enraged and threw some play
ing figures about the room.
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