The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-29
MRS. \. M. BENNETT DESIRES DIVORCE Wife of Policeman Bennett Files Suit in Court CAN PROVIDE FOR CHILD Says She Has Been Beaten and Mis- treated-Rumor That Phillips
 Will Move to Chicago
 Is Denied.

Mrs. A. M. Bennett, wife of Policeman Walter R. Bennett, filed suit in the cir cult court yesterday seeking divorce from her husband,
 The petitioner claims that her husband has mistreated her, abused her and neg lected her.
 This is another chapter in the Phil lips Bennett case, which started several months ago in the now famous Rabbit Foot saloon' matters.
 Mayor Ward, on information supposed to have been obtained from Policeman Bennett and other members of the police force, charged Police Commissioner Phil lips with intimidating officers at the Rabbit Foot" The license of that sa- loon was revoked by the City Council after a rather sensational hearing. The next development was charges preferred by Commissioner Phillips that he had seen Policemen Bennett and Cole in a house of Ill repute, and that they were intoxicated. This charge was followed by another of wife beating against Po- liceman Bennett. The charges will be given an airing before the police com mission on Friday night. September 8.
 Judge Zell Gaston of the firm of Cas- ton & Curtis has represented Commis- sioner Phillips in the series of charges and counter charges. The firm repre- sents Mrs Bennett in her suit for di- vorce.
 Charges In Suit.
 In the suit filed Mrs Bennett alleges that she was whipped, choked and slapped and otherwise maltreated' by her husband. It is also averred that she was assaulted and beaten almost into in- sensiblllty.
 The petition alleges that MT. and Mrs. Bennett were married on October 24, 1899, and that they have one child BE years old It Is claimed that soon after the marriage Bennett grew cold and indif- ferent. His conduct became worse until, it is alleged that such incidents as re- lated above happened.
 The petition states that they soon sep arated, but later at the proposal of Ben nett lived together again. They again separated, however, on July S1. 1905. Mrs. Bennett alleges that her husband did not keep his promise, but continued to beat and whip her. During the time that they were separated Mrs. Bennett alleges that she lived Wltn her parents on Avenue l.
 The following Is a paragraph of the suit
 Manner Harsh.
 "IIis manners became more harsh, un- til finally he commenced to slap her and from this to beating her and whipping and choking her and she ayers that he re- peatedly and on numerous and divers oc- caslons whipped, beat and choked her into nsensibility, and that when he quit choking her she could do nothing but gasp for breath and that 1t was some time before sine could recover so she could speak and work"
 Later on in the petition is the follow Ing count:
 "Plaintff aver--------that she is of good character and willing and able to work and support train and educate her child, and that defendant has always been cold and harsh towards said child, and that he Is wife beater and croker, and that he drinks and spends so sine is informed and believes and so charges um hcof his time around houses of III repute, and that he Is man of character unfltted to the education of his child"
 The attorneys for Mrs. Bennett are Gaston & Curtis.