Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-13
JUDGE TRASK
SEWERS TIES
GRANTS DIVORCE, BUT OFFERS
WORD OF ADVICE
Trouble Which Started During Mr.. and
Mrs. Foster Wrieht's Honeymoon
Ends In eparation-Hus-
band Secures Child

Following a stormy trial before Judge
Trask in department four Of the
superior court yesterday morning Mrs.
Josephine Wright wife of Foster
Wright, former secretary of the Los
Angeles library board and a well
known politician, was granted an in
terlocutory decree of divorce from her
husband on the ground of cruelty.
Aside from evidence tending to show
ground for a statutory charge. the tes-
timony regarding cruelty was very
weak, but after questioning it serious
ly Judge Trask, having been assured
that the parties would never again
live together, granted the divorce.
"Tossie' Wright, the husband, did
not appear in court nor was he rep
resented by attorneys. He entered a
dent of the charges against him and
fun tner than that took no interest in
the case.
Mrs. Wright was the first witness to
take the stand. She was dressed in a
light gray walking suit with a green
hat trimmed in red roses. During the
cross examination made by Judge
Trask she broke down and cried,
but during intervals the string of ques-
tions were continued.
I'VE were married in Los Angeles in
1901" she testified. II had recently
arrived in Los Angeles from Kansas
city and I was quite young. My
mother objected to the match at first
but later consented and Foster and 1
were married.
Trouble During Honeymoon
1.-The trouble between us commenced
a short time later while we were on
our honeymoon. We had started for
Houston. Texas, and just before we
arrived there my husband insisted on
putting mis- head on my shoulder. I
told him he ought not to do that where
people could see him and then he said
he would throw his hat out the window
and make people believe he was drunk.
He said that when we arrived in Hous
ton he was going to whip me and
make me drunk on champagne.
Did he carry out his threat?"
queried the Judge.
No answered Mrs. Wright.
We'll" continued Judge Trask. his
statements did not hurt you then"
when we returned to Los Angeles"
continued the witness, my husband
treated me cruelty by staying out late
at night. He told me often that he
was compelled to attend to business
and would be gone until late hour,
and when he returned he would often
be under the influence of liquor.
"On one occasion shortly after the
birth of the baby, he bade me goodbye
and went to a prize fight while we
were both in a rather serious condi-
lion.
ION other occasions he went to Ascot
park and attended sporting events
without ever a care for my happiness.
Mrs. Wrights testimony was corrob-
Grated by that of her mother and the
evidence was closed.
Judge Calls 1t Weak Case
This case is very weak" said Judge
Trask. IF woman or man presents
a petition because of being accused of
unfaithfulness by his or her partner
in marriage, three-fourths of the pop
ulation of Los Angeles would be di-
vorced.
"A woman can sit by the fire and
while looking into the flames see all
the imaginary actions of her husband
and cause trouble when he, returns
home
'If a divorce is granted these young
people they might marry again and
find happiness, said the attorney.
There is no such thing as happiness
in this world and he who seeks for 1t
is an idiot" replied the judge. These
young people had a good start, but
jealousy seems to have wrecked this
family. The man said he was a pol
Itician and gave that as an excuse for
his late hours at night His wife
thought him cruel because he was out
late at night. Well, politician If, he
is al ything of politician must be
out late at night. The late hours are
not grounds for cruelty. There are
many men in this city who spend four
or five nights a week at lodges How
ever if there is no probability of these
people ever living together again I
shall consider the statutory causes of
cruelty and grant this divorce"
The custody of the child was given
to the father by stipulation.
Wright was former secretary to
Mayor Snyder and later secretary. of
the library board. He has been iden-
tilted with Los Angeles politics for
several years but at present is selling
real estate.