Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-16
Judge Bradshaw Rules That
McGowan Children Shall Not
Hear Parents Charges
SENSATIONS ARE PROMISED
Most Interest of Any Case Of Present
Term centered in MCGOWAN Divorce
Case and Cross Petition-PIaintiff on
Stand Five Hours Before Crowded
Court Room-Wants $500 Aiimony.

A family divided against Itself was
the scene presented in the district
court Monday afternoon when the d.
yorce case of Charles T. MCGOWAN vs..
Mrs. Estella f. MCGOWAN came up for
trial. Arrayed with the father, who
is seeking separation from his wife,
was the son, Charles, Jr., and the
youngest daughter, Marie. With the
mother, who is vigorously resisting the
suit of the husband, and has interposed
a cross petition for ali1nony of $1,000,
were the eldest daughters, Nellie and
Louise. The eldest of the children is
II. and the youngest IL years OF age.
All of the daughters are handsome
girls. the older ones being especially
good looking. Before the case opened,
Mr.. McGowan's attorneys interposed
motion that the children be excluded
from the cburt room, at least during
the time the father and mother were
on the witness stand. The request was
asked because Of the nature Of the tes-,
timony which it was expected that the
mother and father would give, which
it was deemed improper for the chill
dren to hear. Judge Bradshaw granted
the, request. to which Mrs. McGowan's
attorneys objected.
It is anticipated that the case will
consume several days in its trial MT.
MCGOWAN was the first witness called.
and the story he told was one that
stretched back thru q series of years,
punctuated almost continuously by yio-
lence and Quarreling on the part OF his
wife, whom he testified was constantly
the aggressor. During this period Of
time, which he said dated as far back
as 1896, he left home three times be-
cause Of his home trouble.
He cited occasions when his wife had
assaulted him. and repeated the oaths
which he alleged his wife applied to
him. He recited in detail the circum-
stance of an incident when his wife
hurled cup at him and cut his head,
and of another instance when she pur-
sued him with butcher knife
In all Of the trouble he stuck stead
lastly to the statement that his wife
had been the aggressor, and the cause
Of the trouble. He claimed to have
left home to get away from the strife.
MCGOWAN was on the witness stand
altogether five hours, the cross exami-
nation not being concluded until the
middle of the forenoon. MCGOWAN de-
MED that he had kidnapped or stolen
away either the boy Charles, or the
daughter Marie, whom he had placed in
school. He said they preferred him to
their mother and especially the boy,
whom he testified complained OF the
punishment Mrs. MCGOWAN melted out
i to him. The cross examination was
largely one of denials in which he dis
claimed any intimacy with other wom-
en-, or that he cursed his wife and chill
dren. or that he had struck his wife.
Relative to his property in this city,
Minneapolis, Chicago and Nebraska,
Mr.. MCGOWAN gave in an approxi-
mate value of 81, $500. He swore that he
had provided for the family after he
left home.
Other witnesses who were called to
the stand during the morning session
were DR.. A. B. Conway, Mrs. McEwen,
one Of the cor respondents named In
Mrs. McGowan's cross petition, DR..
Rosa Liebig and P. F. Marcy.
Mrs. McEwen, who was formerly a
neighbor of the McGowans, denied ever
having been intimate in any way with
Mr.. MCGOWAN.
DR.. Conaways testimony was in re-.
lation to dressing the wound on Mr..
McGowan's head, which he testified the
cup hurled by his wife cut.
The testimony of the others was on
minor details that Of Mr.. Marcy tend
ing to show the provision Mr.. MCGOWAN
made for his family after he left home.
The case is attracting more attention
than any suit Of the present term Of
court. The prospective sensational
testimony evidently proved the draw
ing factor that brought many women
to the court room this morning.
The husband Is charging cruel
and inhuman treatment in his petition
for divorce. He asks the custody of
his four children. The wife's cross Pc
tition charges cruel and inhuman
treatment and adultery. She named
Mrs. Title Blake Of this city, and Mrs
McEwen of Marietta, as correspond
ents. She seeks $500 temporary and
$1,000 permanent alimony.