The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-15
GETS HIS DIVORCE.
Judge Willis Brought Suit ON
Ground of Desertion.
His Wife infatuated With Baxter, a
Suitor for the Daughters Hand,
Ignored Judges Authority.

At Trenton, N. j., a recommends
ton for an absolute divorce from his
wife, Mrs. Ann Vain Willis, has been
made by the master in the suit of
Judge Benaja P. Willis, of Mount
Holly. Desertion is given as the
cause, but the carryings-on of Mrs.
Willis and Harry Baxter about six
years ago form the real reason.
Eckard P. Budd, the special master
appointed by the chancery court,
took much testimony, which gave in
detail the performances of the pair,
which interested the whole Of South
Jersey for a time. The principal
sacts brought out were that after
twenty-five years Of happy married
life Baxter appeared to break the
serenity of the Willis home. He was
a stranger in Mount Holly, but not
long after he came there he began
courting Miss Mabel Willis, daugh-
ter of Judge Willis.
The latter investigated Baxter S
antecedents, and forbade him to come
to his house. Mrs. Willis joined with
her daughter in resenting this dis
play of parental authority, and, ac-
cording to the testimony, when
Judge Willis told Baxter to leave the
house Mrs. Willis became very angry
and said that if she had pistol she
would shoot her husband. Having
the support of both Mrs. Willis and
her daughter, Baxter ignored the
orders of Judge Willis, and continu-
ed to visit the home.
The report points out that Mrs.
Willis seemed completely infatuated
with Baxter, who dominated all hel
actions. They were frequently to-
gether, and at times Mrs. Willis, hel
daughter and Baxter took trips o1
considerable duration. Judge Willis
several times ordered Baxter to leave
the house, but his wife always sided
against him, and told Baxter to pay
no attention to his orders.
Reports Of what was transpirlne
spread through the community, anc
on one occasion Baxter, defying tht
authority of Judge Willis, locked
himself in a room in the Willis home
and refused to leave. About mid
night a crowd of citizens visited th'
home prepared to tar and feathe.
the intruder, but was kept from do
ing so by Judge Willis son, who ap
peared in front Of the house with
gun.
On the following day Baxter at
tempted to escape from the town
but was overtaken and soundl.
thrashed by Judge Willis, upon whom
he afterwards made an assault wit
a revolver, and it is believed by wit
nesses would have killed him had no
other citizens interferred.
When Baxter was committed t.
jail, Mrs. Willis visited him ther
and brought his meals. She also fur
nished bail of $1,000 and employee
counsel to defend him. Baxter wa
convicted of assault and battery an
fined $500 and costs. The fine, &C
cording to the testimony was paid b
Mrs. Willis, whose testimony at tn
trial had been against her husban
and in favor of Baxter.
These incidents led to an estrange
. ment between Judge Willis and hi
wife, who thereafter refused to spea
to him, but lived in a seperate roor
in the house and directed in Writin;
instead Of verbally what was needle
for the maintenance Of the house
hold. About four months after tn
trial Mrs. Willis left her husband en-
tirely and went to live with Baxte
and her daughter, who in the mean
time had been married. They ar
now said to be residing at Hemp
stead, Long Island.