The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-26
HOLDS OUT A[|M0NY::
JAIL FOR CONTEMPT
Nels A. Anderson Must Serve
Four Days in the County
BastiIe.
DIVORCE MATINEE NOT
up TO USUAL STANDARD
Four Women Given Legal Sepa-
rations in Judge Morse's
Court.

Nels A, Anderson, who has persisted
IN dlsobeylng the orders of the Divorce
court In not paying the $25 month
allmony granted TO his wife when he
got his divorce, was sent to iail Fri
day for four days for contempt by
Judge Morse, and was warned that he
had better pay up when he comes ont.
The wife has been county charge
and Nels has been living comfortably
with another wife, whom he has taken
to his bosom since tho divorce, and
who has little property. Nels was
in court Friday and his new wife sat
among the spectators. He pretended to
be a little deaf and TO have an imper-
feet knowledge of English. When
questioned by County Attorney Willard
Hanson he produced an old receipt for
$40, paid on his wife IS account before
the divorce was granted He had no
money, he said, though he had been
working as miner up to March He
Is now farmer, his wife owning a
farm. He finally admitted that the
reason why he did not support the chill
dren was that he was not going to hand
over any money to the first wife. but
said In excuse that he always fed the
children when they came to his house.
Nels is an old offender and the court
and attorneys were compelled to smile
as he made his excuses. He is comforta-
bly, dressed. while his first wife and
children are paupers, dependent upon
the county for bare subsistence.
Lacking in Interest.
The divorce matinee was not up to
the usual standard in point Of interest.
Four women were released from the
bonds of matrimony, all being by de-
fault.
Maud A. Sermon told the court how
her husband, j, A, Sermon. had slapped
and struck her and had held her and
washed her face with the entrails of a
chicken on December "a, 1908. On that
occasion he had told her to 90 home
to her mother, At other times he had
struck her and knocked her down. He
never did really support her, but they
lived with his mother till six weeks
before her child was born, then with
her mother until they went back to his
mother again. She had left him on one
occasion and gone to work, but re-
turned to him again. She was compelled
while living with HIM to work as a
seamstress, and at times even to take
in washing to get the means of sub
sistence. He is q Pullman conductor.
earning $50 a month. She stated that
she was married to him on August IL,
1903. and had one child, aged 2 years
and 10 months
Mrs. sermons mother testified that
she had TO help her daughter and on
going to her house had frequently found
her working for other people. In other
points she corroborated her daughter s
story. Judge Morse granted n divorce,
the custody Of the child and ,$l5 a
month for the support of the child
Margaret Brown received decree of
divorce from Walter j, Brown, who
deserted and left her TO earn her own
living January IA, 1905. They were
married MAY 90, 1903. He was a bar
tender earning $3.50 week, but had
failed TO hand over any Of 1t. She was
also given alimony for the support of
their one infant child.
Annie Renicke swore that her hus-
band. Fred Renicke. had not contrib
uted a cent to her support for two
years, and though she had tried to find
him she had not seen him for that
time. Her testimony was corroborated
by a neighbor, showing that she had to
work TO support herself. During the
first months Of their marriage, which
took place December "a. 1902, he had
worked two and half days, which
constituted the amount of his contrihu-
tion to the family purse since, She
asked nothing but n divorce, which was
granted,
Kittic Reber received a divorce from
Daniel Reber: which was all she asked.
They were married at Challls, Idaho,
Nav |, 1892. and he deserted her May
80, 1905 He had not supported her,
and she had no idea where he was. a
neighbor corroborated her testimony
as TO the desertion.
Lottie Twitchell S Story.
Lottie F, Twitchcll alleged the most
positive acts of cruelty on the part OF
her husband, S,Ias a, Twitchell, who
is now an inmate of the State mental
hospital at Provo. His guardian ad
htem, Rose Cottle, also appeared and
corroborated the evidence of the wife
as to the cruelty when they were living
together, The guardian. who is n niece
of Twitchcll, thought his conduct to-
ward his wife when there was nobody
but the family present was outrageous.
When there were strangers around he
was very nice He was always mean
and unpleasant to her.
Mrs Twitchell told Of his conduct
after their marriage at Indian Creek.
Beaver county. His cruelty began al
most Immediately after marriage, when
he would call her tho most vulgar
names In July. 1906, he concealed
himself behind n bush when she and
lady companion were out walking and
struck her with shovel so that 1t
made her sick, He hardly spoke TO her
without abusing her, and used horrible
language to her when they were alone,
though he tried to be pleasant when
others were about
Willard Hanson told the court that
he went TO Provo on Thursday and
had seen the defendant, who, the doc
tor said. was subject to clouded fits,
but was rational at the time. He had
said that he wanted no defense and
that his wife and himself had always
had trouble, The doctor also was of
opinion that it would be better for the
defendant TO get his divorce.
The case was taken under advise