Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-16
FLETCHER SUIT
IS CONCLUDED
THREE CORNERED FIGHT
BROUGHT TO A CLOSE THIS
FORENOON.
ATTORNEYS ON STAND
All Of the Counsel in the Several
: Gases Testified in court-lnter-
venors Ask $500 Attorneys
Fees.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Attorneys in the case of Sarah F.
Fletcher against her former husband
Harrison H. Fletcher concluded argu-
ments this afternoon and the matter
was given to the court. Both Mr..
Lewis for Fletcher and Mr..
Rankin for the dismissal of Mrs.
Fletcher contended that the
court didn't have jurisdiction
to declare the former divorce pro-
ceeding null and void for the reason
that Mrs. Fletcher at this time does
not desire it.
The intervenors are demanding |
$500 attorneys fees and all that can
be done in the present proceedings, |
say the opposition, is to tax up an
equitable amount for services render
ed.
Attorney I. S. Pepper Of Muscatine,
associated with Chester w Whitmore
as intervenors, assisted in the case
yesterday but because of the conven-
| ing of the grand jury and as he Is
county attorney of Muscatine county,
he had to retire from the case last
evening and was excused by the court
Before adjourning he was placed on
the witness stand by Attorney Lewis
in an endeavor to lay all the blame of
the petition in which attorneys for
Fletcher and Mrs. Fletcher are
criticised UP to Chester Whitmore,
but without appreciate success.
! Attorneys On Stand.
All the attorneys in the case were
OH the witness stand including A. w.
ERoah former attorney for Mrs
FlaNher.
! Nkr.y Lewis told of the entire tran
lsactihn had previous TO the grant
! ing of the divorce. He told how both
Mr.. and Mrs. Fletcher. desired to re-
\ tain him and that he had to refuse
Mrs Fletcher because of previous
agreement with Mr. Fletcher. Mr..
Lewis said that he endeayored 10
have the couple patch up their differ
ences and effect a reconciliation but
this was impossible as Mr. Fletcher
was eager for the divorce.
The agreement as to alimony was
drawn up by Mr.. Lewis in the
presence of Mr.. and Mrs. Fletcher
before Attorney Enoch who had been
retained.
Mr.. Lewis said he had come to
such a point after Mr.. Fletcher had
determined on divorce that he could
not counsel Mrs. Fletcher and stated
to her that she ought to have an
; attorney He said he recommended
several but thought that Mr.. Enoch
would be the better for her. She
E agreed to accept the services of Mr.
$ Enoch and he was accordingly called
into the case. Gle came to my Office
), where briefly stated the facts of the
case to him in the presence of Mrs
Fletcher" said Mr.. Lewis.
Mr.. Enoch Testifies.
4 Mr.. Enoch was then placed on the
witness stand and told of his connec
e ton with the case He said that he
I had hung out for more alimony ant
had commenced an investigation as tt
the worth of Mr. Fletcher when thu
question of the custody of the mino
children came up. AS Mr. Fletche
seemed determined to have control o
: them. if he was to pay larger sun
y that had been proposed. Mrs. Fletche
dropped the question. This. SAT-
Mr.. Enoch, stopped all talk of NOR
alimony as Mrs. Fletcher scenes
greatly worried and would not ris'
ANYTHING for the custody of the chi
dren.
. In regard to the actions of MI
Fletcher in the matter, Mr.. Fnoc
g said to Mrs Fletcher that he (Fletcf
err was doing her verv great wron
}. and that retribution would surely ovel
/, take him.
Mr. Rankin Talks.
w. w Rankin, dismissal attorne
;, for Mrs Fletcher. stated on the wi
ness stand that the basis of conside
% alton for the dismissal of her last su
10 was that house and two lots on tn
4 south side should be decided to tn
- children. These deeds, he said al
40 held in trust by him and were to /
= turned over to Mrs Fletcher in Apr
two days after the expiration of tt
six months. This was to prevent a
appeal from the rulings Of the cour
v sAre those deeds still in your DO
So session." asked Mr.. Pepper.
10 Eyes. sir
"Will you turn them over to Mr.
Fletcher at the time specified?"
80 Only on the order of the court
~, said the witness
~ Rev. ]. G. Barton of the South Sid
a friend Of both Mr. and Mrs. Fletc
Ac er. was placed on the stand by Il
" I intervenors. TO show that he was Il
/, middle man who carried the prop
bf sitions to Mrs. Fletcher as made
Mr.. Fletcher, during the last suit
nd The first proposition made by N
l q Fletcher. said Mr. Barton, was Il
IL house and lot on the south side. MI
Fletcher desired that the house al
: two lots be decided to the childre
est This proposition was afterwards {
cepted by Mr.. Fletcher.