The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-19
Well-KnOwn Attorney Files
C0unter-Claim and Asks
Decree Of Divorce.
HE SAYS BETTER HALF
HAS COST HIM $4,000
Also Alleges Wife Married Him
Solely to Get Money
From Him.

Charles I, Parsons, Ine Wel-hAO"A Il
attorney and mining man, filed an an
swer and counterclaim TO Mrs, Jennie
B. Parson' IS complaint for separate
maintenance. in the third district court
Wednesday, in which equally as acri-
monious and spicy charges are made
against Mrs. Parsons as she laid against
Mr.. Parsons. He now asks for di-
vorcc
Mr.. Parsons says that his married
life, although covering period of
twenty years, has afforded him only
few short weeks of family assoeia'
tions Mrs. Parsons became his wife,
not because she loved him, but solely
as a means Of securing money and for
the purpose Of her own selfish ENJOY
ment. Mrs. Parsons has hired attor-
news 10 harass and extort money from
him, and since January ], 1900, he has
paid to her and her daughter, $4,000,
$4,000 of which has been paid since
their rcmaruage st Denver, January
%, 1901. When Mrs. Parsons failed TO
get attorneys TO take her case. to eH~
tort money from him, she mallclously
. charged that he had bribed all the at
I tornevs I'm Denver and Salt Lake City.
These, and other equally as sensational,
charges Mr.. Parsons makes against
Mrs. Parsons III his answer and counter,
claim This now Joins the issues aud
the case may 90 to trial.
Wife's Allegations.
Mrs. Parsons. in her suit for sepa,
rate maintenance began November 5.
said that she sought and obtained q dl-
vorce from Mr.. Parsons in California
in 1893. This Mr.. Parsons denies He
admits that she instituted divorce pro-
ceedinqs, but sets out that he secured
q divorce on a cross-complalnt because
! of Mrs Parson IS wlllful and causelesS
. desertion from him.
The first marriage took place at St.
Louis, November 10, 1850, and the re-.
marriage Mt Denver, January %, 1901,
Mrs Parsons alleges IN her complaint,
which is not denied by Mr., Parsons.
Soon after the remarriage, Mr.. Parsons
/ showed a desire TO run away from her,
| Mrs Parsons sets out, evinclng surly
moods, which was followed by dec
f, laration that the remarriage was fail
ure. Soon after her return from bu-
rope, where she went TO supervise the
education of their daughter Mrs. Par
sons said, Mr.. Parsons virtually de-
serted her, leaving her at hotel and
refusing TO live with her. He fur
nished her with money, she admitted.
paving her hotel bill, but did not al
/ low her TO dispose Of any money OF her
own volition, claiming that she was Lot
competent TO handle any money, What
he gave her he termed charity, 10 be
granted or withheld at will, was an
other allegation.
Alleging that Mr.. Parsons earned at
least $1,000 q month, and owned min"
ing properties that brought him in That
much more. and that he was worth
/ s500,000, Mrs. Parsons asked for $500
month permanent allmony.
For Sake of Daughter.
Mr.. Parsons says in his counterclaim
! that after Mrs. Parsons had exhausted
! her personal resources abroad be re-
married her for the, sake of their
/ daughter, The trip abroad was made
ostensibly TO educate the daughter, Mr..
[ Parsons says. When she returned, July
/ "a, 1904, be called upon her at the
/ Brown Palace hotel, Denver, he says,
| but she met him with a TRADE OF abuse,
and, in the presence of the daughter,
/ charged him with inideltiy. He didn t
| compel her to stay at the hotel, he
says, but she stayed there of her own
accord. aud it cost him $3.50 daN.
too He paid TO Mrs. Parsons and Miss
/ Parsons on an average Of $3.50 q month
/ as an allowance.
Mr.. Parsons says he is an attorney
at.law, but has not engaged IN gen
eral practice for Years. He is depend
income and the net cash value of his
assets do not exceed $4,000, be as
serts.
The education of his daughter cost
him $4,000, Mr.. Parsons further al.
Ieges, He made her monthly allow
ance of 1925 beside what he paid Mrs.
Parsons, almost an. equal sum. To save
and hold his property he has been com
PEELED to eXpend large sums of m5ney
for interest. The interest on borrowed
money exceeds 5000 a month. Limiting
his OWE expenses to 500 a month, in
cluding an allowance Of Sl25 n month
for Mrs. Parsons, and excluding tho
allowance to his daughter, Mr.. Parsons
says that his monthly expenses exceed
his earnings by at least 500.
Serious Charge Made.
AT Denver, in 1904. 1905, 1906 and
1907 Mr.. Parsons says, Mrs. Parsons
circulated stories among their mutual
friends and acquaiutances to the ef-
feet that he was Gcpriving her Of tho
actual necessities of life, and attempt
ed to secure attorneys TO harass him TO
eXtort money from him. When she
failed, she made the charge that he
had bribed all the lawyers in Denver
and Salt Lake City.
When they came here in 1907. Mr..
Parsons says, Mrs. Parsons visited the
Mccormick and National Bank Of the 4
Republic and withdrew largo sums of
money he had on deposit there In Eu- /
rope, aside from leading an extravaeaut !
career. he thinks Mrs. Persons lei 4
modest and respectable life. However. }
she tried to arouse a scandal in his I
family by circulating stories about (
duels members Of it engaged in Mrs. ,
Parsons was liitle of heipmeet, /
though. according TO the counterclaim, !.
for despite the fact that he has been !
heavily N mr. md > bs 81
gle TO meet the financial demands
AGAINST him has impaired his health.
Mrs. Parsons received $4,000 from him
IN the last nine years for her personal |
comforts and Injuries, "Shc only re-
garded the marriage tie rs potent and
effective means of securing money with
out effort, Mr.. Parsons declares in his
couutsrcla;u,