The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-11-20
HOW GAN COURT
DECIDE THIS
CASE?

would find a fitting sphere for
mental acumen in the modern d.
vorce court. Here Is q sample
problem:
Affidavits and counter-afiidavits
mark the progress of the divorce
suit of Bertha Lauer against Will
liam J.. Lauer, IN which the chief
point of contention is the possess
sion sion of a pretty, bright-eyed
girl, age six. The Lauers are
young people, but seem to have
had more than their share of mari
tai trouble in late years. Lauer
is employed as cook and waiter
in the Arcade restaurant on Main
avenue. and is said by his employ
ers to. be an honest, hard working
man, who means to do right If
given a show.
Mrs. Lauer has sued for divorce
on the ground of habitual intoxica-
ton and cruel treatment, and al
leges, among other things, that her
husband so severely beat her on
November last that she had him
arrested and taken into police
court to compel him to keep the
peace. Mrs. Lauer asks for the
custody of their little daughter and
an allowance for their joint sup
port.
The alleged beating Of Mrs.
Lauer by her husband is said by
her to have occurred in their
rooms in lodging house, 703 Sec
ond avenue. Landlord White is
said to have interfered and pre-
vented the injury of Mrs. Lauer,
yet White comes into court in affi-
davit and says that Lauer is the
aggrieved party in the family dis
pute; that he has been a kind and
indulgent father and husband and
provided well for his family; that
the father is the proper party to
have the custody of the child, as
in the opinion of the affiant Mrs.
Lauer is not the proper person.
Mrs. Frances Bottcher, wife Of
Charles J. Bottcher, restaurant
man, makes affidavit setting forth
the good qualities of Mrs. Lauer,
and that she should have the GUS
tody of the little girl. Bottcher,
the husband of the affiant, how
ever, filed a counter affidavit yes
terday, in which he says that his
wife and Mrs. Lauer are morally
bad, and that because of this he
has left Mrs. Bottcher. Bottcher
further swears that he knew Mrs.
Lauer at Newport, Wash. and that
her conduct during the absence of
her husband from home was most
reprehensible
Tom Roy. a fellow employee with
Lauer at the Arcade restaurant,
makes affidavit that Lauer is sub
ect to becoming intoxicated; that
Mrs. Lauer is good, moral wo-
man.. and that he had heard her
husband praise her, and that she
ought to be given the custody OF
the child.
Peter Lewis, proprietor Of the
Arcade restaurant, makes affidavit
as to Lauer's good character and
his ability to care properly for the
child, and that in the opinion OF
the affiant Mrs. Lauer is not a
proper person to be entrusted with
the little one.
Herman Brose, saloon proprie.
tor, swears that Mrs. Lauer, an.
other woman and strange man
came into his place intoxicated at
late hour on November Is. This
was after the divorce suit was
| filed.
After the filing of the divorce
case, Mrs. Lauer is alleged to have
secretly taken the child to her old
home at Oakesdale, where 1t was
found by Lauer and brought back
to Spokane He is now paying IS
per week for it's board and 81 addi-
tional for other care for it. Judge
Sullivan yesterday permitted the
child to remain with the father
until the further order of the court
but stipulated that Lauer should
permit the mother to visit the lit
tie one and should be kept inform
ed as to the little girls location
Lauer in addition was required tc
advance his wife $25 for attorney
fees and $40 for suit money.
Lauer last night remarked: %
am willing to take my wife back
forgive her and start in new again
During our married life ] have
spent every dollar that ! earned
on my family, as my wife is dell
cate woman and was nearly always
under a doctors care. am willin,
to give her another show and for
get the past. II she does not car
to do this 1t then becomes my dut.
to fight for the little girl, as she i
all that have in the world to liv
for The little one needs moth
er's care and on this account / an