The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-04
.C0NVULSES COURT
WITH WITTY
SALL|ES
AGED GERMAN WOMAN MAKES
MERRY WHEA APPLYING FOR
DIvoRcE-wANTs DECREE so
AS TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE.

The presence in divorce court Mon.
day morning OF Martha Albrecht. an
elderly German woman. added con
siderable merriment to an otherwise
dull occasion. Mrs. Albrecht want
ed divorce from her husband. Will
lam. who deserted her 10 years ago
The couple were married 20 years
ago. Every question asked the old
lady made her laugh harder. The
merrlment seemed to be contagious
and before she left the stand Judge
Mandell was laughing as heartily as
the audience.
Did you treat your husband WELL?
inquired Judge Mandell.
II should think did" answered the
little woman, and she fairly swayed
with laughter.
Where is your husband now. is he
living or dead?"
"Oh, | don't know und don't care"
and she laughed harder than ever.
| What does woman of your age
want with divorce?" asked the
Judge.
| Il might get another chance" she
replied, and this time the audience
joined in the outburst.
Mrs. Albrecht was promised a de-
cree on the grounds of desertion.
Mrs. Minnie Davis testified that
the religious differences of her and
her husband, Max, were responsible
for several Quarrels during the two
weeks they lived together, and Max
left her. The case was heard on the
wife's cross-bill. The husband started
the case, but withdrew his bill. He
alleged that his wife received love
letters from other men. but she denied
this.
Looks Like a Bride.
Mrs. Eva Sagmaster looked more
| like a bride than an applicant for di-
vorce. She was neatly attired In white
| from head to foot, and decidedly sty-
| lsh. She testified that her husband.
Joseph, to whom she was married In
1881, had deserted her 16 years ago,
and that since that time she had not
| received cent Of support from him.
Frequent Quarrels over the husband s
morals were given as the reason for
the trouble. A daughter % years OF
age, testified that she had not seen
her father since she was seven.
Merritt j. Wells was always drunk.
so Marietta Wells testified. Her testi-
mony was corroborated and a decree
was promised.
Much of Fred w. Schwartz's testi.
mony was unprintable. but 1t was OF
such a nature that 1t secured for him
an annulment OF his marriage to EN-
ma Schwartz In April, 1907. They
lived together but few weeks.
Il don't have to support no woman
Is what Edward Shaner Is alleged to
have said to his wife, Lilly. when after
several months OF married life she
asked him for a quarter. They lived
together about Is months, and during
that time Mrs. Shaner had to support
herself
Soaked Every Night.
He was soaked every night, and l
couldn't leave the children with him
because he got the snakes" Is what
Martha Sikora said of her husband, Jo-
seph. Joe's continued drunkenness
made 1t impossible for him to mold a
Job, and Mrs. Sikora said she had done
washing for nine years. She said that
when she went out TO work she had
to hire some old woman to look after
her children, as her husband was usu-
ally drunk A sister of the plaintiff
who lived in the same house for eight
years. said she had never seen her
brdther-in-law sober.
Eva M. Bassett, pretty little girl
from Worthwhile, not yet 10 years old,
told of her marriage to James Bassett
when she was only II and he Fl. She
said that her husband never gave her
cent, never treated her as a wife.
would go and come when he liked,
told her 1t was none OF her business
where he was, and several times was
away for week at time. There was
other testimony whispered to the
Judge, and her husband will be re-
strained from marrying for two years.
The Judge urged the wife to ask for
alimony and he promised to see that
1t was paid, or the husband would go
to jail.
MarrIes Merry Wldow--sad Finish.
Edward Denton married merry
widow, Jennie, by name. In 1897, and
according to the husbands testimony
she has led him lively chase. Dur
ing the ten years that have interviewed
since the marriage. he testified that
his wife had been arrested eight times
for larceny and disorderly conduct,
and had gone through a second mar
rage ceremony with soldier named
William Thomas. who is now in the
Philippines. This soldier was In De-
troit only % days. but during that time
he and Mrs. Denton became engaged
and we're married by the Rev. ID. H.
Hind, the Sandwich parson. the wit
ness said o.