Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-04
Council Bluffs


answer OF her husband. william IL But
Ter. to her petition for divorce, Mrs.. Rhoda
Butler, whose case occupies the center of
the stage In district court this week, makes
additional sensational charges against her
husband. She charges that her husband
and his attorney used fraud, mlsrepresenta-
ton and duress In securing her signature
to the pre-nuptial contract cited by Butler
in his answer. She denies that a second
pact arranging for the transfer OF certain
pieces Of property was entered into with
the express purpose of bringing an action
FOR divorce and charges Butler with in
structing his attorney to bring suit for d.
vorce in her name.
She claims that the contract Of settle
ment was grossly inadequate and unfair
to the plaintiff and that it provides for a
mere pittance to be paid to her"
Mrs. Butler states that at the time of the
signing OF the contract she was ignorant
of business matters and that her husband
advised and commended her not to consult
with an attorney with reference to her
rights in the premises, telling her that
large fees would be charged and that her
homestead and other property would be
consumed with such fees.
Butler was on the witness stand yester-
day afternoon, his examination occupying
the greater part of the afternoon. He en-
tered a denial Of all the charges made by
his wife and insisted that he had always
been kind and loving and had urged her
10 remain with him when she threatened
to leave. He denied being abusive and said
he had never objected to the presence of
her children. Butler gave way to tears
while telling Of his wife's Illness
=. l. .-.o,t.a tboN tho rpaa will he guh-
mitted to the court this morning.
Gussie Buckingham was granted a decree
of divorce from Lester b. Buckingham, to
whom she was married December 81, 1906,
on the ground of desertion. Lille May
AIRY secured a decree of divorce from e.
s. AIRY on the grounds Of drunkenness and
cruel and inhuman treatment. They were
married May Is, 1901. Margaret e. Burg
secured separation from Joseph Burg on
the grounds of desertion. They were mar
ried January II, 1890.
Grand Jury Reports.
The district court grand jury made a
partial report, preparatory to adjourning
until the latter part Of next week, yes
terday afternoon, returning four indict-
ments.
The most serious charge made is that
ubd "a Ao1AANA NAS AS6NSf w."
indicted for assault with intent to commit
murder. Fischer was arrested Thursday
night on complaint OF Mrs. Gertie Broom
field, an Omaha negress. The testimony
before the grand jury is to the effect that
! Fischer approached Mrs. Broomfield, who
was walking on Broadway near Eleventh
street, Thursday night, and told her he had
come over from Omaha to kill her and
.srva--a- - - --u..- 900 an4pnNa
smith. As he said this Fischer drew a
gun and fired a shot at Mrs. Broomfield-
He pulled the trigger again, but the gun
did not discharge, He then turned the
weapon on Mrs. Broomfield's companion,
Fred Stone, a local negro, and snapped the
weapon twice. Deputy Sheriff Woolmar
arrested Fischer, and testified that the
negro had expressed regret that he had
failed to kill the woman. Fischer's bond
is fixed at $1,000.
Two other indictments were made public
yesterday.
Silas Dillon was indicted for breaking
and entering the home of E. H.. Leffert
6S Ninth avenue, on the afternoon of july
"a. He was seen by several neighbors tC
break into the house, and when the of
Ulcers arrived he was caught in the house
Nothing Of value was taken. His bond
was fixed at $500.
The Indictment against Charles Hayes
charged with forging the name Of Thomas
Capel to four checks for So each, on July
%, was also reported. Hayes bond was
fixed at $500.
The jury reconsidered its decision to ad
journ Thursday night and decided to re
main in session until noon today. There
are still a large number OF cases to be con.
sidered, and these will be taken up wher
the jury reconvenes next week, after it,
recess.