Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-28
Nebraska
THOMAS PROGRESS Is SLOW
Supreme Court as Yet Issues No Or
der in Ballot Case.
DIVORCE UT FROM OUTH
application for Decree Made by Mrs.
Elizabeth waite Creates sensa-
tfon in Mfs-issIppI-Lee
Get. Busy.
frrom = staff Correspondent.)

LINCOLN. Neb., April 27.-tSpecial)-
Elmer e Thomas tried during the after
noon to get a hearing before four judges
Of the supreme court on his motion TO
advance the excise board ballot case, but
no order was issued by the court during
the day. Mr.. Thomas alleges that the
district court erred in holding that a va
cancy occurred within the meaning OF
the statutes, although in fact It may have
occurred prior TO the date of the primary
election.
Mississippi Divorce Case.
The news Of the action of Mrs. Eliza
beth Waite jnstituting divorce proceed
ings in the district court of this county
against Captain Otis J. Waite appears to
have created something Of a sensation in
Jackson. Miss, where the defendant re-
sides and where he 10 rated as one of the
foremost business men. The petition was
filed April II and the grounds alleged
are drunkenness and extreme cruelty.
The following dispatch from Jachson
gives something of the history Of the es-
trsnged couple:
News has just reached this city Of the
beginning of divorce proceedings In Lin
coin. by Mrs. Elizabeth Waite, wife Of
Captain Otis J. Waite of jackson and;
surprise, II has given rise to no little
talk in social and business circles.
Captain Waite Is one OF the foremost
president of the First National bank and
Is prominently Identified with numerous
other enterprises. He is about so years
Of age and occupies a high social >osi-
tion, The allegation Of drunkenness
never had the reputation Of using liquor
TO. excess. He will cOntest the case.
Mrs. waite is less than half the age
Miss Elizabeth Meacham OF Kansas City
and a niece Of the captains first wife
As such she frequently visited the fam
was with the avowed intention of going
on the stage, but no woru was ever re-
ceived here Of her having secured an en-
nected I'm an editorial capacity with a
society publication in Kansas ~ known
as The Butterfly.
Mrs. Waite has visited In Jackson once
or twice since separating from the cap
tain and their relations have apparently
been friendly.
Mrs. Waite has been I'm Lincoln for
about a year and has been boarding with
a prominent faulty, She is a woman OF
rather striking appearance and cultured
manner. Size with her mother and sister,
formerly lived N Lincoln and left here for
the south eight or ten years ago.
The divorce petition ~recites that plaintiff
and defendant were married in Kansas
City March 81. 1901, and that he has beer
repeatedly and continuously guilty Of ex.
treme cruelty. He began exhibiting thl.
cruelty within a few months after Their
married life began and continued It dur.
ing all OF the time that they lived together
1t is charged that he struck her at variou,
times.
Mrs. Waite stated today that there woulC
be no contest upon the part OF her hus
hand, from whom she had secured a volun.
tary appearance and waiver of summons
he was satisfied that she should secure
a divorce. She was asked II she had ever
made her appearance on the stage or at.
tempted to secure an engagement. but de
clined to discuss the subject. In reply tC
a query as to whether or not she had beer
employed since taking up her residence II
Lincoln she stated that she had been car
rying on a mail order business, She de
clined to make any statement as to he
newspaper experience IN Kansas City.
VIII OF I. VI. Raymond.
The will OF the lat Isaac NJ. Raymou,
which was filed and admitted to probat