The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-09
.UNLETTERED MAN
IN MATRIMONIAL
TANGLE
UNABLE TO READ, BELIEVES
FAKE STORY THAT WIFE HAS
DIVORCE, AND so REMARRIES
TWicE-coURT HELPS HIM OUT.

Two men featured the regular week
ly divorce session, Monday afternoon.
which was SO well patronized that the
work was divided between Judges
Murphy and Mandell.
William b. Norton, prosperous
looking Detroiter, was in a fair way
TO obtain decree from his wife. Lot
tie. when his attorney introduced Il
letter in which hisw ife asked him TO
remember his promise to set her free.
Did you promise to get divorce
50 that she could get married" asked
Judge Murphy.
After we parted l told her that |
would do what | could to held her get
along" Norton replied. and she
asked me To get ad ivorce as she had
met a nice man to whom she wanted
to get married That was in 1904.
TOLD her | would as soon as | learned
what kind OF a man she was marrying.
did nothing until September. 1908,
and then she wrote me asking me to
get a divorce. | promised | would,
and fled my bill few days later
Judge Murphy AT once dismissed the
husbands bill. on the ground that
The Nortons were married in 1889,
ana separated in 1898 after a few
words about Mrs. Norton's conduct.
They remained friends, but Mrs. Nor
ton declined TO return, saying she dis
liked married life. II is now up 10
Mrs. Norton 10 frame up an excuse for
a divorce.
The other man was John w. Jones,
who told a remarkable story. He was
married to Huldah Jones In Trenton.
I'm 1885. Trouble arose in 1890 over
the division OF some property and
they parted He filed bill for di-
vorce, and the wife fled a cross-bill.
Mrs. Jones. although prosperous and
Intelligent. cannot read, and he was
told that his wife had obtained di-
vorce. He remarked. but his second
wife lived only until the birth OF a
child. Then he married third wife,
and only recently did he learn that
his wife had never obtained decree.
The first Mrs. Jones is now living at
No. 45l Lansing-ave. Mr.. Jones Will
get a decree, and he will then resume
living with his third wife.
Mrs. Beryi Botsford, handsome and
stylishly attired. testified that her
husband. Alanson. now bookkeeper
for the SeidlerMiner Co, treated her
SO cruelty during the seven months
they lived together that she had to
leave him. Once he beat her so that
he was arrested, but he begged for
forgiveness and they lived together
again Later, he beat her until her
face was as black as her coat, she
testified.
Mrs. Botsford is now pianist in the
j. l.. Hudson music department, where
she interprets the productions OF the
+. 7. Remick Co.. to the lovers oil
rag-time.
Agnes Phillipski said she endured
the drunkenness and abuse OF her nus
band, David, for several years, but
when he came home one day, and at
ter beating her and her mother Sc
verely, tried her TO get her TO drink
carbolic acid, she thought 1t time to
quit.
Ella Mabel Murray was one OF the
principals In double wedding in
Port Huron In August. 1907, when she
was married to Joseph Murray. He
left her five days later, returned in
week. and they lived together only
month. Mrs. Murray was urged to
tell the cause OF their final breakup,
but she refused TO tell her story out
loud, and was permitted to whisper II
to the Judge. Her whispering brought
decree. A witness for Mrs. Murray
was her sisterinlaw. Mrs. Moffat. 2
decidedly pretty woman, who was
married at the same time.
And did your marriage turn out
happily" asked the judge.
1T certainly did" Mrs. Moffat re-
piled with smile. and she looked
the part Of happy, contented WON
an.
Grace n. Myers. testified that her
husband, Earl. TO whom she was mar
ried in Windsor. deserted her after