Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-25
VITAL STATISTICS;
Divorces and Suicides in
Maine for Past Year
As Given in Annual Report
J Of State Registrar.
Total Divorces During Year, $751;
Total Suicides 81.

The annual report of Dr. A. G. Young,
the State registrar of vital statistics,
which has been filed with the Governor
year the number of divorces granted in
Maine was SS7 against 1877 for the pre-
cedng year, an increase of 100. The
largest number of divorces was decreed
in Cumberland county, with Penobscot
county second. While the smallest num-
Der was decreed in Knox county,
Some of the causes for which divorces
were granted are as follows: Adultery,
l01, or ia per cent. of the whole num-
Der; cruelty, 35, or SO per cent; deser-
ton, PAP, or 27.3 per cent; intoxication,
116, or 81 per cent; failure to support.
8, or "a per cent. The other divorces
We're granted for multiple or associated
causes
The wife was the libellant in 632 di-
vorceS, and the husband in 255 cases.
In the divorces granted for adultry, the
wife was the libellant 3S times and the
husband 63 times. On account of cruelty
the wife was the libellant in 81 cases
and the husband in eight cases. For de-
scrtion the husband was the lbellant
112 times and the wife 100 times. For
intoXacation the husband was the libel
liant in II cases and the wife in 105
cases. For cruel and abusive treatment
the husband was the libellant in "a in
stances and the wife in 257. For fail
ure to support the wife was the libel
liant in the y divorces decreed for that
cause.
Nine divorces were granted before
mo cd CT
before one years marriage; 234 after
from one to five years marriage; $50
after from five to 10 years; 24O after
from 10 to 20 years; SO after from 20
to 80 years; and 10 after more than 80
years of married life.
During the past year 81 persons COM
mitted suicide in Maine, SO males and IS
females, an increase of two over the
preceding year. of the males the oecu-
patton of 10 was that of farmer; labor
=. seven; mill operatives. three; clerk,
40: sea captains. two: shoemakers,
two; and one each of blacksmith. car
penter cook, cooper, engineer. gas piper,
lumbcrman. moulder, paving cutter,
salesman, sawmill owner, stable keeper.
stone cutter, stone mason. student,
tcamster, truckman. and waiter
OF the females the occupation was
registered as that of housewife; of two,
as housework; and one each of house
keeper. laundress. mill operative, table
girl, teacher and shoe shop operative.
AS to the means employed % commit
ted suicide by shooting. 20 by hangins.
II by poisoning, / by drowning, 10 by
cutting throat. three by aSphyXiation
from illuminating gas, one by chloro-
form inhalation, one by jumping from
Il high place and one by fire.
The youngest was a boy of II years;
the oldest. a woman of so years. The
largest number of suicides was II in
May and December respectively By
quarters the suicides We're II, 30.
IA and 81. The largest number,11. oc-
| CURED in Androscoggin and York coun-
ties, respectively. The highest DEATH
rate from suicide was in Waldo county.
The rate for the State per 1000 of pop
ulation was 80.
Three of the students were between
the ages of 10 and 20 years; 10 between
20 and 80 years; Is between 30 and 40
years; 90 between 40 and 80 years; II
| between 80 and go years; 13 between 20
and so years and one was over so years.