Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-17
WIFE DISPUTES
DIVORCE RIGHT
PROMINENT COUPLE TIRED OF
MARRIED LIFE
HUSBANDS COMPLAINT MET BY
CROSS CHARGES
Attorney Alleged to Be Heir to Gen.
erous Estate Tries to Keep Suit
Quiet, but Woman
Demurs

On account of the prominence in the
social life Of Los Angeles leading hotels
and fashionable apartment houses OF
the two parties to the actlon' more
than passing interest will be aroused
by the announcement of an Gction Tor
divorce filed in the Santa Ana courts
several weeks ago by Nathaniel Rlves
Rutherford. member of the law firm
of Lusk, Rutherford e. Stewart, against
his wife. De Rosa Matthews Ruther-
ford. daughter of one of the wealthiest
plantation owners of Texas.
Papers in the suit have been for
warded to the county clerk in Los
Angeles, the case having been trans
ferred to the local divorce court on an
application of Mrs. Rutherfords at
torneys, MacGowen & Haas. 1t is un-
derstood the action was filed by Ruth
erford in Santa Ana for the purpose
of avoiding publicity and after he had
established a residence Of ninety days
in Orange county, the time required
by law before a suit for legal separa-
tion can be instituted, by renting
room. the evidence of his tenancy be-
ing shown by the presence of letters
bearing his name and the fact that
his rent was never overdue.
Wife Files Complaint
Mrs. Rutherford has filed cross
bands charge of desertion, the accusa-
ton on which he bases his suit, and
adds as a reason why a decree, If any,
should be given to her, that Ruther-
ford is guilty of willful neglect. Fur
thermore, she demands $500 as attor-
news fees and a permanent alimony
of $3.50 month.
Rutherford, in his complaint, states
the community property belonging to
himself and wife does not exceed $4O0
in value. but Mrs. Rutherford points
to the fact that the paper is not veri-
fed with a notary's signature as proof
of her contention that this assertion is
not genuine.
The Rutherfords were married at the
plantation home of Mrs. Rutherford's
father in Tarrant county, Texas, No
vember IA, 1904 and the wedding is still
looked back on as a brilliant events in
the social events of that section. The
couple came to Los Angeles on their
wedding Journey and decided to settle
here. Since then they have been Nv
ing in the leading hotels and fashion
able apartment houses Of this city.
Attends Normal School
Shortly after the wedding Ruther-
ford's father is said to have divided
5000, 900 of his estate among his sons
the local attorney receiving ABOUT S4U,
while representing himself as indie
pendently wealthy, he asserts his por-
tion of the division was only a noml-
nal sum.
In 1905 Mrs. Rutherford visited her
old home in Tarrant county, remaining
away about fourteen months, ana
while she and her husband lived TO-
gether after her return, it is this tenn
porary absence on which he is said to
hoea his desertiOn charge.
A final break occurred in 1907, ana
Mrs. Rutherford says she will produce
letters written to her by her husband
in which he sought her assistance IN
nrocuring a divorce. accompanied by
offers of money ranging from $500 to
$1,000 if she would forego any demands
for property rights.
Mrs. rutherford is now attending the
normal school, perfecting her education
with reference to special studies. Her
mother, a wealthy widow, is in Los
Angeles having responded to her
daughters summons when the latter
was served with the divorce papers.