The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-05
Wife, Who Is Trained Nurse, Tells Court Story of As sorted Maltreat-
 mentS
Three Seek Relief from Marital Bonds and All
 Are Freed by Judge
J. Riley Was Rover and Left Mrs. Riley Nine Times in Ten Years Children Testify Against Father and State Prefer ence for Mothers Care.

Judge Edwin B. Gager in the Civil Superior Court this afternoon handed down three decrees of divorce, one for intolerable cruelty, and two for de- sertion. Dorcas B. Mcfarland of Stam- ford was freed from Lewis U. McF,ar- land of the same place; Lillian Riley of this city, from Harry J. Riley, of parts unknown; and Wallace B. Parks of Norwalk, from Ada Parks, also of parts unknown.
 The McFarlands, who were well to do folks of Stamford, were married in that town. Aug. 8, 1889, and have three children. The couple lived happily un- til 1907. Mrs. Mcfarland testified that on July 2, 1907, he struck her with a shoe, making her arm black and blue. He angered over trip she had taken Mrs. Mcfarland is a skilled nurse and
 is hired by the physicians to serve the best families of Stamford. On Aug. 12, in the presence of her two sons, her daughter and a co1ored servant Mcfarland threw a tea cup at her and struck her. Then he threw the tea service on the floor, breaking it, and shook the plaintiff so vigorously that she tainted.
 The following March he went South In March he came home and abused her again. June 27 he tore her waist off and choked her. Many times after
 
 colored servant employed by the Mo Farlands, testified to the treatment of Mrs. Mcfarland Ky the defendant and corroborated the facts as given by the plaintiff. The eldest son of the cou- pie, Irving, also testified to the cruel ties heaped upon his mother. The plaintiff was given decree on the ground of cruelty and the custody of her little girl. Both boys were asked by Judge Gager whom they preferred as their guardian, both said "my
 mother"
 Wallace B. Parks married Ada Per- kinS in Brewster, N. Y., June g, 190I- The plaintiff, who was IT at the time of the marriage, testified that he kept company with Miss Perkins for some time. One day, while they were car at the home of a Methodist minister to make date for their marriage. The minister, being short of funds told the young couple that he could fix it up for them then and there. They took his advice and cheated their friends out of a gorgeous we'd ding. They returned to the home of MT. Parks in Norwalk, where he is Parks often took the notion to visit her parents in Brewster. which was with the full consent of her husband. It was on March IT, 1905, that Mrs. Parks said that she wished to revisit her mother. Her husband gave her $10 to go to her former home, while he went on business to New Canaan. In the meantime she hired an express man and packed her wearing apparel, along with things belonging to her husband. Since that time he has not seen her. He has written to her ask | ing her to come back, but the letters always were returned to him unclaim- ed. He received a letter from the mother saying that Mrs. Parks had not been home in two years. Charles s. Grumman, a selectman, in Norwalk, produced a diary for 1905, and under date of March IT the note that Mrs Parks had left town was written. Miss Frances Parks, sister of the plain tiff, testified to the fact that she re- m em bered that it was March IT, 1905, that Mrs Parks was last seen in Nor and her first year in High school. MT. Parks was given decree on the ground of assertion.
 Harry J. Riley of this city, after his marriage Nov. 3, 1S99 decided to give up working and live on the money that his wife could make employe of the U. M. C. Go. The couple had one child, which is now six years old. Ever since the child has been three nurse, whom Mrs. Riley has paid
 Early in his married life Mr. Riley. de- veloped a bad habit of "hocking'' everything that would bring money. He was a rover also, and often left Bridgeport. Mrs. Riley testified that he left her nine times in ten years, the last time being June 29, 1905, since
 Riley was given a decree on the ground of desertion and the custody of her child.