Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-03
ARS.GOFF|V SCAARGES.
PETITION in SUIT FOR SEPARATE
MAINTENANCE CHARGES CRU.
eLTy AND ABUSE.
STARTLING ALLEGATIONS
ARE MADE MY WIFE
Mrs. Coffin Charges Aged Philanthro.
pist With ssriou. offen.es-s.y. Il.
Made Slave Of Her-wife Want.
Monthly Allowance for Her Sup
port.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times
Fort Dodge. Sept. 3.-Papers in the
suit for separate maintenance brought
by the bride of sixteen months against
Father L. S. Coffin, the wealthy phil
anthropist of this city, were served at
the Coffin home late yesterday. Father
Coffin, however, is visiting in New
England, where he went week ago
after the story of his marital troubles
first began to leak out. Mrs. Coffin
makes some sensational charges in her
petition, and demands a monthly al
lowance for her support. She does not
seek divorce.
There has been much interest arous-
ed since the separation was an
nounced and the nature of the alle-
cations to be made by the plaintiff
have been anxiously awaited. The pc
tition sets forth that the plaintiff has
been resident of this county since
April, 1908, living with her husband,
L. S. Coffin, and that such residence
has not been for the purpose of this
suit, that the suit is brought in good
faith and that she had lived with the
defendant since the date of their mar
riage until the ninth day Of August,
when for reasons made known in the
petition she left the home Of the de-
PENDANT.
Charges Cruelty.
The reasons set forth charge that
since the marriage of plaintiff and
v1o MI
guilty Of such cruel and inhuman
treatment as to endanger the life and
health of the plaintiff and that his
cruel treatment to her has in fact
seriously impaired her health. The
petition says: "dIe has repeatedly or
dered her to leave his house and to
get out and the quicker the better.
He has shaken his fists in her face
many times and threatened her with
physical violence. He has threatened
to cut off her supplies in the stores
Of Fort Dodge because of the purchase
by her of some fresh meat and grocer
les. He has compelled the plain
tin to do manual and physical work
beyond her strength. and in violation
OF the understanding that she should
be the mistress of Willowedge, and
that she would not be required to do
heavy manual labor. He has forbid
den the plaintiff to hitch up a horse
and go to Fort Dodge, distance of
three miles, without hrst asking his
permission. He has refused to ar
range or employ help during the hot
weather, but has compelled the plain
tiff to do heavy housework and manual
labor. That since her marriage to
the defendant she has cared for the
fifteen room house, has washed, ironed
cleaned house, and in addition has TAX
en- care, and taken full charge of a
voluminous correspondence of the de-
PENDANT In alleged charitable and ben
evolent work carried on by him. He
has refused to make necessary repairs
to his home and became angry, abus-
i've, and enraged when asked to repair
leaks in the roof, and has abused and
insulted the plaintiff, and used vile
language towards her when she asked
that filthy drain at the back of the
house be repaired, which threatened
to bring on typhoid because Of the
stencil, smell and infection connected
Herewith.
Bad Temper, She Says.
He has abused plaintiff without caus.
and reason, gets himself into rage
and passion, calls her names, refers tt
her as a pauper tells her that he ha:
taken her into his home as matter o.
charity. Early In August Of the pres.
ent year he took from the plaintiff ant
from her control a horse and buggy IL
which she was going to take he
daughter to Fort Dodge, denounced tn
plaintiff as a pauper, and told her tina
he was the Umpire now and tina
what he would say shall be done. H
mas refused to come to the table ant
eat He has made abusive and in
sulting remarks In the presence OF TIL
daughter Of the plaintiff. who was tenn
porarily visiting with her, And in man.
other ways has the defendant beel
guilty of spch- cruel and inhuman treat
ment as to endanger the plaintiffs lif
and health.
Charges Shameful Acts.
He has been guilty Of acts and ta
made proposals that the plaintiff i
ashamed to reduce to writing, but tina
shocked her and would shock an.
woman Of decency and self respect
that by.~reason Of the frequent abus
and conduct of.the defendant the plain
tiff became siolk, worried, annoyed, an,
was unable to sleep, and early In TIL
month of August, 1909, she left ~