The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-04-28
Ralph Robinson Admits He
Was i'll Contempt in Eng
lish Courts, Gets Decree
Wife REFUSED TO COME HERE
Husband Charges Her With Desertion
and Drunkenness but Admits That
He Had Refused to Pay for Separate
Maintenance.

An unusual action for divorce was
heard in the circuit court for Keno
sha county on Friday afternoon when
Judge Belden heard the testimony in
the suit of Ralph Robinson for divorce
from his wife, Edith May Robinson.
Robinson has taken out his first papers
as a citizen of the United States and
the evidence showed that the wife was
still living in Glldersome, Yorkshire,
England.
In the complaint the husband charg-
ed the wife with desertion, being an
habitual drunkard and with adultery
and personal service was secured on
her. She made no answer to the COM
plant and the attorney for Robinson
presented an affidavit to this effect.
e. Robinson, cousin of the plaintiff
took the stand and testified to the fact
that the plaintiff had been a resident
of Kenosha for more than two years,
but there was lack of evidence to
back up the allegations made in the
complaint in regard to the differences
between Robinson and his wife. In
the complaint Robinson charged that
his wife had since he left England in
1906 lived with other men and that by
one Of these men she had child The
attorneys sought to show this fact by
letters which Robinson had received
and which were admitted as evidence
in the case. One of the last facts
presented was a certificate of convic
tion from one of the English courts
showing that the wife had been con-
victed of using abusive language, but
this in a measure was balanced by the
presentation of a similar certificate
showing that Robinson had been con-
victed of cruel and inhuman treatment
been directed to pay to the wife the
sum Of ten shillings weekly. In this
country such an order. would be con
sidered as divorce from bed and
board. Robinson declared that at the
time this order was handed down in
August of 1906, he had declared that
he would never pay the amount named
to his wife and he declares that he
never made any payments. The evil
dence shows that he left England short
ly after this order was handed down
and there was no doubt but that he
had been in contempt of the order of
the English court since that time. The
question arose in the case as to the
force that should be given to the order
of foreign court in q case where the
party affected had renowned his ale
glance to the country in which the
court was situated.
Evidence was brought to show that
Robinson had always lived an ex-
amplary life both in England and since
his coming to America and that he
had never been drinking man. His
evidence in regard to his relations with
his wife seemed to be straightforward
and he insisted that even after com
ing to this country he had offered to
bring his wife here, but she had never
answered the letter. He insisted that
the delivery of the letter as it was
sent by registered post. The evidence
showed conclusively that the original
action Of the English courts in holding
Robinson guilty of cruelty to his wife
could not have been warranted on the
testimony and the letters brought be-
fore the court. Tt would have of
course been possible for the court to
have demanded that dispositions be
taken in England, but after hearing
all the facts in the case he granted
Robinson a divorce.
The decree is, however, an inter
locutory one and under it Robinson
may not marry within year and in
case the wife should seek to have
defense made in the action she could
reopen the case at any time within
the year. 1t is not thought that there
will be any international clash of the
courts as a result of the action of the
circuit court of this county.