The Detroit times., 1910-03-10
BOY IS CENTER OF
DIVORCE TRAGEDY
Little Walter Hull Bursts Into Tears
When Told To Choose Between
Parents-Mother Promised Decree.

Called to decide between his father
and mother, both OF whom he appears
to love cea,-y. little Walter Hui. aged
10, was the chief factor in one of the
most pititul scenes ever witnessed IN
divorce case
1t was IN Judge Rohnert's court
room that the little drama took place
wednesday morning Judge Rohnert
had just decided To grant a divorce tC
Mrs. Derucia Hull, whose husband
Walter. brought suit against her. max
ing sensational charges. and he left il
TO the boy 10 decide with whom he
wished TO go. The lad looked first al
MS father. then at his mother. and be
gan To cry. Mrs. Hull sat on a back
seat In the court room shaking with
sobs, while her husband sat in an
other part OF the room with his face
buried In his handkerchief
The room was crowded with specta
tors at the time. and there was scarce
ly dry eye Men who had no inter
est In the case hooked on at the little
tragedy. while their eyes were wet
with tears.
The boy was inclined to favor his
father. with whom he has lived for
two years. Al the time the parents
separated two years ago in Los An.
geles, Mr.. Hull took the child and came
east. and since then he has seen his
mother but once. Mrs Hull IS conf.
dent that II the boy is allowed 10 visit
with her for few days he will be
willing to live with her To give the
two chance TO become acquainted
again after the long separation. Judge
Rohnert held up the decree for a few
days. and directed that Walter remain
with MS mother. This arrangement
suited all the parties concerned. and
Walter went away with his mother
seemingly happy
Judge Rohnert stated later that he
would probably hold up the decree for
two or three weeks, and allow the boy
TO visit back and forth. he hopes
that the boy may bring his parents to
gether.
Mrs. Hull's sudden appearance ir
court Tuesday morning, greatly 10 the
surprise of husband, entirely upset
his plans Of getting "A divorce unop
posed and Wednesday he decided &c
withdraw and allow Mrs Hull TO take
the decree. Mrs. Hull testified that II
was her husbands insane jealousy
that caused all their trouble She
says he made life miserable with his
false charges. coupling her name with
men he brought into their home him
self. She SAYS he brooded on these
matters SO much that she at times
believed he was crazy She exhibited
list of questions her husband com
PEELED her TO answer. telling her that
II they were not answered before Il
O'Clock he would kill her and commit
suicide
I'VE were living in the mountains
near Los Angeles at that time" Mrs
Hull testified ION the night follow
ing the answering OF his list he awoke
about midnight. and said to me:
What are you doing here. this is an
immoral house. | asked him what he
was doing there then. Then he grew
so wild that | thought he would kill
us all, and | rang for the neighbors
They rushed to the house, and ms
husband quoted down. His actions
that night resulted in the loss of his
job"
Mrs. Hull denied emphatically her
husbands charges of friendliness with
mission worker named James. He
was brought to their house as a
roomer by her husband, she said. and
remained there for several months. lie
grew bold toward the last, Mrs Hull
said, and told her he loved her. She
ordered him to leave the house, and
told her husband Of the occurrence
James returned. she said. and again
told hor of his love and wanted he!
TO clone. She said he threatened tc
kill her If she told her husband. TIC
avoid any such possibility Mrs. Hull
went to Pasadena for two days. leav
ing a letter explaining the situation
20 her husband. Her disappearance
was reported in the newspapers. and
she learned that James was in jail
Then she returned"
At this point Judge Rohnert stoppe1
the case, and promised her a decree