The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-11
GROVES IN JAIL.
Son of Prominent Negro Sem
fenced for Contempt.
Says Never VIII Pay AlimOny
Ordered by Court.
GRADUATEOF COLLEGE
Graham County Citizens Petit
ton for His Release.
Sequel to Most Fashionable
COlOred Wedding in State.

Hill City, Kan, Oct. IA petition is
being circulated among the citizens of
/ Graham county for the release of Chas.
Groves from the county Jail. The petit
ton when signed will be sent to Judge
Smith, the presiding judge, who SEN
fenced Groves to Jail for contempt Of
court. More than little interest is be-
ing manifested in the case on account
of the prominence of the parties in the
negro world of the state.
Three or four years ago Charles
Groves fell in love with the beautiful
and accomplished Pearl Jones, daughter
of G. w. Jones, then one of the fore
most negro lawyers in Kansas. At the
time of the marriage Pearl Groves was
one of the leading society bellies in the
state among the negro brethren. Chas.
Groves is the son of Potato King
Groves of Edwardsville, Kan, and
highly educated young man, having
graduated from the State Agricultural
college with honors.
Wedding Was a Swell Affair.
The wedding in Hill City was report
ed at that time as having been the
SWEETEST affair of that kind ever held
in the state. Nearly all the leading ne
groeS of the state were invited and
many were present at the nuptials.
Many of the leading citizens of the
white race in Graham county were also
invited. After the marriage the cOu-
pie lived on one Of the bridegroom's
fathers valuable farms near Edwards
vile. Soon trouble arose and the young
negro belle returned to the parental
roof of her parents. Suit was begun
in the district court for the dissolution
of the marriage. The case was heard
by Judge Smith and the woman was
given an absolute divorce from her hus-
band, as well as custody of the minor
child.
The decree also called upon Groves
to pay the ex-wife $500 alimony per
year for the support of the child.
Groves refused to make the monthly
payments of the a1imony. The matter
ran along without any friction for some
months until Judge Smith was con-
WINGED that Groves would not pay the
stipulated sum. He was cited to ap-
pear and show cause why he failed to
pay the alimony. The court sentenced
him to be confined to the county Jail
or pay the alimOny. Groves decided
that the Jail was the better of the two
evils. After being in jail for some time
Groves employed one of the leading
colored attorneys of Kansas City to
start habeas corpus proceedings for his
release in the supreme court of Kan
sas The court released him pending
the hearing of the contempt proceed
ings, which had been appealed to the
same court
Gave Himself Up to Sheriff.
The judgment of that court at the
June session was against Groves and
he was remanded to the county Jail in
this county. Groves gave himself up
to the sheriff at once without any re-
sistance, coming here from his fathers
home and going to Sheriff Knoufs
home asking to be incarcerated in jail.
Since that time he has been living at
the county bastile getting three meals
a day at the expense of the county. He
is a model prisoner in many ways.
Groves has no bad habits. He neither
drinks, smokes, swears or plays cards.
During the hot season he has been al
lowed to run in the court house yard
and spend much time in the shade of
the trees reading books and magazines.
But he has never made any move to
pay the alimony.
He says, it is stated, that he will
never pay the alimony, and prefers to
remain in Jail until the court mOdi-
fies it's orders. He is virtually defying
the mandate of the court, but as long
as he prefers to remain in jail the court
is powerless in the matter. The tax
payers are getting tired Of paying to
feed and clothe Groves for failing to
obey the orders of the court and the
petition is being circulated to release
him.
The former wife is making strenuous
efforts to keep Groves in Jail until he
agrees to pay the alimOny. The people
of the county are divided as to the ad-
visibility of letting Groves out of jail.
This is one of the few cases on record
in this state where an Individual is
holding the court at bay. Groves faith
er has refused to help him out on the
deal