The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-24
MARRIED. COUSIN,
NOW TOLD She's
NOT WIFE
Mrs. Mary E. Weaver Says Husband
Sets Up Michigan Laws Ban a.
Excuse for DESERVING Her for
Another Woman.
Former Patroln,an Is Father Of Two
Families, One of Which Must Be
Declared Legitimate.

One OF the most remarkable d.
vorce cases in the history OF the
Wayne circuit court was filed Satur-
day afternoon by Mrs. May z. Weav-
CT, through her attorneys, McHugh
Gallagher. against her husband. /
Alpha c. Weaver, a former police
man, but now manager of the Whit
ney building and residing at No. 903 \
Lafayette boulevard Weaver now
lives with the divorced wife of for
mer Sergeant Purdue, of the police
force, and the pair have four chill
dren, while his own wife and their,
two children live at No. $50 Beniteau- !,
ave. SO complicated is the case that
no matter what the result OF the
divorce suit one or the other of these
families of children will be declared
illegitimate.
Mr.. and Mrs. Weaver are first
cousins, and both were 10 years of
age at the time of their marriage in
1889. Mrs. Weaver says she question
ed her husband as to their right to
marry, and that he assured her there
was no legal barrier. They lived to-
gether for about ten years, and two
children were born. They are now
10 and 16 years of age.
In August. 1897, Weaver was ap-
pointed to the police force, and had
been there but short time when he
made the acquaintance of Mrs. Mary
Purdue, wife of Sergt. Purdue, UNDER
whose command Weaver worked.
Purdue soon brought suit for divorce.
naming Weaver as correspondent.
ATrn DIR t.I h.
later she was allowed to take the
bare decree, while her husband got
the children and was not compelled
to pay any alimony to his wife
This suit is said to have led to
Weavers dismissal from the force.
Mrs. Weaver charges that after this
divorce case her husband deserted
her, and went to live with Mrs. Pur-
due, and has lived with her ever
since. When Mrs. Weaver remon-
strated. she says her husband claim
ed they had not been legally welded,
as first cousins are prevented by law
| in Michigan from marrying. He
thus branded his children as illegiti-
mate. He then threatened TO bring
suit to have the marriage annuled,
but this was never done.
Mrs. Weaver started suit for d.
vorce at that time, but moved to To-
ledo. where she remained for ten
years, and the case was allowed. 10
drop. Now she starts a new suit, III
which she demands alimony and a
share of her husbands property. She
claims that he owns some real estate
in the city and chicken farm.
Recently Mrs Weaver called on
her husband in the Whitney building
TO demand some alimony, but he was
not present He heard OF her visit,
however, and wrote her, advising her
TO stay away hereafter. He address,
ed the letter to his wife under her
maiden name of Miss Malinda Wort
ley, and in the letter always referred
to her as Cousin May, by which name
she was Familiarity known. In this
letter he scolds his wife for wounding
his feelings by referring to herself
as Mrs Weaver.
II tell people you are my first
cousin, and that is no lie; hunt up a
lawyer and find out for yourself IL
you want to-" he writes.
Recently one OF Viewers daughters
by his first wife, called at her faith
ers home TO see II II were true that
he was living there with Mrs. Pur-
due, and she alleges that she made
the acquaintance OF the woman who
now claims 10 be the rightful Mrs.
Weaver. Mrs. Purdue-Weaver then
told the young woman that the lat
ter's parents had never been mar
ried. but when Miss Weaver replied
that she had seen the wedding GER
tiflcate. wife No. then retorted that
the ceremony was not legal az the
contracting parties were first cousins.
AT the time of her desertion by her
husband. Mrs. Weaver says she was
left with two young children 10 care
for and with only three cents in the
house The members Of the police
force heard OF her restitution aud
took up collection for her benefit.
Attorney McTIugh was granted on
Injunction, Saturday, restraining
Weaver from selling or Numbering
any OF his property, or from modest.
fug Mrs Weaver