Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-05
NOTABLE SUIT FOR SEPARATE
MAINTENANCE AGA INST
"EATHER" COFFIN BEGINS.
DOES WIFE WANT WEALTH
OR REDRESS FOR WRONGS
Plaintiff Files Long List Of AlIega
ton. Against Aseo spouse, Charging
Cruelty, Threats of Violence and
Non support-case of More Than
Ordinary Interest-other Iowa News.

Special to Times Republican.
| Fort Dodge, July 5.-The suit fol
separate maintenance of Mrs. Belle
| Coffin VS. Father l.. $ Coffin, the ag-
| ed Iowa philanthropist was called fol-
trial today at special session of The
district court. Judge r. NJ Wright. pre-
siding. Owing 10 the state wide ac-
quaintance and prominence of the de
| PENDANT the case viii attract wide at
ton.
| April 4, 1903 Father" l.. S. Coffir
and Mrs. Belle Ingals were united ir
marriage at Detroit. Mich, Mr.. Coffir
/, having first made the acquaintance o.
his bride when she and her first hus-
band were connected with the railroad
mems home at Highland Park. H.. ant
of which Mr.. Coffin was trustee anc
one of the founders. The greatest OF
happiness seemed TO mark their honey
moon and apparently the marriage was
to be a most happy one, when the early
part oftAugust the following year Mrs
and a few hours before departing in
her marriage had been a most unhappy
one and that she was leaving Fort
Dodge forever.
Was She Fortune Hunter?
Friends Of Father" Coffin have not
been slow III whispering tina: thc "o
man was a fortune hunter and alleg-
ing the rupture between the two had
been caused thru her desire to gain
control of his fortune, estimated at
from $4,000 to s1s0.0o0. and that her
suit for separate maintenance has
been brought In the hope of gaining a
comfortable annuity. and then at his
demise claiming the widows share of
the property Considering the promi
nence of ga ther" Coffin and his many
acts Of pllila nthropy the allegations OF
the plaintiff in her petition are most
startling. being as follows:
Allegations For the Plaintiff.
Par 1. For cause of action the plain
tiff states that since April. 1908, she
has been a resident in good faith of
Webster county, Iowa. living with the
defendant. her husband. l.. s. Coffin.
and that such residence has not been
for the purpose Of this suit. and this
suit is brought in good faith.
Par 2. That on April 4. 1908. she was
married to the defendant. L. S. Coffin,
and lived with him as his wife from
said date until about the 9th day of
August. 1909, when for reasons herein
after stated she left the home Of the
defendant.
ALLEGES Cruelty.
Par. 8 That since the marriage Of
the plaintiff and defendant the defend
ant has been guilty Of such cruel and
inhuman treatment as to endanger the
life and health of the plaintiff. and
that his crueh trea tment of her has in
fact seriously impaired her health He
has repeatedly ordered her to leave his
house and get out and the quicker the
better He has shaken his fist In her
face. many times and threatened her
with physical violence. He has threat
ened to cut off her supplies In the
stores of Fort Dodge because OF the
purchase by her OF some fresh meat
and groceries. He has compelled the
plaintiff to DO manual and physical
work beyond her strength and in vfo-
lation of the understanding that she
would be the mistress Of Willow
edge" and that she would not be re-
quired to do heavy manual labor He
has forbidden the plaintiff to hitch up
horse and go to Fort Dodge. q dis
lance of three miles. without first ask
ing his permission. He has refused to
arrange for or employ help during the
hot weather. but has compelled the
plaintiff to do heavy homework and
manual labor That since her maria ge
to, the defendant she has cared for the
fifteen room house. has washed. iron
ed. cleaned house. and in addition has
taken care and taken full charge of
voluminous correspondence OF the de-
PENDANT in alleged charitable and be-
nevolent work carried on by him. He
has refused to make necessary repairs
to his house and became angry. abus-
i've and enraged when asked to repair
leaks in the roof. and has abused and
irsulted the plaintiff. and used vile
language toward her when she asked
that filthy drain at the hack of the
house be repaired. which threatened to
bring on typhoid because Of the
stencil. smell and infection connected
Herewith. He has abused plaintiff
without cause and reason. gets himself
into rage and passion. calls her
names, refers to Her as pauper. tells
her that he has taken her into his
home as matter Of charity Early in
August of the present year he took
from the plaintiff and" from her con-
troll horse and buggy In which she
was going to take her daughter to Fort
Dodge. denounced the plaintiff as a
pauper. and told her that he was the
"umpire" now and that what he would
say should be done He has refused to
come to the table and eat He has
made abusive and insulting remarks in
the presence OF the daughter Of the
plaintiff, who was temporarily visiting
her. and in many other ways has the
defendant been guilty Of such cruel and
inhunan treatment az to endanger the
plaintiffs life and health. He has
been guilty of acts and made proposals
that the plaintiff Is ashamed to reduce
to writing. and that shocked her and
would shock any woman Of decency and
self respect.
Withholds Support.
Par l. That by reason of the IRE
ouent abuse and conduct Of the defend
ant. the plafntiff became sick. worried.
annoyed. and was unable to sleep. and
early In the month of August. 1909. she
left the defendant. and went to her
former home. Detroit. Mich. where she