The Detroit times., 1911-02-04
GREAT CRUSH IN
DIVORCE COURT
Judge Murphy Tackles Record Docket
of SO Cases-Afinities Figure
As Home Wreckers.

Reno will have to look to her laur-
els or that swiil little western city
made famous by It's divorce colony will
find that Detroit has wrested from
her the doubtful honor OF oeing the
worlds greatest divorce market.
All records In the Wayne circuit
court were smashed to smithereens,
Saturday, when Judge Murphy tackled
q docket OF 36 pro-confesso divorce
cases. SO great was the crush of
plaintiffs and witnesses that the Judge
hold court I'm Room No. 2, one of
the largest In the county building.
Even there the crush was so great
that many persons were unable to
find seats and stood packed In the
aisles and In the doorway. Specta-
tors crowded into the jury box and
into the chairs. reserved for attor-
neys, and walked about the corridors
awaiting the calling of the cases In
which they were interested.
II was the vision OF one of her hus-
bands former sweethearts that led
to the appearance in court of Mrs
Pearl Wicks, woman of attractive
appearance. Mrs. Wicks testified that
she and her husband, Norman A.
Wicks. went to Guelph, Ont, to spend
their honeymoon, and there he saw a
girl with whom he had formerly kept
company. From that moment" Mrs.
Wicks said her husband changed, be-
came cold and Indifferent, and finally
admitted to her, she said. that after
he had seen the other girl, the old
fame was rekindled. and he no long
er loved his wife. Norman had other
afinities than the Ontario girl, and
Mrs. Wicks handed to the court sew.
eral letters she had Intercepted from
a girl In Beliot, Wis. In one letter.
this girl said: Il attended the X. Of
G. dance, last night, and was told
that I was the swellest dancer, the
lest dresser and tho finest looking
girl there. | am sorry, dear Norman.
that you have such a cold. wish |
was there to nurse you. Oh, Norman,
never loved q fellow as I do you.
Don't forget yoir dear little GIRL
Mrs. Wicks was granted a decree.
Letters found IL the pocket OF her
husband, Emil Beazy, also led to the
unhappiness OF Vesta Beazy. These
letters were given to the Judge to
read. and after a glance at them, he
informed the plaintiff that she could
have decree. In one letter Emil's
affinity said: II was sorry could
not meet you and go to church, Sun
day night, but I was afraid Mabel
would tell"
Apparently those people didn't al
low love affairs to interfere with their
devotions." Judge Murphy commented
Judge Murphy was also called upon
to read more letters In the case of
Gertrude vs. Hugo Hemme. After
brief glance at several epistles writ
ten by some of Hugos affinities, he
remarked: These are too erotic for
the court to peruse." and handed them
back to the wife, at the same time
telling her she could have a divorce.
Fredericka Cooper was on the verge
Of collapse as she told of the cruelty
she endured at the hands OF Joseph
Cooper, and after leaving the stand
she became hysterical and had to be
assisted from the court room. Mrs.
Cooper testified that her husband
struck her with his fist. The blow
In addition to rendering her uncon-
scious, impaired her eyesight and has
caused the growth OF tumor in the
nose. She was given a decree.
Other DEGREES granted were to Low.
ena vs. John F. Bailey, 20 years de-
sertion; Anna vs. Frank Kiss, cruel
ty; Maud vs. Charles II. fowler,
drunkenness; Elizabeth vs.. Frank z.
Brown, non-support; Hannah vs.
Arthur Barnes, cruelty; Charles w.
vs.. Alice Coleman, desertion; Addie
VS.. Harley Grenier, non-support;
Julia VS.. Amos DeGroat, drunkenness;
Marie vs.. John A. McDopald. habitual
drunkenness; Homer vs.. Mabel Hold
en-. desertion, and Anna vs. James
Mayes. cruelty.