The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-20
DIVORCES BRIDE
TWICE HIS AGE
v. D. Petit Says Wife Of 40, Whom
He Welded When 10, Is Dope Fend;
Threatened To Kill Him.

Judge Murphy was called upon In
the divorce session, Monday, TO dis
solve a marriage which brought the
parties considerable publicity at the
time the event was celebrated three
years ago. The marriage was that OF
Verne d. Petit, son OF the Rev. Mr..
Petit, formerly pastor OF the Stanton
Park Baptist church, and Mrs. Charles
8 Hunt. They were married March 3,
1908, the groom being at that time
10 years Of age, and the bride over
40, with a daughter only one year
younger than Petit, and two other
children almost grown up.
The young man was at that time
stenographer, making 80 a week, and
his wife was living In an expensive
home and dressing extravagantly, he
told the court. He said that she urged
the marriage, and did all she could
to hasten II along. She also repre-
sented that she was wealthy, he
claimed, and gave him handsome
gifts.
Shortly after the marriage the
bride had a row with her landlady, and
was forced to seek a new home. Mr..
Petit then rented the handsome home
at No. 206 Palmer-ave. east. paying
$35 per month rent, which was just
one dollar less than his salary. Al
that time. he said, he expected his
wife TO assist In the expenses OF the
big home, as she had represented to
him that she was worth $4,000. The
young husband said he soon discov-
cred that his wife's wealth consisted
of s35 In cash and suit for damages
against the ID. u. r., on which there
was little chance of her realizing any
thing. The expensive furniture his
wife possessed was mortgaged, he
said, and he was compelled TO pay
eAorbitant rates OF interest to keep IL.
His wife's habits were extravagant,
Mr.. Petit said, and once when they
were plunged In debt, she gave swell
dinner in their home, at which they
had high-priced orchestra. Added
to these troubles she became addicted
to morphine. IL was testified, and
when under the influence OF the drug
made life miserable for her youthful
husband with Ihreates TO kill him and
her charges OF unfaithfulness. Several
times, he said, his wife had driven
her daughters from house with the
butcher knife, and once she appeared
In the Stanton Park church, created
a disturbance and accused her hus-
band Of furnishing music for Cham
pianist. resort, when the fact was
that at the time mentioned he was
playing the trombone In the Sunday
school orchestra.
Other witnesses told of seeing Mrs.
Petit under the influence OF drugs,
when she would rage for hours and
carry on like a maniac. ge a
The defendant was not present In
court but was represented by ncoufi-
sci. A decree of divorce was granted.
Charles Lee said it was bad enough
To learn that his wife, Mabel Lee, en-
tertained an affinity In their rooms
during his absence, but he thought II
was rubbing II in when he was sum-
moned to court and compelled to pay
81 for license for dog which this
affinity left with his wife for a short
time. Lee was given divorce.
The bill Of George Long, OF Toronto,
was dismissed. He charged his wife,
Loretta, with desertion, but 1t was
shown that the necessary two years
hou hOS SioPoSo oihSS thS dilcbCu uC-
sertion.
The shooting of the wife OF Capt.
Kuna, at the foot OF Mt. Elliott-ave.,
several years ago, was recalled by the
appearance Of Bertha Ely. who asked
for divorce from Fred Ely. Mrs.
Kuna was shot by Mrs. Ely after
fight between the women on a schoon-
er. She was tried for murder and ac-
Quilted on the ground that the shooting
was in self-defense. Mrs. Kuna was
jealous of Mrs. Ely and attacked her,
when she found her talking with Capt.
Kuna. Mrs. Ely charged that her hus-
band was cruel to her and never sup
ported her. She was given a decree.
Frederick Ettmiere testified that he
came to America In 1902 with the in
tention OF making this country his
home, and 1t was understood that his
wife was to follow him. He wrote for
her to come and sent money, but she
refused to leave the dear old father
land. Later there drifted across the
ocean rumors of the conduct OF his
wife, and letters and affidavits, re-
ceived later, convinced him, in his
absence she was travelling at a some
what rapid pace. He was given a de-
cree.
Other DEGREES granted were to Min
ME vs.. William Kunzleman, drunken
ness and cruelty; Tillie VS.. Max
oblaz, desertion; Edith VS.. Thomas
Bond, cruelty; Margaret VS.. Elgin r.
n