The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-09
Little Anna Peters0n's Mother
Asks for Child's Divorce.
She Is Too Young Herself to
Sue.
JAILED TO MAKE GOOD
Peterson Said He Had Good Job
and a Bungalow.
He Had Neither and Two Months
Killed Love.

For two morths1 16-year-old, Anna
B. Peterson xSrsed married life. she
didn't like it. Now, the child's mother
has filed suit in the district court, ask
ing that her daughter be divorced from
Arthur Edward Peterson, + whom the
girl was married April 8.
Anna is one of the youngest women
to ask for, divorce in Shawnee coun-
ty. In her petition, the girl says that
Peterson seemed to be a very promls-
ing young man when he called at her
mothers home in Oakland. He SAID
he had an excellent position with the
Postal telegraph company, and was
soon to go to work in the post once
But Anna has since found that these
statements were false.
One day Peterson went to Mrs. mar
garet Stevens, the girls mother and
said he would like Anna for wife.
Peterson talked straight past any oD-
jections she might have to her daugh-
ter's sutton. The prospective husband
painted vivid pictures of his wealth.
He said he was building 2 handsome
bungalow that was to be some nice
girls home. He offered it to Anna.
Then he said he wanted his wife to
have brand new piano. Anna might
have this, he said. Further Peterson
was a stickler for good furniture. An
mas home should be the best money
would provide. These statements ap-
pealed to Mrs Stevens, who has the
good fortune of her daughter at heart.
Anna was delighted. The next week
they were married.
Then things happened. Peterson's
bungalow was not completed. so tney
prepared to board with Mrs. Stevens.
A few days later the woman learned
Peterson didn't have a bungalow at all
and couldn't build one il he wanted to.
She also learned that. there wasn't the
least chance in the world that her new
10 a6nnmII12fR
enough money to buy piano. Fancy
furniture was entirely out of the ques-
ton.
When these matters were mention
ed to Peterson, he was wroth. Then
it was that he began to abuse and
curse his girl bride. Two weeks be-
fore the wedding he had lost his po-
sition at the Postal, the petition says.
and while he was "boarder" at MRS.
Stevens, he never arose until IL or II
o'clock in the morning. He refused
to permit his wife to go to breakfast
earlier and thus deprived her of some
Of her meals.
One day Peterson came home with
well defined idea that he wanted to
die. Peterson was sentimental and
that he intended 10 end it ALL But
he didn't. On onesoSeAeion the ardent
husband dissolved the heads of
number of matches in some water
But he didn't drinkAthe concoction--
not in Annals presence. A few days
later Peterson brought some strych-
nine to the home. This time he was
sure he wanted to commit suicide.
The husband was quite moody. But
he didn't carry out his threat. Under
his bed the affectionate husband of
six weeks kept hatchet. 1t had
keen edge. One day he produced the
weapon and timidly asked Anna if
she didn't want to die" Anna re
INJURED. So the execution vas post
poned.
When Peterson learned that his
young wife-for whom he had not
built the bungalow. piano and furni'
ture-expected to ask for divorce,
he made strenuous threats. He told
her that if she asked for decree, he
would elbow the house up with dy-
Mantle" But Annals attorney thought
fully asked for an order restraining
Peterson from interfering with her
affairs The mother avows that in
the eight weeks Peterson lived at
her home, that he never paid the
board bill. But Mrs. Stevens is a
broad minded woman. She is willing
to cancel the board bill If the district
court will set aside the daughters
marriage contract.
This is perhaps the first case in
the history of Shawnee county, where
a parent has sued a son-in-law for
divorce from her daughter. But as
Anna has not yet attained her ma
jority she must look to her next best
friend--the nnother-for relief. And
Mrs. Stevens is present to relieve the
situation.