The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-19

ante nuptial agreement two days be-
fore the wedding.
Both Taylor and ]. B. Larimer, who
followed for the defendant, produced
great stacks of supreme court author
tiles to bear out their contentious and
to show that the contract was fa1r
and equitable to all parties concerned.
Then Judge Whitcomb listened TO
flood of advice from higher authority
and the defense seemed never to tire
Of references. While the lawyers for
the defense paraded. the evidence be-
fore the court, Mrs. Cooper sat with
head in hand and gazed at the designs
in the worn linoleum. Seldom did she
glance in the direction of her husband
or the opposing lawyers. Taylor had
spent an hour and half Tuesday
evening in an effort to adjust the evil
dence to his own liking. Judge Whit
comb had allowed the lawyers I'M
limited time and they did not hurry.
Every scrap of evidence was cleaned
up with due respect to details.
Taylor resumed his argument when
court convened this morning and
talked until IL o'clock. Then Lari-l
mer took an hour in which to again
display the statutes and offer mo-e
court decisions. At times he was
rough on the plaintiff. He often ques-
toned her motives and urged the
court to grant the decree in favor of
the defendant.
Willing to Support Child.
In their arguments, the attorneys
for the defense held out the only olive
branch displayed in the trial of the
case. They were willing, they stated.
for the court to set aside a Compel
ence for the heir, but they wanted the
judgment nailed down to the exclu-
sion OF the plaintiff.
McKeever took advantage of this
concession on the part of the defense
as a weakness in their cause. He plead
ed with the court that the interests
Of the child alone had brought his CHI
ent to the courts. Then he told OF
the sufferings of the mother. He pic
tured her humiliation when Cooper re-
fused to provide clothing in advance
for the little one and abused the de-
PENDANT for his parsimony. McKeever
also defended Mrs. Coopers temper in
view of her husbands actions in bring
ing his all too numerous lady acquaint-
ances to the home.
Girls Brought In.
He told of the freedom of Oakie and
Miss Metzker, who visited Cooper and
banged the family piano until the wife
was driven to distraction. Neither did
McKeever overlook Attorney Martin,
who was employed to draft ante nup-
tial agreements for use on COoper's
prospective brides. Cooper also receiv-
ed little consideration from the prose-
cution for his insistent use of employ
ment contracts. Then the courts at
tention was called to Cooper's promise
to keep in touch with the Tilson wo-
man and his plan to marry the coun-
tess.
After these matters had been given
proper attention, McKeever turned the
courts gaze on the defendants for
mer matrimonial troubles as good evil
dence of the treatment of his present
wife. He told of his arrest for COM
polling his daughters to work in the
fields on Sunday and referred to
Cooper's generous use of vile and pro-
fame language in the presence of his
wife.
Through the scorching arraignment
Cooper sat with hand to his ear, lest
some bit of the TRADE might escape
him. Once as McKeever removed the
defendants matrimonial record and
held it up to the gaze of the public,
Cooper turned up his coat collar.
placed his hand to his mouth and
laughed with a sincerity that showed
he enjoyed the proceedings.
The case was taken under advise
ment and it is probable that judgment
will not be rendered until the latter
part of next week. Attorneys were
permitted to submit new evidence in
the next few days concerning Cooper's
alleged property interests in Texas.
This was the only matter held open
bV the court,