The Detroit times., 1911-08-26
REFUSES DIVORCE
TO G|RL-W|FE
Court Thinks Mrs. westfall's Woes
Due To Refusal To Live in Coun-
try-Several Get DEGREES.

Mrs. Eva Westfall only IT years OF
age. becomingly dressed and very at
tractive, left the divorce court, Satur-
day morning, with her pretty blue eyes
swimming with tears after Judge MUIR
I'm had refused her divorce until
he had had chance to interview her
husband, Rush Westfall.
The pair were married in Windsor
following a clash between the parents
OF the girl, the father objecting to the
marriage OF the daughter, who was
then only 16, and the mother favoring
the match. Through the efforts OF
the mother the father was out-witted,
and the couple slipped over to Wind
sor where the knot was tied. That
was on May z. 1910. and the next day
the youthful husband went to the
country to reside on his fathers farm.
Mrs. Westfall did not follow until
November. and then the monotony OF
country life so affected her that she
became melancholy and her physician.
she said, ordered her TO live In the
city. She also charged her husband
with cruelty, testifying that once she
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up by the doctor, ne was sent for. but
remained only Is minutes, leaving TO
attend a dance. Later, when she be-
came worse, she said her husband left
her to attend horse race.
'T think the whole trouble between
these young people Is caused by the
wife's refusal to live In the country,
and his desire to remain on the farm,
Judge Murfin said. "and l will not
grant decree until have had some
testimony from the husband. People
marry for better or worse, and the fact
that the wife does not like the country
is not ground for divorce"
Twenty-four hours after his mar
riage to Sarah j. Gray in the 800"
Gr er c. Gray marched away with
tn soldier boys to assist Uncle Sam
in "assimilating" the natives of the
Philippines. Apparently the process
had taken SO much OF his time that
he has not found opportunity to write
to his wife or send cent for the sup
port of his child, now several years
old. Mrs Gray knows her husband
has been discharged from the army,
but she has no idea now OF his where
abouts. She got a decree.
Anna Grace Merriam, employed In
the ONCE of the Hudson Motor Car
Co.. testified that her husband, Harold
Merriam, went to California, where
he became an oil inspector at salary
OF $110 a month, but refused to let her
accompany him unless she promised
to earn her own living. This prospect
did not appeal to her and Mrs. Mer-
riam remained In Detroit. She also
drew a decree.
The court was unusually generous
with Mrs. Anna Helner, wife OF August
Helner, an NJ. c. R. locomotive engin-
eer Mrs. Helner was granted de-
cree on the grounds OF cruelty. and
then her attorney timidly asked that
she be allowed little alimony for
the support OF two daughters.
How much do you want?" asked
the Judge.
1--WE think $50 per month would be
enough" he replied hesitatingly.
"That is not enough for the mother
and two daughters. I'll make II $75l
per month"
Walter Smith testified that his wife,
Jennie, preferred to live In Chicago
with her son than to live In Detroit
with him. He asked for a decree on
the grounds OF desertion. but was re-
fused on the ground that the alleged
desertion had not continued for two
years.
Mrs. Rose z. Donovan gave thrill
ing description OF her escape from the
hands of her husband, Frank A. DON
ovan, who, she testified, while intox-
icated attempted to carve her with
razor. A decree was granted.
Other DEGREES granted were: Anna
vs.. Charles Blanchard, cruelty; John
VS.. Anna Zuros, infdelity; Grace vs.
william q. Bigelow, non-support, and
william J. vs. Annie Smith, desertion.