The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-09
STORY OF RANK ABUSE
TOLD JUDGE A. R. PAU

Mrs. Irene Griffith of FELTON, ar
rived in the city yesterday afternoon
and took room in the Clifton
House. She came to be present at
the trial of her divorce case against
her husband, Clarence S. Griffith
Last evening the defendant appear.
ed upon the scene and asked to be
shown to his wife's room, but Mrs
G. J. Klein, the landlady, refused, as
the wife had paid for the room and
desired to be left alone. In some
way Griffith found his wife, for a
few moments later, while Mrs. Klein
was sitting in the office of the no
tel, Mrs. Griffith came running down
and ran around her chair, trembling
like leaf, with her husband after
her.
Pleaded for Protection.
They chased few times around
the chair and then Mrs. Griffith ran
behind the counter, all the time
pleading for Mrs. Klein to protect
her. Mrs. Klein was equal to the
occasion and told Mrs. Griffith that
she would protect her and ordered
the husband out of the house. Grit.
fifth protested that he had a right
to be there and could not be ordered
out, and that he meant no harm to
his wife, but Mrs. Klein understood
her rights and insisted in his leaving
or she would summon the police
Griffith finally left.
Later, Mrs. Griffith's attorneys
Phillips & Hunt, arrived and were
very thankful to Mrs. Klein for her
interference. Mrs. Griffith stated that
on one occasion her husband struck
her and broke her nose, and she
appeared to be in terror of him.
Divorce Case Heard.
The divorce case in which Mrs
Griffith is the plaintiff was tried
during this forenoon, before Judge
A. r. Pfau. Mrs. Griffith was a wit
ness, and she related a heartrending
story of abuse and mistreatment she
had suffered at the hands of her
husband. Frequently he pounded her
several times driving her from their
home. W2H
On the night of February 10 last
the climax was reached when Mrs.
Griffith left the house to escape the
ill-treatment of her husband AL
though weak from the pounding she
had received and with numerous
bruises on her body, she walked
from her home in Rapidan to the
home of her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth
Murphy, in Garden City, distance
of twelve miles. She left her home
about ten o'clock and reached her
mothers place at about two in the
morning.
Enough for the Judge.
Judge Pfau stopped Mrs. Griffith
pitiful story, remarking that he had
heard enough to convince him that
the woman was entitled to a divorce.
The defendant Griffith was present
in the court room, but he did not
offer to put in any testimony.
Mrs. Griffith was formerly a
school teacher and is highly thought
of by all who know her. She is the
mother of two children.
The district court grand jury has
not yet brought in any indictments
This forenoon William Jessup
pleaded guilty to an information filed
INV rtu Onhn oh
ing grand larceny in the second de-
gree of a hen, and the court will
pronounce sentence at 10 a. m. to-
morrow.
Judge Pau today filed an order
granting a divorce to Smith ID.
Yendes from his wife, Lavina d.
Yendes, on the ground of desertion.
There are no children.
Judge Pau also granted divorce
to Arthur N. Tibbetts from Mabel
d. Tibbetts on the ground of deser-
ton. There are no children.
The court also filed a decision in
the case of the National Bank of
Commerce against Peter Peterson,
finding that the plaintiff is the owner
of an undivided one-fifteenth inter-
est in certain real estate, and that
the defendant is entitled to a four.
teen-fifteenths interest in the same,
and finding that the plaintiff is en-
titled to judgment THAT the land be
partitioned, and appointing F. X.
Meagher, H. c. Krause and j. A.
Johnson to partition it.
In court this forenoon motions for
alimony were argued in the Fred.
w. Lobdell and G. G. Phillips d.
vorce cases.
The following cases were tried
yesterday afternoon:
J. E. McMillen VS.. d. w. Valen-
tine, also known and doing business
as C. B. Daggett, and Mrs. C. A.
Berger.
Helen Klenk VS.. August c. Klenk:
William j. Richards VS.. Jennie
Richards.
William and Joseph Murray VS.. H.
G. Borchardt, demurrer
In the matter Of the adoption of
Ida Elizabeth Fren, "a minor, by
Frederick and Maria Hawisch.
The following cases were added
to the calendar at the peremptory