The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-22
AN AFFINITY CASE
Why w. j. Rowe, Dickinson Dis
trict Clerk, Resigned.
Abilene and Dickinson County
Excited Over Sensation.
HIS WIFE TELLS ALL.
Says Rowe Devoted Himself to
Another Woman.
Is WIFE TELLS ALL.
Files Sensational Suit for Dam
ages and Divorce.

Abilene. Kan, Aug. 22.-All Abilene
and Dickinson county are talking of
the resignation Monday of w. J. Rowe,
clerk of the district court in this city.
ROWe's resignation followed threa- Of
custer proceedings made by several
citizens who declared that u district
clerk should not be defendant to the
suit brought by Mrs. Rowe for divorce
a short time ago.
The direct cause of Rowe's resigna-
ton, according to the rumors in A5l-
lene, is the recent petition of his wife
who charged that he was supporting an
"affinity''-a girl named Minnie Rice.
The petition filed in the district court
created such a sensation and caused
such a political stir in Dickinson coun-
ty that the newspapers in Abilene, Her
ington and other towns refused to have
anything to do with the case. In her
petition Mrs Rowe charges her hus-
band with devoting himself wholly TO
Minnie Rice and nonsupport of his real
wife.
Talk of Custer Suit.
For some time before the petition for
divorce was filed the city was talking
of the household affairs of Mr.. and
Mrs. Rowe. The relations between the
clerk of the district court and Minnie
Rice started a rumor of custer pro-
ceedings some time before the real
facts were brought out in the petition
for a decree of divorce.
In her petition-the petition sub
scribed and sworn to before Rowe him
self as clerk-AIrs. Rowe charges her
/ husband with extreme cruelty, adul-
terry, and gross neglect of duty
Here is the story as told in the files
of the district court
Susan f. Rowe and w. J. Rowe were
married February 26, 1891. Until the
first of January, 1911, the two lived in
peace and harmony Then came Min
ME Rice upon the scene.
! Mrs Rowe claims that Minnie Rice
wilfully and maliciously intended TO de-
stroy the domestic happiness of the
pair Mrs. Rowe says that the girl en-
ticed and induced her husband to stay
| away from her. She says that Rowe
was induced to spend large sums OF
money on the girl
It was then-in January-that Mrs.
Rowe decided to apply for divorce.
She filed the petition but Rowe prom
ised th.-t he would reform, and would
return to his fireside and abandon his
affinity and treat his wife with consid-
Grafton and respect.
Upon this promise Mrs. Rowe dis
missed the action.
Rut Mrs. Rowe has filed second
sut-one against Minnie Rice for 500
| and the other against her husband for
divorce, temporary alimony and attor-
ney fees.
In this suit she lays bare the life said
to have been lived by the clerk of the
Dickinson county district court
Wffe's Sensational Charges.
The petition reads:
That said defendant unmindful OF
his duty toward said plaintiff as her
/ husband, and unmindful of the promise
| and agreement so made by him. failed
/ to return to the home of said plaintiff,
tailed to provide for her support and
maintenance and continued his unlaW-
! full association with one Minnie Rice"
Then the petition goes on to tell OF
several of their alleged actions:
THAT said defendant provided the
| said Minnie Rice with home or rooms
where he spent most of his time with
the said Minnie Rice. That he
| has paid or given her large sums of
| money, the amount of which the
/ plaintiff cannot state. That he has
paid bills for wearing apparel and 9TH
er necessities of said Minnie Rice. That
he has openly and notoriiously asso-
ciated and consorted with the said
Minnie Rice 80
Mrs. Rowe claims that Rowe has
spent his entire income in supporting
Minnie Rice and in drunken ca
rousals'' with Minnie Rice and 'other
| disreputable and dissolute persons"
She says he has taken the Rice woman
to different hotels and rooming houses
and registered as man and wife under
an assumed name.
The case is full of sensations and
when 1t comes to trial in the Septem-
Der term of court it promises to arouse
all of central Kansas. It is understood
that a number of other people are con-
nected in the case
There is little wonder that Rowe de-
cided to resign.