The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-27
FIVE MADE HAPPY
Wives to Whom Marriage Was a
Failure.
Liquor Plays Prominent Part In
the Troubles.
EARN OWN LIVING.
All Were Left to Shift for
Selves.
Divorces Granted to All with
Little Formally.
EARN OWN LIVING.

Five weary wives walked to the
court house this morning and Walteu
patiently in the corridors until the
district Judges could hear their stoIieS
of domestic uprisings. In each IN
stance the wife walked resolutely IIoIi.
the building with decree sep dslLi E
her from the man on Whom she hoO
unwisely bestowed her affections.
Two women and as many lawyers
entered Judge Whitcomb's division ana
a bailiff hurried to tell the court tnat
a customer waited without. "A rev
minutes later the electric Duzzet
aroused the unhappy wives and they
looked M to see the bailif drag the
trial docket to the court room 1he men
court convened and Judge Whltcoiiio
prepared for the worst.
Vira MelIoish was very unhappy
Eight years ago she married ChaIles
Melloish, who, she testified, deVoteUt
much time to the consuInpttoh ~
LIQUOR and but little time to the care
of his family. The Mello'shes llved on
a farm near Valencia. the huspdiIu
came to Topeka often. Each trip ne
took home an illustrated jag ana quar-
relied with mis- wife. sometimes ne
would stay away from home many
days. When sober, the wife said, her
husband was busily planning for the
next celebration. She was sure there
was no happiness in the home for her.
Judge Whitcomb concurred. he gave
the woman a divorce and CUSTODY OF
the minor child
Had TO Earn Own Living.
Mary G. Walter told of her dlsap-
pointments in the matrimonial world
She married Clyde Walter at Merlqen
in 1904. For several wears he mas
STAYED out late nights, and compelled
his wife to earn her own living. Wnen
the woman was sick she went to i've
with her parents. For several months
Mrs. Walter has lived in North To-
peka. where she earns a fair compe-
tence as a seamstress. She has not
seen Walter for several months. Sne
received a decree.
Mile A. Totten is slow to anger,
but her memory of past events Is Oh
an excellent character. For this rea-
son she had little difficulty in recall
ing ancient abuses at the hands of
Frank Totten, whom the woman was
sure was derelict in duty. She mar
ried Totten in 1890. Ten years ago
the husband left her. He never re-
turned But in the IL years they lived
as husband wife, Totten compelled the
woman to earn her own livelihood and
was insulting and abusive. A former
neighbor told the judge thai Mrs. Tot
tens record was of high order, and
she received a decree.
Although James Wilson earns 81 day,
he spends none of it for the support OF
Cora Wilson, his wife. Mrs. Wilson is
young and attractive. She appeared great
" disappointed when she considered that
her first experience was not a success.
Cora said she was a kind and dutiful wife,
but that Wilson refused to live with her
and would not provide the necessaries of
life For several weeks the woman has
worked at the Seymour packing plant,
where she earns 81 a day.
Gets a Second Divorce.
May Harrison has suffered hardships
and humiliation in her search for an affini-
ty. This morning she secured papers
which show she has an unconditional re-
lease from hubby No. 2. But Mrs. Harri-
son takes her domestic reverses philo-
sophically. She smiled when the Judge
reminded her that she was not prospecting
with her matrimonial contracts. And.
Mrs. Harrison is young, too
The woman was wife No. 2 for Frank
Harrison. He was husband the second
for May. When Harrison refused to pro-
vide for the two children by Mrs Harri-
sons first husband, the little woman's
amiable disposition was slightly upset
Then Harrison retaliated, the plaintiff
said, by knocking his wife down She
came back without taking the full count
and Harrison repeated. Then Harrison
kicked her But the wife's Indignation
was without bounds when Harrison bought
fancy groceries and ate them himself He
refused to buy butter for the children
referring his wife to the high cost of liv-