Putnam patriot., 1912-12-13
Superior Court


Judge Bennett came to Putnam Sat
urday to finish the contested divorce
case of Bennett VS. Bennett. The par
ties are from Brooklyn and the plain
tiff alleges intolerable cruelty. The
case was begun a week previous but
was not finished.
Mrs. Bennett took the stand and her
cross examination was resumed. She
told again of The time her husband
pulled her from the blackboard and
| dragged her on the ground. She left
and was gone three montas. Her hus-
band came after her. He accused her
of putting glass in his food. A COW
was bought and that caused trouble.
He'had tried To put her out of the
! house and caused her arms to become
black and blue. He didn't order her
to drop corn nor tell her too. He ask
ed her to help hay. Didn't know
whether or not he meant TO throw her
of the load of hay. Pitched corn Jon
wagon TO please him. He threw the
frying pan across the room, threw wa
ter on her and spit in her face. She
did not try to stick a hatpin into him.
Did not flourish revolver nor tell
him she had killed a former husband
with it. She had a little gun but it
wasn't loaded. After a short redirect
examination the witness was dismis.
ed.
Mrs. Fannie Bennett said she heard
Bennett used bad language concerning
his wife. Told her about dragging
his wife through the mud and throw
ing water on her. On cross examina-
ton said that Bennett said his wife
had fit when he put the water on
her. Mrs. Bennett wrote letter to
her husband after the final separation
in which she said "Whatever hal pens
remember | am your wife. Witness
said she did not like Bennett.
Several other witnesses testified that
they had heard defendant use bad lam
guage concerning his wife and make
disparaging remarks about her. Plain
tiff then rested.
The defendant took the stand in his
own behalf. He said that he was sick
at the home of his wife when he mar
ried her. Was not engaged but had
been keeping company with her. The
license was made in the house at his
wifeis request. Stayed there two
weeks and then went TO the farm he
bought. Got along all right the first
month. He did not compel her to
leave. She was restless one night and
said she could not stand ii until morn
ing and made him get up and take her
home. She left him three times in
three months. she told him she
would conquer him or kill him. Said
she never lived with man unless she
ruled him and would rule him, the de-
PENDANT. She fiourished revolver
and said it was the cause OF her first
husbands death and would be the
cause of his if she could not rule him.
Defendant denied all acts of cruelty al
legged by the plaintiff. In regard TO
the buck board incident he said that he
was going To carry the cream and she
would not let him hitch up the horse.
She said she was going to carry 1t II 1t
was carried. She grabbed pitchfofk
and said she would run It through
him. He wrenched the fork from her
put her out of the barn and locked the
door When he backed the horse out
she jumped in rear of blackboard stuck
her legs through the spokes of the
wheels and said "Break them If you
dare too He took her out as gently
as he could under the circumstances.
Didn't try TO back horse on her did
MT tear up carpets, didn't push her
down steps. He couldn't DO IL AS she
was too strong. Didn't compel her TO
drops phosphate or corn. She did IL
because she wanted to and did it cheer
fully. He didn't want her TO do IL.
Didn't compel her TO do any kind CT
work. When she was riding on load
of hay the hay slipped off. She was
holding on to two forks and her wrists
, were wrenched. He was sorry she
was hurt and he told her so. She
wouldn't have a doctor. Regarding
the frying pan incident he said she
| threw it at him as he came into the
kitchen. Didn't strike her or spit In
her face. She flew at him and pulled
out a hat pin and said she would hurt
him and he gave her a push. she
| threw herself on TO the floor and went
| into spasms and he dashed water on
her face. She wanted to buy the place
and said she would give him home
as long as he lived. Sold il to her and
| next day she changed her mind and
said she was going 10 work and not
carry on the farm. lie sold his cattle
and she told him he had got TO get out.
| Never talkei OF divorce. she said she
| would never cause him any trouble.
Ii was his money that bought stock 4,
horse, .and other property lie had
| 500 and she used il. Posted her once.
| He had had marks on his body from
tussles with her. She has uncontrol-
liable temper and jealous disposition.
Denied using vulgar language TO oth-
ers about his wife. Never used her
cruelty.