The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-01-21
MUST PAY $500 As ALIMONY
Doris Vaughn Darnell Divorces Minister
on Charges Of Statutory Nature and
He Declares That He Will Go to Min
nesota and Wed Ruth Soper.

James Morrison Darnell, one time
minister at the Henry M. Simmons
Church in this city, is grass widower.
He got this title in the circuit court
of Cook county on Tuesday afternoon
when Judge Walker handed down de-
cree of divorce in the suit brought
against the minister by Doris Vaughn
Darnell, the young Chicago church
worker, to whom he was married on
November Ord, last. Doris Vaughn
was given the right to assume her
maiden name and was awarded ali
mony Of $500 and attorneys fees to the
amount of 800. Darnell himeslf did
not appear in court to contest the di-
vorce. He was represented by his at
torney, Richard Cooney, and this at
torney made no effort to contest the
granting of the decree, but objected to
the amount of alimony assessed against
the former minister. 1t was declared
in court that Darnell planned to go at
once to Owatonna, Mimi, to be mar
ried to Ruth Soper with whom he had
lived in Kenosha as his wife.
Two Kenosha witnesses, Mrs. Cath
crime HUMPHREY and her son, William,
furnished the most interesting evidence
in the divorce case. They testified
that Darnell had lived with Ruth Soper
in Kenosha as man and wife and this
was the main contention of Doris Oar
nell in her action for divorce. The
whole proceeding which freed the
young woman from the minister last
ed only a few minutes.
1t is just possible that Doris Vaughn
and her attorney will come to Keno
sha and seek to have a warrant for the
arrest Of Darnell issued here, but it
: is more probable that Darnel will be
permitted to go unmolested if he makes
good on his promise to contract legal
marriage with Ruth Soper at the Min
nesota city and legalzes the claim of
little "jimmy Darnell' upon him as
a father.
"Doris Vaughn is the only woman /
ever married." Darnell told Assistant
State Is Attorney Case Of Cook county
'We are not in harmony. Little Ruth
Soper is the woman [ love and I will
marry her just as soon as my wife is
granted divorce. / am the father Of
her child and I am sorry [ caused her
pain by denying it. / pray the Lord
that He prompts the judge to grant
my wife's prayer"
Two hours later Judge Walker
signed the decree.
~ have never been a wife to him, :"
Doris Vaughn Darnell testified eve
were married November 3, 1914, but |
told him l would simply bear his name
until he provided home for me. He
went to Kenosha and / went to my
mother. want to be free of that
name now.
Mrs. Anna Vaughn, the girl IS moth
err, testified she had gone to Kenosha to
investigate the rumor that her son-in-
law was living with a woman other
than his wife.
He admitted to me he was not mar
ried to Ruth Soper, the poor girl he was
introducing as his wife and the mother
OF his child" said Mrs. Vaughn.
els he marriedsp this Soper girl9N
Judge Walker asked of Richard j.
Cooney, attorney for Darnell.
He says not, and l suppose he
knows" offered Cooney. "He says
however, he will take the first train
to 0watonna, Mimi, and marry her ii
this decree is granted"
That seems to be the most we car
do in the interest of justice" said the
court. "The decree is granted. How
about alimony8
f" / have had lot of trouble with
this case and I believe the costs
should include $3.50 for attorney 4
fees. A lump sum of $500 will sat
isfy us for almony."
That is lot of money, - interpos
ed Attorney Cooney on Darnell Is be
half. "My client makes only about
500. a month and think the attor
ney Is fee is 800 high for him to pay
He is a very versatile person,
countered Swanson. 81 am sure thai
If he turned his talents in the righr
direction, such as writing an auto
biography, he would be in funds. =
The court fixed the fee at 800
granted the alimony asked, and of
fered to grant an injunction, to b,
filed later, restraining Darnell from
annoying his former wife.
Nothing was said about Ethel Spur
geon, the Avon, H., girl who was frs
induced to pose as Darnell's wife un
der the protection of a marriao.