The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
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Woman With Two Boys Given
Divorce From Husband.
Declares He Stole Things From
Their Home to Buy Liquor.
HER STORY TOUCHED COURT
Judge Dana Didn't Wait for
Evidence From Husband.
Took Canned Fruit From Gel
lar, Says Mrs. Barrett.
HER STORY TOUCHED COURT

Within ten minutes after she enter
ed the court room today, Mrs. Jennie
Barrett. mother of two boys, left the
room freed of her marriage oblga-
tions-free to take her boys and sup
port them and herself but unencum-
bered by a husband.
The case was in marked contrast to
another divorce case, heard by the
same court Judge A w. Dana. FIJI
day. In that case the court listened
to testimony all day and then tooh
the case under adVisement He WASH I
ready to pass judgment. He ism
ready today. But in the Barrett case
no corroborative testimony was neces-
sary The simple telling of the story
OF an abandoned and neglected WlIe
and family was all that was required:
ITS all right. It's all right sald
Judge Dana. when the story was
finished. The divorce is granted
Rad Lee, divorce proctor, was on
hand with additional facts if they mao
been needed but they were not needed:
Mr.. and Mrs Barrett were married
in 1898 according to the woman
story. and Ter life has been one or
hardship since that date. she was
born and reared a; Richland ana heT
people nov live there.
Barrett was a shoemaker and the
last shop he had was a PIG East
sixth street.
II was hopeful when he got that
shop" said Mrs. Barrett, but he kept
II ONLY about six weeks. He put two
MORTGAGES on it, took the money and
went to Kansas City. 1 didn't know
he had mortgaged it until men came
to my house to find out whether had
signed the mortgage. | had not
signed it,"
Hard Drinker for Ten Years.
band had been hard drinker Tor ten
years and that for seven years she had
been untble TO depend upon him for
support - s,t5
..but l couldn't depend upon him. l
had to leave home and work. l took
nv BOYS to my people several times in
order to work. Other times l nave
arranged to work half day at a tune
and care for them the other half DAY
Mrs Barrett made no complaint
about the hard work she has done,
cleaning house for other people. she
accepted that as her lot But she
could not resign herself to slavery TOT
herself and children. then have a nus
band take the things she had bought
for the home and trade them for
"Did he do that" broke in Judge
Dana.
"He did. time after time" replied
up about 4:So o'clock in the morning
to go to work and he told me he was
sick he wanted the keys 20 the cell
lar to get a can of fruit he liked.
Hid the Canned Fruit.
He was gone a Ions time and /
wondered why. l investigated and
found he had hidden two gallon cans
of fruit out in the toilet, preparing to
take them up town and sell them aft
er I had gone to work.
"Other times l missed articles from
the house and l know he took them.
He took dresser scarfs and other
things I had worked over in order to
make our home a. pleasant as posi-
BILE They all went for LIQUOR"
The woman testified that she does
not know where Barrett now is. AT
her request Judge Dana arranged that
she should have judgment for $3.50
alimony.
u don't see much use of that" said
the Judge.
But won't that keep him away
from here?" asked the woman.
mo. but l have no objection. How
ever. ! wouldn't put much dependence
in that alimony. You know the old
adage to the effect that you can't get
blood out of a turnip"
Mrs. Barrett knew and she doesn't
expect the alimony.
What | want" she said, lis free
dom to work for and with my boys.
to keep them together and give them
a start in the world"
Judge Dana nodded and the woman
went out. For minute after she
passed out Judge Dana sat in a study,
aN-pS on the SWINGING