The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-08-24
DR.. Wichterich
Sues Wife For
A Divorce
Continued from page one.)

and niece to take this step. This preju-
dice coupled with the nervous condi-
ton of the physician has aggravated
the relations between Mrs. Whether
ich and her husband, finally resulting
in the filing Of the divorce petition"
Judge Wilson Cramer, the we'll
known attorney of Jackson, who has
been employed by Mrs. Wichterich to
contest the suit, told The Tribune last
night he had advised his client not to
comment on the charges of her hus-
band until he had seen the petition
filed by DR.. Wichterich. Judge Ora
mer also declined to discuss the case,
saying he had not seen the petition
and did not know what charges DR..
Wichterich had made against his wife.
Mr.. Cramer would not say whether
he would file any cross charges against
DR.. Wichterich in behalf of the phys
ician's wife, or whether he would
merely oppose the divorce on the
grounds of the charges set forth in the
petition.
Mr.. Priest, when asked about his re-
lations with Mrs. Wichterich, last
night, said he knew nothing about the
divorce proceedings. When informed
that he had been named correspondent
in the petition he expressed surprise.
eff the physician makes that charge,
then l want to say only this much,
that he has no grounds for his allie
cation. | have known Mrs. Whether
ich only as friend of my sister, and
have always found her to be a very
excellent lady" Beyond that Dir.
Priest declined to discuss the case.
When asked by a reporter for The
Tribune whether he had any statement
to make regarding the charges in his
petition, DR.. Wichterich declined to
say anything. 81 have nothing to say
whatsoever" the physician said. "See
my attorney, Judge Hays"
Mrs. Wichterich also refused to
comment on the charges made against
her by her husband. When interview
ed by reporter for The Tribune yes
terday evening, she stated she had not
seen the petition. "In fact, l do not
know whether the document has been
filed, and, therefore, l do not know
what the charges are against me-
When assured that the petition had
been filed, she replied, 81 am glad to
hear that"
Mrs. Wichterich is the daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. w. Taylor of 215
South Spanish street. The couple
have been married 16 years and have
no children. Mrs. Wichterich has been
respected very highly by the ladies of
Cape's society circles. She is a niece
Of Congressman ]. J. Russell.
The rumor that DIR. Wichterich
would sue his wife for divorce became
current when the physician began to
Inquire of his neighbors about the re-
ports that Mrs. Wichterich had been
seen in an automobile with another
man. That the physician also asked a
policeman to watch and search the
house, was also common talk in the
neighborhood.
Neighbors Of the couple have known
for some time that they were not hap
py together, but this information was
not general. They appeared to be
much attached to each other, and the
announcement that divorce suit had
been filed came as a great surprise.
Even after DIR. Wichterich confront
ed his wife with the charges that she
had been intimate with Priest, they
continued to occupy their home to-
gether, and she prepared his meals
and they sat at the table and ate to-
gether. Mrs. Wichterich was sitting
on the front porch Of their home when
a representative of The Tribune call
ed last evening to ask an interview of
her. The physician had left the home
only few minutes before the reporter
arrived. Mrs. Wichterich, when in.
formed of the suit, merely said: 81
am glad to hear it," and dismissed the
reporter.
Mrs. Wichterich is a striking bru-
nette, probably fifteen years younger
than her husband She has many