The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-11-30
DIR. WICHTERICH
IS GIVEN DIVORCE
BY COMPROMISE
Attorneys for Physician and
His Wife Arranged Terms
of Settlement.
WIFE GETS $500, AUTO,
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Petition Amended - Physician
Tells Court of His Domesti
Troubles.

Following lengthy negotiations be
tween the attorneys of DIR. R. F. Wich
terich and his wife, Mrs. Emma P
Wichterich, the divorce suit filed b!
the physician was taken up in the
Common Pleas Court yesterday after
noon and the physician was granted
a divorce. He was the only witness
heard.
Before the case was presented te
the court, the first petition was with
drawn by Judge Edward D. Hays, at
torney for the physician, as We're the
answer and the motion for attorney
fees filed by Wilson Cramer who rep
resented Mrs. Wichterich. An amend
ed petition modified in several re-
spects, was then submitted to the
court stating the reasons for which
the divorce was asked.
Before the case was heard by Judge
Snider the terms on which Mrs.
Wichterich agreed to let the divorce
go by default were arranged between
Judge Hays and Mr.. Cramer. 1t is
understood that Dr. Wichterich will
pay his wife $500 in addition to the
attorney fees for his wife. She will
also receive the touring car, which
the physician bought for his wife be-
fore their separation, the piano, and
other household goods Mrs. Wichte-
rich had received as presents from
her husband. DR.. Wichterich will also
pay the bills which his wife contrac-
ted after their separation.
When court convened YESTERDAY
morning the court room was crowded
to its capacity. Only a few women
were in the room. When the other
cases We're set down for trial during
the morning session the divorce pe.i-
ton was passed over by Judge Snider
at the request of the attorneys who
We're arranging an agreement on
which the case would be permitted
to go by default. 1t was then set for
lis o'clock in the afternoon.
The amended petition presented by
Judge Hays read as follows: "Plain-
tiff states that defendant wholly dis
regarded her duties as the wife of The
plaintiff and has offered the plaintiff
such indignities as to RENTER his con-
dition intolerable, that is to say for
a period of two years defendant has
withheld from plaintiff all evidence of
affection and has rcpulsed his efforts
to manifest his affection for her.
During the past two years defend
ant has conceived and has continu-
ously manifested violent dislike for
plaintiff.
During the past two years defend
ant has continuously and consistently
avoided the companionship of plain
tiff.
Defendant has been extravagant in
her expenditures at the expense of
the plaintiff in the maintenance of
their home.
Defendant for two years past mas
displayed toward plaintiff an i'll tenn
per and has indulged in abusive Ian
guage toward him and has shown a
gross want of consideration for his
feelings and has constantly quarreled
with him without cause or provoca-
ton.
Defendant for the past IL months
has refused to occupy the same bed
or the same room with plaintiff"
When placed on the witness stand
yesterday afternoon DR.. Wichterich
told of his domestic troubles during
the past two years, finally leading to
their separation, August Is, last. He
said they were married in June, 1902,
and had lived happily together until
about two years ago.
She avoided his company, he testi-
fled, and during that period accom-
panied him only once to a show. She
would 60 out alone, when he would
leave for the office in the evening, he
testified.
On one occasion, DR.. Wiehterich
testified, when he was leaving for st.