The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-15
That Statement by County ON
Gals Follows Marriage.
WED TOO SOON AFTER DIVORCE
Bride Named Correspondent IN
Case in Topeka.
Former Wife Now Red Cross
Nurse; He's in Army.


Serious charges could be entereu
against DR. f. J. Ernest, former 10
pelxan, should he establish ms res
dence with his wife in Kansas WITHIN WITHIN
six months after his Inarrldse t'oe'itaI
Edith Knox. former Stormoht Hospl .'9r
nurse according to a statement lndue
TODAY bv Shawnee county dlstIlcS
court officials. Miss Knox was halIle ,
as correspondent in sensatohdi sU-'
for separate maintenance llleu 49,, ny ~
Ernest's former wife Dr' El'eii0i
Ernest, in 1915. -
reformation received in Topeka is
70 the effect that DR.. Ernest ana MISS
Knox were married at Kansas ~
Mo, July 27, thirteen days AFTER d
divorce was granted separating Ii
ERNEST and his former wife. Dr. Erh-
est appeared before Judge Dana anu
urged haste in granting the petltlon'
showing orders from the war depart
ment directing him to report at or
Riley for duty. He had recelNeu d
commission as an officer in the medl-
cal reserve corps. DR.. Elvenor Ernest
also urged haste in receiving di-
vorce, according to Judge Dana one
had aspirations for Red Cross service
The Kansas statute PROVIDES
strenuous penalty for remarriage OF
a divorced person within six months
after a divorce is granted, providing
the marriage occurs in Kansas or any
other state and the persons concern
ed establish their home WITHIN con
fines of the state. That was the state
nent made by court officials today
The Missouri laws, however, contain
no such drastic provisions, IL was
stated, and no harm can reach DE-
Ernest and his bride providing they
do not establish a residence in Kansas
within six months after the marriage.
Court officials admitted that since Dr.
Ernest has entered the army, action
under the Kansas statutes might be
impossible. 1t might be proven that
he was under jurisdiction of military
authorities He is living on a govern
ment reservation.
While in Topeka DIR. Ernest won
hundreds of close friends.
The Court Records.
The Shawnee county court records
begin with the life of Dr. Ernest
when he was a student in medical
college. a youth who had made his
own living for years and had worked
his way thru medical school. Ambi- |
ton and a determination to win were
his goals in life then. the records in |
dicated. Entered here his former |
wife, a young woman from a well-to- |
do family living at MarysVille- Am
bition, too, was her chief character
istic She and the young medical stu
dent became acquainted. An engage
ment followed.
Court records show that DR.. Ernest
had little available money to start on |
his professional career and matri-
monial life. DR.. Ernest declared that |
his wife. to hasten the courtship, had |
informed him that her parents in
tended to advance her $500 to pur-
chase office furniture. She says she |
was forced to get 5000 from them to
open his Office following their mar
riage, Junes1, 1904.
For several years it appears that
a successful and fairly happy part
nership was formed between the two |
ending in a success from a financial 7
and professional point of view for
both of them.
Then Came Miss Knox
Edith Knox entered into their lives
in due course of time,> Edith Knox |
had been an employee of the Health |
Ray Lens company and the Warren |
NJ. Crosby Dry Goods company and |
later collected bills for DR.. Ernest
His wife declared that with the en-
try of this pretty young woman into
their lives he turned against her. |
showered bouquets and candy and |
motor rides on the young woman and !
placed her picture on his desk,
wreathed IN evergreen.
DR.. Ernests wife declared that he |
admitted his love for the girl, that he
dominated Edith KnoX's life and had /
promised to make her life a success
Edith Knox finally became nurse at /
Stormont hospital. Stories told about |
them by his wife resulted in casting |
the girl from abe hospital, DR. Ernest /
alleges in the cross petition filed.
DIR. Ernest in his cross petition is |
described as a young man filled with
the love of living. His wife he de- |
clared. looked upon herself as direct |
descendant of Norwegian nobility and /
looked upon him as a low brow " /
She was Jealous nagging and at one
time stood at the chiffonier in their /
bedroom and leveled a revolver at |
his head, he charged in his petition /
The court divided some of the prop-d
erty. granted the separate mainte- |
nance decree and DIR. Ernest was |
obliged to pay her considerable /
money. Then came the granting of /
an absolute divorce on July 10 and I
DE. ErneSf,s maria Edith Lrn,- |