The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-06-28
APPLICANTS FOR
DIVORCES GIVEN !
FREEDOM TODAY
Edward Il. Beers, Promi
aent Stratford Resident
Seeks Decree.
MANY CASES
NOT CONTESTED
Story of Brutal Treatment
Wins Petition for Mrs.
Downs.

Uncontested divorce actions occu-
pied the attention of Judge Warner
in the Superior Court this morning
and a number of DEGREES were grant
ed. In the action of Esther Hallen-
igren of Stamford against Victor Hal
lengren of the same place, intolerable
cruelty was the allegation and it was
fully brought out by the witnesses
produced by the wife in substantial
ton of her story. Judge Warner
granted her the divorce and gave her
custody of her seven year old son.
The proviso was made that the hus-
band was to be allowed to see the
child at all reasonable times.
Too much interference on the part
of the wifes mother eventually
brought about a separation between
Edward H. Beers of .Stratford and
his wife, who was Sara A. Nichols.
Mr.. Beers has been prominently iden-
titled with the political life of STRAIT
ford, and is one of it's best known
residents. His. mother-in-law fire.
quently came to the Beers home and
was openly rude to Mr.. Beers mother.
His wife's sister pursued the same
line of conduct. Mr.. Beers objected
as a good son would and frequent
tQ1arrels ensued as a result.
In May of last. year Mr.. Beers was
called away from home and obliged to
REMAIN over night. When he returned
h found his wife gone. Her sister
had called and persuaded her to go
luway. He tried to see his wife, but
Itsswas impossible to go to the home
lof his mother -in-law or to his wife's
sisters. His wife stood in fear of her
relatives and would not see him when
they were out Of the house. At one
time he met her at his brothers home
in New Rochelle and she seemed will
ling to go back to him. When she
came back to Bridgeport and once
more came under the spell of her rel
'atfves she refused to have anything
more to do with him.
Several witnesses testified for Mr..
Beers but the evidence was not quite
conclusive and the case was contin-
ued until Attorney Morehouse, who
represented Mr.. Beers, could obtain
another witness.
A tale of the brutality and humilia-
ton was unfolded by Mrs. May E.
Downs this morning in her divorce
action against Charles E. Downs Of
this city. After the first two or three
weeks of married life, Downs con-
tinualy ill-treated his wife and at
times struck her. Nothing suited him
and at the store which they kept on
Fairfield avenue, he would use vile
language and. insinuate that her con-
duct was anything but what it should
be no matter who was in the store.
She was obliged to remain in the
store 16 and II hours at a time, while
he was out in a car that he purchas-
ed from the money earned by the
business, also spending that money
for dinners for his friends. Mrs
Downs testified that he never gave
her any money, not even enough to
Ebuy clothes. Finally he blew in SC
much of the money that she had tc
go into bankruptcy which left hel
without a penny.
Her health became impaired ant
she went to Plainf1eld, N. j., to visi
her sister. When she came bach
she found he had been on g. trip t.
Westerly, R. L, with a woman in hi!
car. She demonstrated with hin
about it and he abused her so that hel
right arm was black and blue from
shoulders to finger tips. After thi
jshe left i'm. After hearing corrobora
tive testimony from several witnesses
Judge Warner granted her a decree