The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-03

husbands petition for divorce filed
August rs, and cross petition asking
that the divorce be granted to her. Her
charges are sensational.
Mrs Neill declares that, beginning
about the spring of 1912, and white
they were living on their farm in
Usage county, her husband became
dissatisfied with their marriage be-
cause her parents refused to give them
$50 acres of land. This feeling has
continued ever since, she sayc. until
at last he had a sale and disposed of
all the farming implements, stock and
other personal property. Then, she
says, while she was in delicate health
and expecting the arrival of the
stork, he left her and her first baby
in destitute circumstances. not return
ing until some time later. After the
baby was born, he left her again, she
says, sick in bed and with no one to
look after her or her children.
She Says He Cursed Her.
Among the cruel acts which she
alleges her husband perpetrated upon
her, Mrs Neill says he frequently
cursed and abused her and often
struck her, both at home and while
they were riding in their automobile
He has accused her of having improp-
er relations with other men, she says
and declares that at one time he told
her to go ahead and stay with the
MI cu IMAM anu tIldl he ulIHS6lI WOulu
stay with the hired girl. This state
ment, she says, was made in the pres
ence of the hired man, who, embold-
ened by the suggestion, later insulted
her. she declares. She also charges
that Neill accused her of staying with
his father.
She alleges that he told her that his
father disliked her and would give her
no property; that he made a mistake
In marrying her; that she was not his
equal, and charges that he often made
mean, sarcastic remarks about her rel
ativeS, one time referring to her
mother as big. fat, old, ugly wo-
man." During the spring of 1916 he
made her do heavy work about the
farm when she was sick, she saws, and
IN August when she was ill and unable
to sit up he would go away and leave
her all day without care or medicine.
food or water. she declares. She says
he publicly stated that she was crazy
and that he hired detectives to watch
and follow her.
His conduct toward other women
was such that the county attorney
charges.
He Says Wife Left Him.
Attached as an exhibit to the petit
ton filed by Neill August %, is a |
copy of a contract which he says he |
ana his wife entered into before lay
r.
ranging the disposal of their property |
ana other matters In this contract he |
agrees to pay her $500 cash in set |
tlement of all claims she might have
against him or his property, with the |
exception of piano, two rugs and a |
dresser, which are hers. In his petit |
Llon he declares his wife abandoned |
MIN august 22, 1918, but in her cross t
petition she claims he run her away
from nome and that while she was in |
very delicate health and before she
hao obtained legal advice, he induced
ner to sign the agreement, claiming
she did not know her real rights. She
now wants the court to set aside this
lsreement, grant her the divorce and
ne custody of the two small children
lna compel Neill to pay her alimony.
She is now said to be staying with
,eIatiVes at Overlook with the child
zen, whom Neill declares she came
ma and took away from him. A re-
Stralnlng order was issued bv the
court forbidding her to take them out
u the courts Jurisdiction. In his ne
-itlon, NELL charges that his wife has
rled TO run the auto in which thev
we're riding into the ditch and that
me me once threatened to knock him in
ne mead with an axe. She has fire.
luently stated that she ALWAYS did
nate MIN. didn't want to and would
IT live with him, he says He is said
% De living now with his father !
ew miles south. of Topeka, altho his
VHe declares that he is still running
ne farm In Usage county and that the
ocal court has no Jurisdiction in the
,ase. AL the
EHNonY