Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-11
THREE WHO ASK FOR
DIVORCES GET THEM

LuSCId. NetS Tier Dill dItcI
Seven Minutes of Testimony,
All of Which Is Very Much to
the Point
4 divorce in seven minutes from the
starting of the case was the record in
the case brought before Judge Ted s.
Stanton in the September term OF Chit
teudeu county court. This was the case
of Eliza beth Luscia of Burlington against
Moses Luscia, in which a divorce was
granted by Judge Stanton for wilful
desertion. The case was handled by COL
j. H. Mimms whose questions were SO
directly to the point that the facts were
brought out in record time. II was SHOWN
that the petitionee has been in parts un-
known for 10 years, and has never com
municated with his wife, furnishing
sufficient grounds for divorce. The care
and custody of minor son, Walter
Luscia was granted to the petitioner, The
divorced couple was married in this city
in 1890 by Monsignor Jerome NJ. Cloarec
This case and four other divorce cases
took up the day in county court yester-
day, three of the petitions being granted
while two are still pending. Court will
convene at nine o'clock this morning.
There are at least two cases to be heard
this morning, and possibly others. II no
others appear early to-day, 1t Is probable
that Judge Stanton will adjourn court
for the remainder of the week.
Divorces were granted yesterday in the
ne rdf OF
Daisy Gebhardt, on the grounds of in
tolerable severity; Elizabeth Luscia
against Moses Luscia, on the grounds Of
wilful desertion; and Bessie II. Sheppard
against S. G. Sheppard, on grounds of
desertion, neglect and refusal to sup
port.
Other cases heard yesterday were those
of Lewis c. Johnson against Lulu A.
johnson, and Pearl Borrette Chamberlain
against Perley Cham berlain.
In the case of Bessie Holt Sheppard VS..
Samuel q. Sheppard. 1t appeared that the
couple was married at Woodstock July
1, 1901. The parties lived together In other
places for some time before coming to
Burlington. They separated about nine
years ago and have not lived together
since. Mr. Sheppard is now employed as
a railroad man at White River Junction.
No complaint was made as to the treat
ment which Mrs. Sheppard received from
/ her husband while they were living to-
gether, but the difficulty seemed to be
that Mr.. Sheppard got tired of being a
married man and simply left his wife
and refused to support her and her child.
/ Testimony was introduced to the effect
that he had been seen in the company of
other women.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard had evidently
agreed to disagree. as they had previously
arranged for the care Of the children Mrs.
| Sheppard taking the older girl. 13 years OF
age. and Mr.. Sheppard the younger girl,
four years old. Mrs. George Sheppard. a
distant relative of the husband. also
testified in the case. The younger child
was born while the mother was in the
witness house. and the child has since re-
sided there. This witness corroborated the
testimony Of the petitioner regarding the
actions of the petitionee. r. G.. Webster
appeared for the petitioner.
| Mrs. Pearl Chamberlain, who liz suing
for a divorce from Perley Chamberlain
She was a widow at the time of her mar
rage to Chamberlain last January. She
testified that he started in abusing hel
soon after their marriage. and that he
left her during the middle of the sum-
mer, after he found that she would not
stand for his sort of abuse. There was 6
hearing for temporary alimony at the
time the suit was brought, and the peti
ton was allowed, but Chamberlain ha:
never paid it. and has since left the city
for parts unknown. +. G. Webster wal
counsel for the petitioner.
; Lewis c. Johnson, who is connected
with the Strong Hardware company II
this city, testified yesterday in his sui
for divorce from his wife, Lulu "A. John
son, who was formerly Miss Lulu Wood
bury, daughter of the late Herber
Woodbury. and niece of ex-Gov. U.
Woodbury. of this city. Mr.. Johnson i
asking for a divorce on the grounds o
wilful desertion and intolerable severity
He has not lived with his wife since 1902
He claims that she left him. following
an injury which kept him In the hos
pital for many months, and when he ha'
asked her to stay with his parents II
the city. He says that she refuse
, to stay here, saying that she wante
to live in New York, and that
he could not support her there, sh
would leave him. This was at the tim
, that he was just returning to the hos
pital for another operation and when n
5 could not spare the money which she de
sired.
: Mr. Johnson told Of number of Incl
) dents which led to trouble between him
l self and his wife, most of them center
ing around the supposition that sh
4 wanted to be supported in manne
above what he was able to support hel
He testified that she had asked hi
e mother at one time why he did not &c
, divorce, that she was perfectly willn
\ that he should.
, Mr.. Johnson is the son of the lat
4 Fl. c. Johnson, a commander in tn
}. U. S. navy, and resident Of Burlington
+. The petitioner at one time attended tn
e University of Vermont, and was note
+. as an athlete. being a champion swimmer
n skater, tennis player and all-'roun
G athlete.
g n nDEAyC CT COM