Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-28
MANY DIVORCE CASES
ON COURT DOCKET
Petitions Filed Tuesday Include
One in Which Couple Have
Been Married 81 Years and
Another in Which Ceremony
Was Performed in 1901

Chittenden county court promises to
have an unusually large number OF
divorce cases TO attend to at the Sep
TENDER term, as many cases have been
coming IN during the last week. Two
cases which appeared Tuesday where
unusual in that one couple has been mar
ried "a years, while the other couple was
married in 1901
Rachael Brown Of Burlington is suing
Tor divorce from Augustus Brown Of
this city II. S. Peck represents the petit
toner, whose maiden name was Rachael
Prue. Mr.. and Mrs. Brown were married
on April H. 1885. at Burlington by the
Rt. Rev. j. NJ. Cloarec. They have al
ways lived in this city, except for a
short time when they resided in Essex.
Three children were born to them, but
all died in early childhood.
1t Is the claim Of tho petitioner that
the petitiOnee has treated her with i'm
tolerable severity, especially during She
last three years, and that, although fully
able To support her. he has not furnished
her with sufficient food and clothing
during the past year or so. She claims
that her husband has often absented
himself without provocation. remained
out later than proper Mt night leaving
her alone in the house. caused her mental
anguish and sorrow from his associations
with other women, used foul Indecent.
unchaste and profane language in her
presence told her that she ought to work
and earn her own living and that she
might 20 away and leave him, that he
did not care for her.
Mrs. Brown says in her petition that
her husband has more than once threat
ened her with bodily harm. struck her.
hn CHI bar l,n
so that she was badly burned: that
he tried to smother her In bed falsely
accused her of taking money and
threatened to injure her bodily If she did
not give it up. On account Of this state
of affairs, Mrs. Brown claims that 9she
is afraid to live in the same house with
her husband, and has gone elsewhere to
live.
II is set forth in the petition that Mr.
Brown owns a large amount of property
in this vicinity. In his own name, it Is
said, he owns the house at "A Ward
street, while IN his name and that Of hi,
wife are number cof houses. including
the place where they have been living
20 Intervale avenue; the house at 70 Drew
street two small houses. % and 90 Ward
street; and the vacant lot at the corner
of Ward and Drew streets. all In Burling-
ton; also five houses and premises in the
town Of Essex, near Fort Ethan Allen:
and seven acres or more of vacant land
on North avenue. All this property is
free from encumbrances, to the best be-
lief of the petitioner. There is also 1900
in Mr.. Browns name. $1,000 in his name
and Mrs. Browns together, and 5000 in
her name alone, deposited in the Bur-
lington Savings bank. according to the
petition.
The petitioner claims that she has put
in much time working outside the home,
the money for which has been used to
help purchase the real estate mentioned
also that she and her husband conducted
restaurant and store at Fort Ethan
Allen for about six years. where she did
the cooking and managed It most of the
time.
Up to about a year ago. according 20
the petition, Mr.. Brown collected the
rents and turned them over to Mrs.
Brown to run the house and pay the bills
But during the last year or so, il is said,
he has refused to give her any money
and has refused to support her except
to furnish food supplies. and these in
short Quantities.
In her petition. Mrs. Brown asks for
a divorce, temporary almony and suit
money, pending the trial of the case
permanent alimony, an injunction re-
straininS the petitionee from selling any
Of the real estate, from Withdrawing
money from the bank which is deposited
there in their names jointly; and from
interfering in any way with the person
of the petitioner, This injunction has besn
granted.
Another suit for divolce entered Tues
day. is that of Bessie Holt Shepard
against Samuel G. Sheparc, + g. Web
ster appearing for the petitioner. This
couple were married at Woodstoc,
July T. 1901, and since then have resided
at Hartford. Tilton, n. H. Barre and
Burlington. The alleged grounds of
divorce are refusal to support. They
have not lived together since June 10.
1915 because the petitioner claims that
her husband refused to furnish a home
and support herself and two children.
who are now in her care
The children are Dorothy. aged ~
and Charlotte, aged three years and
II months. The petitioner asks To he
allowed to keep the children, by order
or the court, and asks an Injunction
restraining the petionee from inter
tering with the children, pending the
trial of the case, This Injunction has
been granted, and an agreeable ar
rangement has been made between the
parties as to suit money / alimouy
Elizabeth Murtha of Winooski has
entered divorce suit against Thomas
Murtha. +, A Ashland appearing for
the petitioner, The couple were mar
ried May 20. 1916. at Milton. Tho
maiden name of the petitioner was
Elizabeth ElwelL. The libellee, Thomas
Murtha. is now in States prison at
Windsor. Intolerable severity, wilful
desertion and refusal to support are
the grounds stated for divorce. The
petitioner asks for alimony and to re-
sumo her maiden name.