Baxter Springs news., 1919-01-10
THE DARDENNES
SQUARE THINGS
Abe Dardenne Finally Reaches
a Mecca In Legal Troubles
BY a Contract Between
Wife and Guardians


The legal troubles Of Abe Dardenne
the well-known Indian Of this city.
are practically at an end and any New
Years resolutions he may make as to
living the simple life in the future
will not be interfered with by trips
to court or in preparing cases for
trial with his attorneys, provided the
contract recently signed by him and
his wife is. lived up to according to
Is specifications.
The contract, prepared by Station
& Williams, attorneys for Mrs. Dar-
denne, and agreed to by Nesbit q
Nessbitt of Miami, attorneys for Oar
denne, provided for the dismissal Of
all legal cases in which the husband
and wife have become involved, with
the exception Of the divorce proceed
ings now pending. The contract is on
record at Columbus and Miami and
was signed the day before Christmas.
By its terms the fee title to mining
lands in Oklahoma is placed in the
name of the 7-year-old son, Paul Da-
mon Dardenne, with a remainder
mans" estate vesting in husband and
wife. It was the rapid spending of
the royalties from these lands which
started the first trouble between the
Dardennes. Until his death, two
thirds of the money from royalties
are to be paid direct to Dardenne, and
one-third direct to Mrs. Dardenne, ac-
cording to the law Of Oklahoma. The
Baxter Springs property, owned by
Mrs. Dardenne before her marriage,
is to remain hers exclusively. 1t con-
sists of several business buildings and
some residence property. BY the
terms of the contract the money on
hand from royalties is to be used to
pay the present existing debts, con-
tracted by both husband and wife,
amounting to about eS.OOV. If the
amount is insufficient, the Femainder
is to be paid from Dardenne's share
of future royalties.
The Oklahoma lands in question
consist Of two fOrty-acEe leases at
St. Louis, being operated by the st.
Louis Smelling and Refining Com
pany, and have paid large royalties,
being among the best mining leases
in the district. The first of the
Dardenne troubles began when Mrs.
Dardenne filed suit in the probate
court at Columbus for guardians for
Dardenne, charging be had reckless
ly spent the royalties, said to amount
to about $4,000, with considerable
other money, In buying automobiles,
jewelry, and in dissipating IN Joplin
saloons. Two guardians were ap-
E. B. Morgan Of Galena, and
Garland Biffle of this city.
Dasdsnpe filed suit for divorce. He
Iater fled an injunction suit at Mi
ami, asking that the royalties from
this land in Oklahoma be not paid to
the guardians in Kansas and asked
the court to appoint a receiver TO
handle the money.
Mrs. Dardenne, while at Miami
short time ago, without the advice of
,er attorneys, signed papers prepared
~ Dardenne's attorneys, looking to
he dismissal of all legal cases. The
guardianship suit had been appealed
% this district court and this appeal
vas dismissed. The injunction suit
vas dismissed. His attorneys then
vent to Columbus and endeavored to
rave her guardianship suit before the
probate court dismissed. her attor-
leys were present and showed to the
,ourt there was insufficient cause for
lction. Station & Williams later pre-
Jared the contract which was submit
ed to Dardenne's attorneys. A few
hanges were made and it was agreed
o and signed the day before Christ
mas, and is regarded as 2 most valu-
.ble Christmas present to young Paul
)ardenne, as It secures for him the
Of valuable property
Which was in q fair way to become ex-
austed iR court proceedings.
The divorce case will come up at
Columbus at the January term Of dis
rict court. Mrs. paFdeunes stter-
eys have fled ap answer to bis Pc
- All, ,.ao4 /