The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-11-20
Mrs. Matte J. Spalding
Awarded Final Settlement
In Sum of $4,000 Against
Former Health Officer.
GIVEN The Entire ESTATE
Judge Belden In Sensational Judgment
Holds DR.. j. B. SpaIding Ruined Life
of Former Wife and That the Least
He Could Do Is Pay.

Mrs. Matte J. Spaldfng is awarded
practically the entire estate of DR..
John B. spalding, former health officer
of Kenosha, in judgment handed
down by Judge Belden in the Circuit
Court today, bringing to an end the
hearings on the divorce action started
by Mrs. spalding many years ago.
The court, in his order, grants Mrs.
Spalding money damages to total Of
$40, 900, of which $4,000 is granted to
her as her portion Of the estate, $500
as attorneys fees, and $500 to pay
the court costs of the action.
The Judgment carries the largest
award of alimony ever made in the
courts Of Kenosha county.
scathing Terms Toward spa1ding.
The decision of the court is a scath-
ing arraignment of the former health
officer and sensational statements are
made as to his treatment Of the former
wife during their married life and his
effarts to wade the pB. ment of ali a51
i.as awarded by the court in severd4
! judgments formerly handed down.
Shows Extreme Cruelty.
In his decision, Judge Belden Says
"It appears to the satisfaction of
the court that during their married
life the defendant treated the plaintiff
with extreme cruelty, by personal vio-
lence, by ealing her vile names, by in
difference, indignities, deceit, by gen.
eral demeanor calculated and intended
to hurt and humiliate her and to render
the marriage state intolerable, and so
resulting. That he infected her with
syphilis, in consequence of which she
has suffered greatly, which, according
to expert medical testimony given on
this hearing has reached the spinal
stage, and will cause her great and
probably permanent suffering and dis
ability. This alone is extreme cruelty,
saying nothing of the humiliation at
tending its publicity. The plaintiff is
not capable of self-support. The
daughter of the parties is not strong
girl and is more or less dependent upon
the plaintiff.
"The evidence satisfies the court
that the defendant is the sole, beneficial
owner of the California real estate in
question, and that it is worth from
10000 to $4,000 The defendant is a
physician and surgeon, has for many
years been in receipt of large income,
is in good health and capable of earn
ing $4,000 or more per year. His pres
ent wife is a graduate nurse and ply
stefan and capable of self support.
Both plaintiff and defendant are At
years of age, and the life expectancy
of each is 23.08 years.
Owes Education to Former Wife.
"The defendant owes his professional
education and start in life to the plain
tiff By defendants insistence upon
the plaintiff and through her solicita-
tions, the plaintiffs father furnished
$4,000 or more, which was expended
for the defendant IS professional educa-
tion equipment, and support of himself
and his wife, this plaintiff, and charged
against plaintiff IS share of her fathers
estate. The plaintiff has been subject-
ed to large expense, great harassment,
excessive anxiety and burdens, in I'M
dertaking to compel the defendant to
meet his obligations to her. The
awards of alimony heretofore made to
the plaintiff by amendment of the ORR
ginal award of one dollar, which have
been contumaciously evaded by the de-
PENDANT and on account of which the
defendant is in contempt of this court,
remain unpaid All these things are
to be considered.
No Award Too Strong.
POSSIBLY it may seem an unusual
award. This is an unusual case Hard
ly any judgment could be too favorable
for the wronged party or too severe
upon the wrong-doer The plaintiff,
voun0 0ood-lOokino of GOOD and