The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-06-30
DIR. ZIMMERMAN IS
SUED FOR DIVORCE;
CRUELTY IS CHARGE

LIT. william w. zimmerman, now
serving his sixth term as mayor of
! Richmond, was named defendant in a
divorce action filed in Wayne circuit
court, Wednesday, by Mrs. Viola R.
Zimmerman, through her attorney,
Henry U. Johnson
In her complaint Mrs. Zimmerman
asks for absolute divorce and for the
| custody of William Wallace thinner
man, Jr., who is mentioned as the
son Of the plaintiff and defendant.
Mrs. Zimmerman charges that her
husband has been guilty of cruel and
| inhuman treatment toward her. but
no specific instances of alleged ill
treatment are set forth in the com
plant.
Mrs. Zimmerman petitions for ali.
mony out of the estate of Mayor Zim-
norman and she estimates the value
of this estate to be 100000 Mrs Zim-
norman also asks that her husband
be required to contribute to the sup
port of William, Jr.
Says He's Not Fit Person
In asking for the custody of the
son Mrs. Zimmerman alleges in her
complaint that Mayor Zimmerman is
not fit person to have the care and
| custody Of the youth, who has been
attending a military academy
Mrs. Viola Zimmerman, who is now
residing at 204 North Eighteenth
street, the former home of her mother,
Mrs. Mary M. Godwin. who died few
days ago, is the second wife of Mayor
Zimmerman. They were married Jan
IL, 1912.
A few months before this marriage
| the mayors first wife secured a d.
vorce from him, after they had been
living apart for number of years.
Alleged Attack is Figure.
1t is understood that an attack
Mayor Zimmerman is alleged to have
made on his wife, May 25, at their
home. North Seventh and A streets,
figures prominently in the charge of
cruel and inhuman treatment Mrs.
Zimmerman has made against him in
her divorce complaint
1t is stated that on that date the
mayor and his wife engaged in a dis
Ipute when he attempted to enter his
office to secure some medicine for
himself, Mrs. Zimmerman trying to
| prevent him from doing so.
| In his night clothes the mayor pur-
attired, into the street While the do
mestic battle was being waged, the
entire neighborhood became aroused
it is stated, and the police were sum.
moned. Mrs. Zimmerman became
hysterical
Is Well Known Politician
DR.. Zimmerman is one of the best
known Republican politicians in Ind
lana. He has combined practical
politics with an extensive practice of
medicine. He has been mayor of
Richmond over % years, but not con-
tinuously.
Once he was defeated by a Demo
crat, DR.. Richard Schillinger, and at
another time by Will Robbins. the
, candidate on the Progressive ticket
His ability as vote getter" has
never been questioned. Before he was
elected mayor OF Richmond for the
first term. DR.. Zimmerman served a
term as county coroner
| His career has been marked by unm-
erous incidents. Always a lover of
race horses DR.. Zimmerman for some
years maintained a racing stable and
he frequently attracted attention by
donning the spangles and irving his
own entries in race meets.
Has Had Thrilling Moments
In recent years his fancy has turned
to automobiles and there are many
people who can recall thrilling mo-
ments at the side of the mayor as he
set behind the wheel of one of his
cars.
| He claims to have worn out Is cars,
1t is said Accounts of automobile ac-
cidents Dr.. Zimmerman has figured in
have occupied considerable space in
the newspapers, from time to time, but
the mayor in each instance has
emerged from the wreckage with only
minor hurts.
In the divorce action which has been
brought against him. Mayor thinner
man will be represented by the law
! firm OF Robbins, Keller and Robbins.
| Denies Herself to Reporters.
| Mrs. zimmerman denied herself to a
reporter Wednesday when he called at
her residence to secure a statement
4 he