Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-27
SUES FOR $4,000
FOR ALIENATION Of
W|FE'S AFFECTIONS
Interesting Action, First of Its
Kind in Kent County, Now
Under Way at Dover.
MANY WITNESSES AT HAND

Dover, April 27.-An action for aliena-
ton, the first Of its kind ever heard before
n Kent county court, began here yester-
day morning, that of George w. Rash
VS.. John II. Pratt. Damages of $40, ,O0O
are asked Jamea Hall Anderson and Thom-
"a G.. Frame, Jr., are counsel for Ras b
and James NJ. Satterfield and William
Watson Harrington for Pratt. The latter
now lives in New Castle county, but for
several years lived near kenton, where
he owned tuo farms.
L. G.. Frame, Jr., in The opening address
TO the jury stated that the case was an
action OF tress and injury done to George
W. Rash. the plaintiff charging debauch-
cry and alienation of his wife's affections.
In detailing the case, serious accusations
we're made against Pratt, which he
claimed had been the cause of the alien
alton, and which would be prod uccd
from the witness stand as the case pro-
ceeded, claiming that everything had
gone well in the Rash family until the
entrance of Pratt, when the coldness
and loss of affection became manifest,
and finally. separation.
Rash is 62 years Of age, and very deaf,
this affliction, IN great measure, making
it difficult TO proceed with the case, much
time being consumed in speaking to him
by both sides from a speaking tube He
told of the marriage TO his wife, his second
on July 4, 1912, at his residence in Spru-
ance City, near Smyrna, the second wife
being Miss Lillian Brown of Montreal
Canada, after an acquaintance OF less than
tv-o weeks. The marriage had come about
through an advertisement which Miss
Brown answered and after coming TO
Smyrna, and looking things over, she de-
cided to marry Rash. He had several
children. some of whom lived with him
He admitted and also the children. that
Mrs. Rash was good. faithful and loving
wife and mother and good housekeeper,
On July IS, 1913. a child was born TO
Mrs. Rash, boy now nearly seven years
of age.
Rash, next reclted the ups and downs
OF his second married life, the ups
caused he claimed, by the too frequent
visits of Pratt TO the home. In 1914.
according to Rashs testimony, Pratt
induced Rash and his family TO move
to his farm. which they did. and it was
claimed by Rash that after moving to the
Pratt farm. Pratt's visits were most
frequent Rash, a carpenter and me
chauic by trade. was away most az the
time, but on returning home he would
see Pratt at the house. Once. after seeing
actions that were very suspicious, he
said he got down on bis knees to bis wife,
begging her TO desist.
Rash also testified that he told Pratt
he was making too much of his wife, 20
which Pratt replied that he thought too
much of his own wife and children to
have any affection for Rash's wife.
Rash then told of his wife leaving home
on July 3, 1917, while he was away at
work. He located her in Smyrna, at the
homo of his son, and pleaded with her
to come back. He also testified to having
seen Pratt at his sons house, where
Mrs. Rash was staying, and that on
pleading with his wife TO stop keeping
company with Pratt she said: II don
rIn after him; why doesn the stop running
after me2" He said that in endeavoring
TO locate his wife. he hired two detectives
pne in Philadelphia and one in Whining
ton, but without avail.
Rash said his wife, after leaving him
sent him word that if he did not go to
law she would leave their child where
he could sec him: but this he claimed. she