The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-12-01
HIGH COURT
REVERSES
POSTAL CASE

The Supreme court OF Indiana yes
terday reversed two Hammond judges
and held that John and Nora Postal, OF
Button. Ind, are still husband ana
wife. lis in spite of the fact that
for more than three years they have
been living apart under divorce de-
cree granted by tho late Judge Walter
i. Hardy IL Room , Of the Hammond
superior court
The Postal divorce case attracted
considerable attention Though the two
trials which were conducted in Ham
mend courts. The first suit was rath-
er a quiet affair. but the second was
bitterly fought.
Many peculiar angles were brought to
light and the apparently contradictory
statements made by the plaintiff, John
Postal made the problem a difficult
one for tho court
Ar and Mrs. Postal were married in
Buffton in 1898. Neither possessed
much property a the time OF marriage
but Postal showed remarkable ability
in accommodating fortune later. A.
the time OF their separation he was
said TO be worth close to 100000.
When the break came about ten years
ago, Postal at his wife's suggestion
left home and worked at the insur-
ance business IN Pennsylvania for I'VE
years He saw his wife and family at
intervals but no recon Citation could
be affected At last she asked him to
so to some other city, gam a residence
and obtain divorce. She wished 20
avoid the notoriety Of having the case
triad al Button.
Postal went first 70 Illinois and
later 10 Nebraska. Montana and Wye
ming whore he was engaged in pro-
motion work He says he made no
money. One day he fell from an oil
derrick and was severely injured II
wasl while mentally unbalanced that
he contended the divorce suit was al
ed in Hammond. He insisted he never
gained a residence in Lake county al
though evidence wa4 introduced TO
show that ne had lived in Gary long
enough. Before the suit was tried
Mrs. Postal persuaded him TO with
draw it. He says he instructed his
attorneys TO do and also informed
Judge Hardy that they would take
such action.
The suit was not dismissed but af
ter Postal had left Hammond. his wife |
came and obtained default decree on
her cross complaint She was given
the custody OF. the children. s21.5oO
alimony and $1,000 attorney fees The
judgment was rendered October IS.
1915
In the fail of 1919 Postal, having
learned of tho divorce. returned to Ham
nond and asked that the judgment be
set aside On the ground that 1t was
obtained through fraud. He insisted
that neither party was resident or
the county. The matter was trans
ferred 10 Judge Reiter in Room ! and
the hearing required several weeks All
Of Postals travels and activities dur
ing the last ten years were gone into
minuteiy- Some of his affairs brought
gasps of surprise from court specta-
tors. 1t was learned incidentally that
he had even taken over German pro-
perty during the war to dispose OF
privately in order that it might not
be seized by the government. This
was only touched ON lightly.
The attorneys for AIrs. Postal hnally
brought the hearing TO close by NOV
ing that the court prepare special ind-
ings OF facts and conclusions of law
Judge Reiter took the matter under
advisement and worked on it nearly six
months. He submitted his findings on
June ?, 1920, holding that the original
decree, granted by Judge Hardy was
valid ana that the decree should not
be set aside. modified or changed The
plaintil filed his appeal bond on June
rs.
Yesterday the supreme court held
that the parties Of the suit were not
residents or Lake county for sia
months and hence the Hammond courts
did not have Jurisdiction TO render the
decree which was held void. The Pos
tails are still married.
The plaintiff was represented b. tho
late Judge Gillett. of Hammond. and
Eichhorn and Hamilton of Bluffton.
while the defendant was represented
by Bomberger. Peters & Mortland OF
Hammond, and Frank c. Daley, o.