The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-07-01
NUMBER I
MRS. E. H. MASSEY
GIVEN DIVORCE
Judge Slack Refuses Alimony Allow
ance To Plaintiff In Fa-
nous Suit.

O"OhSbOiOs N.Y. June GO.-- All
that | can say is that l think the
plaintiff in this case is entitled to
a divorce. l think it would lie bet
ter for both parties to the suit"
Such was the brief decision of Judge.
r. w. Slack late this afternoon in the
divorce case of Mrs. Ludie Grantham
! Massie against her husband, Ellis H.
Massie.
Judge Slack declined to grant Mrs,
Massie any alimony, saying that it
had been shown by the record that
her estate in North Carolina is worth
from $250,0OO to 100000 and that
her income ranges from $4,000 to
$4,000 year THE Kentucky
statues are plain on the point of ali
mony," said Judge Slack. Where a
woman has an income of her own and
is not dependent upon anyone, the
law does not intend that she shall
receive alimony."
Judge Slack also discussed the fl
nancial standing of the defendant,
saying the records showed that Mr..
Massie earned only SIS a month three
or four months a year, and his only
property was lot valued at $500.
E. Massie, whom the plaintiffs at
torney contends is a millionaire. In
this connection Judge Slack said the
defendant may or may not inherit his
fathers fortune, but that he could
not enter into the young mans flu
ture expectations.
Fees Not Decided.
| The question of fees for the plain
| tiff's attorneys was not decided,
Judge w. P. Sandidge, of counsel
for Mrs. Massie, making a motion
that he and ]. j. Sweeney and La
vega Clements, the other attorneys be
allowed $4,000. Louis Igleheart and
E. R. Anderson represented Mrs.
Massie and they objected to any fees
being allowed the opposing attorneys
Judge Slack took them under advise
ment.
Previous to ruling on the divorce
and alimony questions, Judge Slack
rendered a decision in the case
against Ellis H. Massie, as guardian
for his wife, in which she sought a
settlement of her estate. When they
married at Goldsboro, N. c., in May
1918, Mrs. Massie was not of age,
and her brother-in-law was removed
as her guardian and her husband APP
pointed.
She inherited her estate from her
father. When they came to Owens
boro to reside, $4,000 was deposited
in a local bank
$4,000 Ordered Paid.
In the suit for a settlement Of the
estate it was alleged that Mrs. Mas
sic was allowed TO spend $4,000 dur
ing the time she lived with her hus-
band and restitution of this amount
was asked. Attorneys for Mr.. Mas
sic, in their arguments, claimed that
Mr.. Massie's income was not suffi-
cient to give his wife all of the luxu-
ries that she demanded, and she in
sisted upon using her own funds. Mrs.
Massie had accounts in Louisville,
Cincinnati and Baltimore in addition
to the ones in greensboro. Judge
Slack ruled this afternoon that Mr..
Massie, as his wife's guardian, had
no legal right to allow her to waste
her estate, and ordered that he re-
store to her an amount of approx
mately $4,000. Mr. Massie is under
bond as guardian,
Mr., and Mrs. Massie lived together
until March 1920, when she alleged
in her petition she was forced to
leave him on account of his treat
ment of her. Mr. Massie denied all
of the allegations made by his wife,
and thru his attorneys, contested the
suit for divorce,
Mrs Massie was at the greensboro
Country Club, seeking relief from
the heat in the swimming pool, when
Informed late this afternoon of Judge
Slack's decisions,
"Well, / am certainly glad it is all
over" said Mrs. Massie, who is 81
and an unusually handsome woman.
IL had made up my mind to be salts
lied with any decision and this one
lcertainly does please me-" Mrs Mas
sic said she would remain in Owens
boro another month, at least, and
then travel.
Mr.. Massie has announced that he
will not pay the attorneys for his for
mer wife one cent in fees.