Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-15

civil matters often are taken by lawyers
in the hope that speedy trials can be OBJ
tanned at the hands of special judges.
So congested are the dockets in the
civil courts that it is not uncommon to
find special judges presiding in divorce
cases in a room used by the county
superintendent of schools for holding
teachers examinations.
Judge Scion J. Carter Of Superior
Court, Room 5, found his docket so over
loaded with divorce cases recently that
he appointed several special judges aud
. assigned them to the schoolroom. The
htigants and counsel occupied the desks
and chairs generally used by teachers
at examination times.
The husband who was a target for
dishes n his application for divorce also
made charge which is familiar to most
OF the judges hearing divorce cases.
he alleged that his wife told him that
ne did not make enough money for her
and that she was going to get a man
that could give her a better living
That charge hsrks back to one Of the
fundamental causes Of divorces in Ma
ZION County-the failure of the husband
TO support his wife as she desires.
WIFES MONEY DEMAND
MOST FREQUENT CAUSE.
t. F. CARRIER. official court reporter. for
Superior Court, Room 5, in more than
five years spent in reporting officially
divorce and civil cases, is of the opinion
that the failure of the husband to make
sufficient money with which to satisfy
the wife, is the most frequent cause for
divorce in this county.
Il think that money matters cause
more divorces than anything else" Mr.
CARRIER stated The failure Of the hus-
band to make sufficient money to keer
the wife as she desires. results so often
In qusrrelS and dissatisfaction, both on
the part of the man and the woman"
This is noted mostly in cases where
the woman was employed prior to her
marriage and stopped work after the
ceremony, according to Mr.. CARRIER.
1t is the opinion of Mr.. CARRIER that
plaintiffs generally are sincere in their
desire to get divorce. In some ca SEES
the desire for divorce is overshsdowed
by the thought of future marriage The
records show that Judge T. J. Moll Of
Superior Court. room 5, generally in
quires of the plaintiffs in divorce ac-
lions Il they are or have been keeping
= company with other parties.
TWO JUDGES HAVE
EVIDENCE RECORDED.
Judge Mol and Judge Harry Chamber
lin of the Circuit Court are two judges
who have official records kept in all
divorce cases. Some of the other judges
do rot use the official reporters to take
doySn evidence in divorce cases. but rely
upon notes AIKEN personally by them
during the trial.
Mr. CARRIER points out that it is more
difficult 10 establish the allega tions in a
divorce case when it is contested than
when it is not. In contested divorce
cases, the defendant generally files a
cross complaint setting up allegations
against the plaintiff IN the original
action.
Yesterday in one contested divorce case
before Judge Chamberlin a total OF
seventy-two witnesses were sworn. Such
cases, as rule, are fought bitterly, both
sides generally asking custody of chill
dren. Property rights often rule in
contested cases. Husbands who have
been sued by their wives for divorce
appear in the courts very frequently to
contest the efforts Of the wife to obtain
large alimony settlements and attorney
fees
In contested divorce cases the evil
dence shows that both the husband and
the wife are to blame for the condi-
tons have have wrecked the home. In
such cases the Judge must balance the
evidence and in some cases the court
has refused to grant a divorce to either
party.
CRUELTY CHARGE
COVERS WIDE RANGE.
Mr.. Carrier has observed that the ale
cation of cruelty in Z complaint covers
a multitude OF causes of domestic IN
happiness. He states that H. some cases
he has reported that the wife has proven
real physical violence on the part of the
husband. 1t is not infrequent that a wife
alleges that she has been beaten or
struck until large black and blue spots
appeared Oh her body.
Mr.. CARRIER states that divorce cases
are the most difficult of all cases to re-
port as Judge Moll goes to the bot
tom of all cases" and because the wit
nesses generally talk rapidly. Judge
Mou is one judge who generally asks
plaintiffs in divorce cases many ques-
lions which counsel for beth sides fail
or refuse to ask.
1t also is noted that divorce cases
among negroes are increasing. so much
SO that two of the local courts yesterday
set aside the entire day for negro di-
vorce trials.