Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-18
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she was seated beside her attorney
in the courtroom.
"IIe has disgraced me long enough:
it should not be allowed" continued
the excited woman.
Two deputy Sheriffs led the woman
to the courthouse library while she
was sobbing bitterly.
Again in the afternoon, Mrs. Rich
ards created some little excitement
when she endeavored to hush Attor-
ncy Davies as he was arguing the
case to the court. She put in siren
uous objections to the line of argu-
ment of the attorney who was refer
ring to the testimony that a certain
young man, named Arthur Sisson,
and who resided at Brookline, Mass,
had taken her daughter, Pearl, aged
IL. to dances and to moving pictures
at Peaks Island. although Mr.. Sis
son was a number of years older than
Pearl Richards.
Judge Beane then informed the
! woman that the argument Of A,ttor-
ney Davies was in no ways a reflec-
ton on the character of the young
woman, and was not make for that
purpose. The argument was intend :
ed to have its weight as to the char
acter of the man, Sisson, who, it was
alleged, had stopped at times over
night at the home of Mrs. Richards,
when Mr.. Richards was away on his
work. Mrs. Richards, weeping bitter
ly, was led from the courtroom.
III az ~ IN Lo
was put in at tho Monday session of
the court, and the arguments of at
torneys were completed. At the close.
Judge Became reserved his decision.
This was the last of the divorce cases
for hearing at this term, and at the
conclusion. the April term Of the
superior court was finally adjourned.
The defense in the Richards case
contended that when q hearing was
land superior court before Judge
Sanborn on a libel brought by Mr..
Richards against his wife, and the
libel was denied by Judge Sanborn,
that that constituted res adjudicata
of the whole proposition.
In reply to that question Of law, the
libellant contended that he not only
relied on the actions of Mrs. Rich
ards previous to the filing of the first
libel, but also on her subsequent acts
of cruel and abusive treatment
1t was brought out in the hearing,
that the first move for divorce had
been made by Mrs. Richards in the
Cumberland county court, but that
that action had not been carried
through and that Mrs. Richards had
then appeared to oppose the libel
brought by Mr.. Richards in the Cum
berland court.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard have three
children, aged Is, IL and seven
years respectively, and both parties
are seeking for the custody of the
children.
Mr.. Richards Testifies
The libellant, James Austin Rich
ards testified that he resides at &c
Grove street. Augusta, and is en-
ploycd by Cane Bros. & Co, of New
York. He came to Augusta to live
at the suggestion of his firm and for
his business interests. He came here
last September and voted here at an
election.
He had married Mrs. Richards in
1905 at Cornwall, n. Y, and at first
went to Redwood, n. J., to live.
They came to Maine to live in 1915
and have lived here since. They
lived in Portland. He is not living
with Mrs. Richards.
when was the separation ."
asked Attorney Davies.
Mrs. Richards broke up the home
and left in 1919" was the answer of
the libelIant.
Mr.. Richards was away at that
time and he received a telephone
message from his wife that she was
moving. he said.
Witness said that at the Christ
mas season 1920 he went to Peaks
Island to the home with Christmas
presents for the children. Mrs.
Richards swore at him and told him
to get out. He had replied that he
had Christmas presents for the chill
jren, and she had said that they did
rot want any of his Christmas pres
ents and for him to get to H
out. Pearl is the oldest of their
three children and is Is years old;
the other two are II and seven
years. respectively.
Other visits that he had made to
the house to visit the children and
the cold reception that had been
accorded him by Mrs. Richard were
testified to by Mr.. Richards. He
told OF provision he had made for
apartments for Mrs. Richards and
the sums he had paid.
Since October I. 1920, he has been
a'physical wreck and his nerves have
been shot to pieces. The worries of
home had occupied his mind so he
could not attend to his work proper
ly.
Neglect OF the children by Mrs.
Richards was charged by the libel
liant. He testified that at times his
wife was profane, and had put lines
of thought into the head of the oldest
girl that were not for the best inter-
est of the girl.
In 1918, Mrs. Richards had gone
to Perth. n. B. to pass a vacation and
that was with Mr.. Richards consent.
He had worked to August 20 and
hod fha,, rAr1 a. D.nxL g. i.