Evening journal., 1922-01-04
DIVORCES MAN
Who SHOT HER
Mrs. Burke Wins Decree
From Husband Who
Serves Jail Term
10 MORE COUPLES
ARE SEPARATED

The short but tempestuous mar
ried life OF Myrtle " Burke and
James Burke. which reached its
climax when the husband shot his
wife and then turned his pistol on
himself. several months ago, was
terminated in Superior Court yes
terday afternoon. when the wife
obtained a decree nisi on her petit
tion for divorce while her husband
was confined In the workhouse
serving a six years sentence on a
charge OF assault with intent 10
commit murder.
Before the hearing OF the suit.
Horace G. Eastburn, attorney for
Mrs. Burke. telephoned the work
! house. upon advice OF Judge Rice,
10 ascertain whether the husband
desired to contest the action. Burke,
however. expressed no wish to op-
pose his wife's application.
Mrs. Burke testified that she was
married in Elkton. Nd. in Janu-
airy, 1920. They had been married
but a short time, she said, when her
husband became abusive toward her.
She said that he left her in July,
1920. He had threatened her life.
Mrs. Burke alleged, and made an
attempt to kill her by shooting her
in the Peoples Credit Clothing store
recently. There was no agreement
between them concerning the pro-
curing OF a divorce. she said.
Police superintendent George
Black teseihed to the shooting OF
Mrs. Burke by her husband. After
wounding her. he said, Burke turn
ed the pistol on himself. infiicting a
serious wound.
The decree nisi was granted on
grounds Of extreme cruelty. Mrs.
Burke was also permitted to resume
her maiden name.
Seven divorces were granted by
the court yesterday afternoon. max
ing a total OF nineteen for the day,
After the hearing Of the testi-
mony OF the petitioner and Police
superintendent Black in the suit Of
William J. Bridegroom against
Leona Bridegroom. II was decided 20
consider the case as having not been
heard at all, pending the obtaining
Of further evidence Of witnesses IN
Pittsburgh. The suit will probably
be heard at the March term OF court
p Bridegroom alleged statutory
grounds I'm his petition. setting out
that his wife left him and went tc
. Pittsburgh with Walter Elliott las
May He said that he was married
to his wife in December. 1904.
Police superintendent Black testi
fed that Mrs. Elliott had appealed
to him to locate her husband bu
that efforts had been unsuccessful.
Secigirs decree from Hubert =
=, Hunter Mrs Helen NJ. Hunte
charged that her husband had threat
!, ened TO kill her I'm order 70 get RI
OF her and that twice he attempte
= TO carry out his iendish designs. o.
: one occasion. she said. he turned o
the gas and held her In a room. bu
n released her when she scramed. o
:. another occasion, the young VIII
: said. her husband seized her an
!, rushed her 10 the edge of a bridg
across the Brandywine creek. a
sixteenth street, and declared tina
: II he were certain that he would no
: be seen he would throw her over tn
railing into the water. Because o
= his behavior she was afraid to liv
with him, she told the court
Judge Rice granted a decree mis-
on the grounds OF desertion Fran
a Cappela was granted a decree mis-
from Maddalena Cappella- He wa
;. represented by Alexander Jamison.
= In the case OF Richard G.. Porte
= against Inez Porter. a decree wa
= granted on grounds OF desertion.
Il Harry X. Hoch was council fc
Porter.
d Mrs. Porter. according to the ev
dence. deserted her husband in 1911
IN A decree nisi was granted Lul
Viola Rode Corliss. also known I
1t Viola Rome Corliss. on grounds
s. desertion. John f. Lynn was coui
IS sci for the plaintiff
\ Stanley Royston obtained a do
Id cree nisi from Floy d. Royston o
In grounds Of desertion.
The suit OF Violet Toomey againi
ID John Toomey was held up pendin
in further testimony.
IN Helen Graham was granted a do
OF cree nisi from George J. Grahai
81 and the custody of two childrel
le Desertion was charged.
a. In the suit Of Phyllis J. Caufh'
le against Daniel W. Cauffiel a deere
IN nisi was granted on grounds OF e.
- treme cruelty.
- A decree was granted Levin
p" Shockley from Clara L. Shockley.
The case OF Raymond II. StoJ
against Alice J. Stout in which adu
inru was charred. was held undl