South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-18
MARITALBATTLE
OF AGED COUPLE
ENDED BY COURT
William Liggett and Wife
Thrash Out Differences
From Witness Stand.

William a Lggett. age rs. gray
haired veteran OF the Civil war, was
granted a divorce from MS equally
gray wife. Matte. age rs. on the
grounds p cruel and inhuman treat
ment and abandonment, by Judge
Chester Montgomery IN Superior
court No. /. Friday.
With firm. steady voice. Llggett
told the court that he has no real or
personal property and has long been
dependent on his government pen
zion Of $50 "A month for IvIihood.
After meeting Matte he called
on her regularly for five years but
kept all thoughts 81 matrimony out
OF his head. he said. because he could
not financially afford 20 marry her.
She Paid Fecs.
She. however. offered 10 pay for
the license. the parsons zee, and
promised that he would not have to
worry about her. 80 ia October. 1912
they We're married.
Believing that .t would be nice for
her grandfather 10 have company
and convinced that his intended was
an estimable woman. Mrs Pease, his
granddaughter her mother. and
husband. invited the old couple TO
live with than on LaSalle av.
Two days after she had been IN
the IAgge-t household, Matte, who
had been married three times and
divorced twice. began 20 find fault
and 20 change into a very Disagree
able lady. the daughter said on the
witness stand
Never helping with the work
walking away from the dinner table
IL the food did not suit her, and
continually naEging. the new member
Of the family became everything but
comfort 10 him, the old veteran tes-
titled
Then forgetting her promise that he
would not have to worry about her
she one day told him, Now I've got
you. didn't mary you to live with
you but TO have YOU support me"
he said.
Gave Him Choice" says.
your either support me. 20 TO
the penitentiary, or commit suicide
were her words during a quarrel one
day, Ldggitt said.
This statement prompted the Lig-
gett family with the exception OF
the old man. to move out Of the
house leaving him 20 face the music
alone.
Continued nagging featured by
Mattie's assertion that Light had
mistreated his former wife with
whom the veteran declared he had
lived happily for 30 years so stirred
him up that he left her five months
after their marriage and went TO the
home OF his daughter, Mrs. Pease, he
said
Quite contrasted was the hurried
and nervous story told By Matte IN
contesting her husbands suit for di-
vorce.
Denying that she had not assisted
with the houscwork and that che
had ever found fault with him un-
til a small fire broke out in the
house one day Mrs. Light offered
a number of conclusions that she
hastily came go after their marriage.
Fire Started Trouble.
"He married me for my money.
$3.50, and while ] didn't hear anyone
-. +l,,+ bo b,3 s,,. d, r-itb NV
eve" the eIderlv woman said claim
i,., tL,+ bo, GOOD husband had bor-
ro7.e,I ~ r-o,, f,e,. and 1,.4 not
s,,Dnor-o5 b5r nronerlv She insisted
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on her narf +o make him barnv.
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one 5,,- e5e Sid tIgr She f.ecar,e
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-. - =, 80 , sbor- of bsr-
- ,s
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1 80, 80 ,a-..1..'.5-l ~, sbo~+I,,
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