The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-12-03
HUSBAND SLABS
RIVAL in THEATRE
Sues for Divorce Here;
Sets Milwaukee Audi.
ence in Turmoil.
TELLS WHY HE DID IT
AS He Finishes Recital of
Alleged Theft of Wife's Love
He Is Roundly Cheered.

A crowded Milwaukee theatre audi
ence witnessed an oct not on the bill
last night, which made more of hit
than anything offered by the paid
comedians, and the man responsible
for it is husband whose stormy
matrimonial affairs have already had
a partial airing in the Kenosha muni-
cipal court.
The act might have been appropri-
ately entitled "He Who Gets Slapped"
It was a case of the other man
in marital triangle getting slapped,
and of the irate husband doing the
Shaping, and it took place right in the
main aisle of the theatre in full view
of the audience.
Otto w. Momsen played the role of
the offended husband and slapper.
Mrs. Ida Momsen was cast as the wife
and the triangular character who in
stigated the performance but took no
direct part in the action of the play,
George M. Caskay, we'll known Mil
waukee dancing master and proprietor
of dancing school, was he who got
slapped.
Filed Divorce Suit Here.
The Momsens have been married
since June Is, 1895, and have two chill
dren, both over 81 years of age. The
husband is an erecting engineer. On
June "a, this year, Momsen, through
his attorney, came to Kenosha and
filed suit for divorce in the municipal
court, naming Caskay as rival. On
July 81 the case was dismissed by
Judge Slater on the ground that the
amount of property involved in the
settlement was in excess of $4,000 and
the court therefore had no jurisdic-
tion.
On November A Mrs. Momsen filed
suit for divorce in circuit court at
Racine, alleging cruel and inhuman
treatment, and at that time Judge
Belden issued a temporary restrain
ing order warning the husband against
molesting the wife.
Momsen, in his divorce bill filed in
Kenosha, recited that their married
life was happy until Caskay was taken
into the home as a roomer and board
err and that from that time the af-
fections of his wife were switched
from her husband to the newcomer.
He set forth that his wife showered
Caskay with attentions at the table
and neglected him, and that she often
went out with the dancing teacher and
refused to go out with her husband.
He further said Mrs. Momsen often
spent her evenings entertaining Cas-
kay in his room.
Paid His Wife $40 Month.
Separation followed and according
to the story told in Milwaukee, an
agreement was reached that Momsen
should pay his wife $40 a month
pending settlement of the divorce ac-
ton. It is claimed that Mrs. Nom
sen and Caskay continued to be much
in each others company.
Last evening Momsen went to at
tend performance at the States
theatre in Milwaukee, in company with
some relatives, and when seated he
sitting together across the aisle. When
seats were vacated behind them he
went and sat behind them, took $40
from his pocket, and, leaning over
the seatback, proffered it to his wife
as the next months payment under
the terms of their agreement. No
other words passed.
Later Mrs. Momsen and Caskey got
up to leave the theatre and as they
walked down the aisle Momsen fol-
lowed. Overtaking them he whirled
Caskay around and slapped him sound
ly twice in the face. Instantly the
theatre was in an uproar Women
screamed and the audience clamored
to get a good view of the act.
Audience Cheers Husband.
AS the patrons crowded around,
Momsen waved them back after the
fashion Of traffic cop, then calmly
and clearly addressed the audience
and. explained why he had done what
he did. He named Caskay and his
wife and apologized for doing what
seemed to be so rude, and said he
did not wish to descend to rowdyism,
but was convinced it was the only way
to mete out just punishment to the
man who had broken up his home.
AS he finished his talk the audience
cheered him and he walked calmly
from the theatre.
Mrs. Momsen today vows she will
proceed against her husband under
the restraining order issued by Judge
Belden. Her attorney in the case
is former Governor McGovern. Mean
time Momsen has not been arrested,
but expresses the hope that he will be
SO he can show up Caskay to the pub
lie in his true character.
In defense, Mrs. Momsen says her
presence at the theatre with Caskay
was mere chance, that she was en-
route to the dancing academy where
she is employed as an assistant, and
that there she met Caskay and he
proposed they attend the theatre to-
gether.