The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-13
INDIANA GIRL
LOSES BATTLE
FOR DIVORCE
Jury Rules Helene Inman
Guilty of InfideIity to
Millionaire.
ALIMONY PLEA REFUSED
Part of Blame for Wild
Parties Is Shifted to
Husband.

E#I IuHrd Pr.ss
RENO, New, April ia bptist
preacher led eleven other jurors into
a sensation-dlled divorce courtroom
here today and announced that the
jury had decided that pretty Helene
Patton Inman, daughter Of Koko-
ma minister, had been unfaithful
10 her husband, Walker P. Inman,
New York millionaire.
And with that decision, Roy H.
Barret, the minister-foreman, an
uOunced the jury had granted In
man. heir to the Duke tobacco mil
lions. an absolute divorce over Mrs.
Inman's counter plea.
Because it believed Inman had
proved allegations of indiscretion
and intOXication against Helene,
the jury also denied Mrs. Inman's
demand Tor $250,0O0 alimony.
The jury, however, attempted to
shit to the husband part of the
blame tor the wild parties" which
allegediy featured the married life
O.. the Inmans and sought to grant
.-gs. Inman monthly alimony of
$500.
Judge Blocks Move
The move was blocked by Pre-
siding Judge George Bartlett, who
ruled that the alimony stipulation
of he verdict might be filed, but
not accorded, thereby Offering the
possibility OF an appeal to the su-
preme court.
The verdict granting Inman an
absolute divorce also upheld the set
tlement agreement signed by Inman
and Helen in New York City in
1927. whereby Mrs Inman was 20
receive $4,000 annually until re-
marriage.
In the closing argument Mrs. In
mans attorney, H. r. Cooke, pas
SiOnately pleaded to the jury for a
divorce and settlement for his client
with the charge that intoXicantS
caused the matrimonial difficulties
OF the InmanS.
Cooke said that Inman had urged
his wife to drink and that he he'd
permitted and urged her to go with
numerous escorts. he being content
to sit home with Il magazine,
drinking Scotch"
Beaten by Dollars
Referring to the letters allegedly
written to Mrs Inman by John
Steele. a vaudeville actor. Cooke
said. This isn't the first time such
action has been taken to preserve
the affection of a husband. nor is
il the last time it will be used"
The. defense also pointed out to
the jury that lit isn't an easy thing
to defend q womans honor against
a million and a half dollars nor the
Duke millions. which also have en-
tered the case"
The defense plea was ended with
the following statement:
They call him gentleman. He
has smeared and blackened Mrs In
mans reputation and broken her
nose"
According to Mrs. Inman'S testi-
money her husband beat her held
her hands and she kicked him with
her feet-the only weapons she had
LETT. He is trying to save a few
paltry dollars on a woman's name"
Drama in Climax
The ending of the prosecution
was more dramatic. Ii was:
There have been beautiful
women from Helen of Troy to Helene
Inman-cIever women. smart wom-
en-. women with a tear and big
handkerchief"
The prosecution also stated that
it would not speak in slurring man
ner or tone of scorn against the
defendants witnesses as the defense
had done against witnesses appear
ing for Inman.'
Take the letters yourselves" ." the
jury was told. You decide-but re-
member they corroborate our teSti-
mony as TO her type and conduct.
proving ConcluSively all our allega-
tons"
The jury OF men required five
hours and forty minutes to reach a
decision on the mass of testimony
collected during the twenty days of
the trial The verdict was returned
at 1910 a m.
There was no demonstration on
Mrs Inman'S part when she heard
the verdict read by man who chose
the same profession as her father
She Sufened noticeably, but did not
speak. and left the courtroom refus-
ing to make any statement.
Walker Inman absented himself
from the courtroom during the en-
tire evening and was not present to
hear the u-nrd of his Nictnrr.