Year: 1878




minati0n.


A Bazoo reporter yesterday met
gentleman from Joplin, who gave him
the particulars of one OF the most re-
markable divorce cases OF which we
have ever heard. The following Is
the story:


A lady sued for divorce in Joplin
recently, and when it came up the
startling developments OF which we
write were brought to light, and upon
their strength they were granted.


In 1868 the lady, then young and
handsome maiden. a resident of Stone
county, Southwest Missouri. married
worthy young man to whom she had
long been engaged. Their union was
a happy one, and, as both had been
reared In the vicinity and were be-
loved AMI respected by all, they re-
ceived the kindest benisons of all
who knew them.


But the war was raging around
them, ani their locality was alternate
ly occupied by each Of the contending
armies. A draft was about to be
made, and the young husband, a
month after his marriage, concluded
to take advantage of the govern
ment's liberal offers and enlist, rather
than run the risk Of being forced into
its ranks without any emolument
save the meager pay OF a private. So
he voluntarily enlisted and became a
private in the Union army.


His courage and intelligence soon
gained the respect Of his officers and
fellow men, and in several hard
fought battles he distinguished him.
self to such an extent that his name
was forwarded to the department
headquarters in st. Louis, and in a
short time returned emblazoned in a
Second Lieutenant's commission.


The regiment was then stationed in
Northern .irkansas, and at this op-
perfume moment, when he was so
near to al he held dear Qor son
! was born to him in his absence), he
could not resist the temptation TO OBJ
tain short leave OF absence and visit
his wife and child.


This to him high-prized boon was
easily obtained, and with his COM
mission in his pocket he mounted his
horse and started for home. With
eager haste he pursued his journey
his mind being filled with bright WIS.,
ions OF a happy meeting with his
hearts idols. At length the well-re.
membered landmarks came to. view
: He was close to home. A few hun,
I dred yards of the leafy forest, and hs
would be in the opening where ht
could see the smoke from the cot tha
d contained his treasures.


h How he would surprise theml How
= his wife would cry for joyl How hi
bright eyed babe would


= HALT" came fierce order, in stem
torian tones, from the brush that sur
, rounded the road. Ere he could reir
in his horse in obedience to the dreat
summons, he was, as il by magic. sur
rounded by twenty or thirty fierce
and heavily-armed men, whom hi
practiced eye told him were the mos
unrelentin9 foes that the uniform h
wore ever had. His heart sank with
g in him, brave as he was, for he knew
, there was no mercy in the breast of
bushwhacker, for such they were.
A few questions were put to him b.
the leader of the band, but they wer'
more for forms sake than anything
else. His uniform was a mute answe
h for all they wished TO know, whil
from his pockets, which were rapid.
turned inside out, was the commission
drawn forth, which made them NOR
, eager for his blood.


The leader OF the band was mai
near his own age, and to him he ap
pealed and demanded that he b.
treated as a prisoner of war. HE re
quest was treated with derision, AM
a moment more his legs were pin
ioned, and an ominous rope with


moose at its end dangled from tn
limb of an adjacent tree. Again h
appealed to his inhuman captors, an