Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1913 — ASKS DIVORCE FROM MURDEROUS HUSBAND [ARTICLE]

ASKS DIVORCE FROM MURDEROUS HUSBAND

Hugh Burns’ Wife Seeks Legal Separation, Asking Restoration of Her Maiden Name.

Mrs. Orpha D. Burns, who had long withheld filing an action for divorce from her husband, Hugh Burns, who tried to murder her in the depot at Schneider, has now begun action in the Jasper circuit court, a complaint being filed this Saturday morning.' The complaint alleges that for six years he has been an habitual drunkard and common gambler. For five years last past wholly failed and refused to make any provision for the sup.port of her, was lazy, indolent, and vicious, And although a competent stone and brick mason, and in good health, wholly failed and refused to work at any employment more than a day or two at a time, but spent his time .in drinking and carousing in saloons, and was frequently absent from home two or three days and nights at a time, gambling and' playing poker for money, in various dives and resorts in Chicago, and he not only gambled away money which he earned himself, but also earnings of the plaintiff, whenever by persuasion or threat he was able to procure them. That he has frequently been guilty of Cruel and inhuman treatment; that he frequently cursed and abuesd her, and called her vile and indecent names; that he wbuld fre quently come home drunk, and at such times was violent and abusive, and struck the plaintiff and threatened to kill her; that since their separation the plaintiff has been compelled to work for her own support, and the defendant has during said time frequently sent to the plaintiff and to her relatives, through the U. S. mails, or by messengers, numerous threatening and abusive letters seeking to compel the plaintiff or her relatives to furnish him with money to spend in gambling, drinking and carousing in saloons and immoral resorts, although he is a strong, able-bodied man and capable of earning $5 to $8 per day at his trade, if he would remain sober, and he is contributing to the support of no person other than himself.. Plaintiff asks. for divorce andv right to resume her maiden name, Orpha D. Gleason.