Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1902 — ASKS $10,000 DAMAGES. [ARTICLE]

ASKS $10,000 DAMAGES.

Prominent Young Farmer of Near Remington Sues Hie Father-In-taw for Alienation of His Wife’e Affections. Another sensational suit was filed in the Jasper circuit court last Saturday, the plaintiff being John McLaughlin, a prominent young farmer residing with his father, P. H. McLaughlin, £ mile north of Remington. The defendant, Scott Russell, is also very prominent being one of Carpenter township’s wealthiest and best known farmers. He resides about 2 miles west of Remington, on the Goodland road. The marriage of the parties was rather a secret affair, and it is not generally known even at this time that either were married. The marriage is alleged to have taken place at Kentland, we are informed, but as they never openly lived together—because as alleged, on account of the young lady’s father being so bitter over the matter—the fact was not generally known, The complaint is quite voluminous, and we give it in full .below: Pabaqbaph I. The plaintiff in the above entitled cause complains of the defendant above named (Waiter S. Russell) and for cause of complaint herein says: That thia plaintiff Is now 27 years of age and on or about the Bth day of October, 1901, this plaintiff and one Della Russel were duly and legally married and at the said time became husband and wife and ever since that date have been and are now husband an 4 wife.

That the said Della Russell is 27 years of age and at the time of their said marriage and a long time prior thereto and thereafter the said Della Russell, now Della McLaughlin, had u strong feeling of affection combined with gratitude and reference for this plaintiff. That at the time of the marriage of this plaintiff with said Della Russell the said Della Russell had a devoted attachment to this plaintiff. Plaintiff further alleges that the suid defendant encouraged this plaintiff to make love, to court and to woo the said Della Russell and that this plaintiff with the consent and encouragement of said defendant spent much time and money in looking after and caring for said Della Russell during their said courtship, all of which was done with the know ledge, consent and encouragement of the defendant. Plaintiff further ulleges that by reason of said encouragement hy the said defendant and the love manifested for him by the said Della Russell and the encouragemeut offered by her and the regard and respect that she held for him, this plaintiff did court and woo the said Della Russell and did uud does now love the said Della Russell (Delia McLaughlin). That by reason of the premises aforesaid that the said Della McLoughlin (Russell) became the one object of his affectious. and became very dear to this plaintiff, and that at the time of their marriage and for a long

time prior thereto and thereafter the sold Della McLoughlin (Russell) did love and respect this plaintiff, and after their marriage and prior thereto this plaintiff and his wife had planned and arranged for their habitation and manner of living, and that this plaintiff was at all times able, willing and ready to take care of and to provide for the support of and maintenance of his said wifeull of which the defendant w ell knew. Plaintiff further says that after their said marriage the defendant, wrongfully, aud without cause, induced aud persuaded the said Della McLaughlin to live separate and apart from her said husband, this plaintiff. Plaintiff further alleges that the defendant wrougfully and intending to Injure this plaintiff and intending to deprive this plaintiff of the comfort, society, association, affection. aid and assistance of said Della McLaughlin, his said wife, and to alienate, estrauge. and cuuse to be withdrawn her, his wife's love and affection for him, and to estrange aud destroy her love and affection for him, did on or about the day of —, Will, and divers times thereafter, unlawfully and without cause and without right, tempt, persuade aud induce the said Dellu McLaughlin to abandon him and to refuse to live with him and to live away and apart from him this plaintiff. Plaintiff further says that since said day of —, WOl, until the commencement of this suit and during all the time the said defendant harbored, sheltered aud prevented tue said Della McLaughlin from living with this plaintiff uud deprived this plaintiff of her society, comfort, affection and love. That the said defendant has not ouly deprived this plaintiff of suid society, affection, comfort and love of his sold wife, but has by his actions as aforesaid deprived this plaintitf of the aid and assistance of his said wife, That the said defendant has Induced the said Della McLaughlin and persuaded her to refuse to acknowledge aud receive him as her husbaud. Which Inducement was wrongfnl and without right or cause, Plnintlff further alleges that by reason of the actlou on the part of the defendant os aforesaid, the love aud affectlou of the said Della McLaughllu for him was then and thereby alieualed and destroyed and by menus of the same this plaintiff hath hitherto wholly lost and been deprived of thecomfort, society, love, affection, fondness, uttuchmeut. reverence, intimacy, adoration, association, aid and assistance of the said Della McLaughlin. Plaintiff further alleges that during ull the time withlu which plaintiff and the suid Della McLaughlin have beeu husbaud nud wife he was ready, able and willing to look nfter, care for, provide for and comfort the the said Della McLaughlin, mid that he does now love and has both before and after their marriage loved the said Della McLaughlin,

and is now ready and willing to look after and care for the said Della McLaughlin as his wife. Plaintiff further says and alleges the fact to be that marriage is the most sacred and holy relation to divine or human law; that It is an institution ordained by God, sanctioned by all the nations of the earth; that it is the foundation of society and a school of morals; that It was declared by the Mosaic Law that a man should cleave unto its wife and they two should be one flesh. Plaintiff further says that said relation has been disrupted by the actions of the defendant herein, that that relation has been In a measure destroyed by the actions of the defendant herein. Plaintiff further alleges that Jiv reason of the actions on the parToFthe defendant as aforesaid and by reason of said disruption and destruction of the relations of the plaintiff and the said Della McLoughlin his wife, and the aleination and destruction of his said wife’s affection and love for him as aforesaid this plaintiff has been damaged aud Injured in the sum of ten thousand dollars. Wherefore plaintiff demands damages against the said defendant and a judgement for the same In the sum of ten thousand dollars and for his costs and charges laid out and expended aud for all other and proper relief. Pahagbafh 11, The plaintiff In the above entitled cause for u second and further paragraph of complaint against the defendant alleges; That this plaintiff aud Della Russell, a daughter of this defendant, w ere duly and legally married on or about the Sth day of October, 1901. That at the time of said marriage and upon the iiliug of this complaint und the commencement of this action and during all of said time this plaintiff and Ills said wife, Della McLoughlin. (Russell) has continued to sustain the relations of husbaud and wife to each other, and plaintiff further alleges that the said defendant contriving, wrongfully, wickedly, maliciously and unjustly intending to injure the said plaintiff and to deprive him of the comfort, fellowship, society, association, aid and assistance of said Della McLaughlin, his said wife, and to alienate and destroy her affection for him, the said plaintiff, the said defendant did, on or about the day of —, unlawfully, unjustly, wrongfully aud malisciously tempt, entice, persuade and allure the said Della McLaughlin, plaintiff's said w r ife, to abandon him, his house and home and to live away aud apart from this plaintiff. plaintiff further says that on said date to-wit on the day of —, 1901, at the time the said defendant did so allure the said plaintiff'g said wife from him, the said plaintiff, this plaintiff was ready, willing and able to live with his said wifeand was ready, willing and able to properly support his said wife and to keep, protect and defend his said wife in a manner suitable to her, this said plaintiff’s wife, aud has beeu so willing,ready and able to support, keep, protect and defend and in all things sustain to her the proper relations that u dutiful husband should to his wife, up to the timeof the filing of this action.

And plaintiff avers that since the said r—duy of —, 1901, until the commeemeut of this suit and during all of said time, the said defendant harbored, sheltered aud cared for the said Della McLuughlin, plaintiff'* said wife, and wickedly, wrongfully and maliciously contrived to alienate the affection* of the said Della McLaughlin, from him, this said plaTutitf. maliciously persuaded her and induced her to refuse to acknowledge and receive him as her husband, und thereby and because of the wrongful, mulicious and wicked ucts aforesaid of the said defendant. the affections of the said Della McLaughlin for him was then and there aud thereby alienated and destroyed; and by means of the premises the plaintiff hath hitherto lost and been deprived of the comfort, fellowship, society. association, aid and assistance, love und affection us the said Della McLaughlin in his domestic affairs which he, the plaintiff, during all of that time ought to have had, and otherwise might and would nave had. Wherefore, because of the premises heretofore set forth, plaintiff has beeu damaged iu the sumos SIO,OOO dollars, wherefore plaintiff' demands judgement against the defendant in the sum of ($10,600) ten thousand dollars and for his costs and churges laid out aud expended, and for all other proper relief.

JOHN E. WESTFALL, W. H. PARKISON.

Attys. for Plf.