Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1903 — SENSATIONAL DIVORCE SUIT. [ARTICLE]

SENSATIONAL DIVORCE SUIT.

Mary Weathers Middleton Wanta to Be Freed From Her'Huaband After Six Days’ Honeymoon. A divorce case was filed in the circuit court yesterday by Mary Middleton, through her attorney, Frank Kimmel of Lafayette, against her husband, Ernest Middleton, a son of Rev. H. M. Middleton, former pastor of M. E. church here and at Remington. Young Middleton was a soldier of the Spanisb-American war and served in the Philippines. Miss Wiltshire, or Weathers, as she was known, was born here, was a former typo in the various printing offices here and for the past two or three years deputy in the Rensselaer postoffice. She was a nice looking young lady, clever and obliging, very efficient, and made many friends. She and young Middleton had kept company some a couple of years ago but it was thought the affair was all off and that a John Fox of Lafayette was the favored suitor, in fact they were in engaged. On Sept. 13th Miss Weathers went to Hammond to visit friends, and the next day her friends here were surprised to learn of her marriage to young Middleton, who was then working in Chicago. After six days of married life Mrs. Middleton returned to Rensselaer, and, as stated in The Democrat last week, it was rumored that she had left her husband. He came down here the following Saturday and is alleged to have tried to get her to return with him, but she refused. The complaint alleges that the parties were married on Sept. 14, 1903, and separated on Sept. 20, 1903; that defendant has been guilty of cruel and inhuman treatment to plaintiff in using profane and vulgar language, cursing, swearing, etc.; that he would tell plaintiff against her will and remonstrance vile, viscious and lacivious stories, said storries being too vile to place upon the records of court, causing plaintiff much pain and distress of mind; tell her of his experience with lewd women and harlots before his marriage, etc.; that after their separation he tried to compell her to return by exhibiting and flourishing a loaded revolver in her presence, Plaintiff asks for a decree of divorce and that she be allowed to resume her former name of Mary H. Wiltshire. The sympathy of many friends will go out to Mrs. Middleton, even through she should have known better than to have taken the hasty step she did.