Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1904 — NOW WANTS DIVORCE. [ARTICLE]

NOW WANTS DIVORCE.

Della Russell ncLaughlin Wants To Be Freed From Husband With Whom She Never Lived. A divorce case of more than usual interest was filed by plaintiff’s attorneys, Messrs. Foltz & Spitler, Saturday. The title of the case is Della D. McLaughlin, vs. John MoLaughlin. The plaintiff is a daughter of Scott Russell, a prominent farmer of near Remington, while the defendant is also a prominent and excellent young farmer of near that place. The complaint charges desertion, failure to provide and cruel treatment, but no specific acts of cruelty are set forth. It states that the parties were married Nov. 8, 1901, and that defendant abandoned plaintiff the same day, against her desire and wishes, and has since refused to live with her. This case is of more than usual interest to people of Jasper county because of the circumstances surrounding the same. On November 8, 1901, Mr. McLaughlin and Miss Russell went to Kentland and were secretely married. They returned home and the marriage was generally unknown for several months. They never lived together, and about a year after the marriage the groom brought action against his-father-in-law, for SIO,OOO damages for alienation of his wife’s affections. The case was tried in the circuit court here and attracted much attention. While a verdict was returned in favor of the defendant, the evidence went to show that young McLaughlin was desirous of having his wife live with him, that he had repeatedly sent her money—most of which if not all had been returned to him by letter—and that he loved her and was much broken up over her refusal to live with him. Other matters of a private nature were brought out in the trial which it is not necessary to mention herein. The case now brought will be watched with considerable interest, as its result depends somewhat on what action the hnsband or prosecuting attorney will take in the matter. Should the former decline to contest the granting of the divorce, the law makes it the duty of the prosecutor to investigate the matter and appear for the State, the object being to prevent the promiscous granting of divorces on trivial grounds.