Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1911 — Mrs. Rose Klaus Granted a Divorce. [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Rose Klaus Granted a Divorce.

The Klaus divorce case from Remington brought over quite a number of Remington people Wednesday and- a part of the forenoon and all afternoon was taken up with the testimony. After hearing both sides of the story of domestic infelicity the court thought it would be impossible for the principals to ever become reconciled and granted plaintiff her decree and the custody of the two children, with privilege of the father going to see them, at all reasonable times. Divorce cases, while lamentable and Tiarrowing to a thinking person, usually develop considerable mirth in the hearing of the evidence, and this one was no exception. The parties were married in 1906, the plaintiff then being but 16 years of age and the defendant about 26. They had known each other since the girl .was but a few years of age. the families having lived near together. After some three weeks residence at the home of the groom’s parents the bride left there and went home to her mother, Mrs. Kelley, and the groom soon followed and most of their married life was spent there, the husband testifying that lie not get his wife to leave her mother’s home for one of her own; that once he had rented a house and fitted it up and then his wife .went back on. her -agreement and would not go to live with him.

Arrd so they continued on at her ,'mother’s. What the husband earned, testified, went into the family fund and her mother, brothers and sisters all partook of what he carried in. The wife testified, however, that he never contributed very much to the family’s support; that he was lazy and wouldn’t work, but admitted a number of specific sums of money he had given her, groceries* bought’and bills paid. She said her sisters, who are away, sent her money to live on, but admitted some $65 sent her by her husband from North Dakota a part of one season when he was working there He said it was $lO5 he sent. The family relations were strained for nearly a year before he left her; about a year ago, she refused to occupy the same bed with him and much of tjie time Would not speak to him. Finally J one of her sisters called him -an offensive name and he got out. A few months ago, he said, a job was offered him as engineer in the elevator at East Fowler at SSO per month, but his wife refused ,to go with him, saying she would not leave her mother. The wife testified that the reason she refused to go was because he said that he could not get into a house there for a month or more. He said that, as he couldn’t get his wife to go with him. he declined the job. Marion Coover, manager of of Farmers’ elevator at Remington, testiled Jhat Klaus is now working in their elevator and is a good worker. He is being paid $2.50 per day, He knew nothing bad about him. Drs. Landon and Besser and Ed Sutherland testified as to bills that had been owed them by Klaus. All had got their pay, however, but Dr. Landon, although Dr. Besser said his bills had been paid by a sister of the wife. Mrs. Geo. Worden testified as to some milk bills, some of which Klaus had paid and some were paid by his wife’s sisters.

Mrs. James Peck,’Miss Lillian Sommers fa chum of Mrs. Klaus) and Miss Ora Cheek thought the husband was lazy and did not properly support his family. Attorney Parkinson, who represented Klaus, came within an ■ ace of 'getting his hair all pulled out when he asked Miss Somi mers if she was not a divorced i wife. It was her sister who was . divorced, it seems, Aut “Bill” i didn’t know this until he had asked her. He found out then. 1 M r - Parkinson also, inadvertinently was the cause of men in general getting a terrible swipe in ■ cross-examining Miss Cheek, i He started to ask her something

about her husband, when the witness quickly replied: “I have no husband, thank fortune. and don’t want one.” She admitted to Judge Hanley after the trial was over, however. that she might change her mind almost any time, and the Judge gallantly promised to perform a ceremony that , would stick free gratis. Mr. Klaus had besides 'Mr. Coover. Frank Howard, Mrs. Wm. Hotalling and Mrs. Glosser as witnesses, and their testimony was very favorable to him. ' .

Klaus himself made a splendid witness on direct examination, and when he closed by saying that he was ready at all times to provide a separate home for his wife and children and live with them, even at that moment, he made a distinct impression in his favor. On cross-examination, however, by Mr. Darroch he was impudent in his replies and upset much of the favorable impression he had made. The court asked each of the parties a number of questions and felt that a reconciliation was impossible, and therefore granted the decree.

Both the parties are Catholics, and it is said their pastor had tried in vain to get them together again. Divorces are fri'wned upon—as they should be by all denominations —by the Catholics, and it is something very unusual in our court to have a divorce case of this kind, 'rite girl was married too young. The husband, who has but one hand, having lost all the fingers of his right hand except the thumb, by . coming in contact with a buzz saw. cannot perform all kinds of labor and is handicapped somewhat thereby. The staving with her folks didn't help matters nor tend to bring out the best that was in him. He probably grew indolent to some extent because. of this. Remington people generally speak very well of him and had they gollen away from horne influences and set up an establishment for themselves they wdui i no doubt be living happily together todav. ■ 1 ' ' •