Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1917 — CHAS. ELDER WANTS DIVORCE [ARTICLE]

CHAS. ELDER WANTS DIVORCE

But Judge DeSeim (of Kankakee) Doubts if Wife Deserted Him. - Charles Elder, a - former resident of Rensselaer, who gave Momence as his residence, applied in the tyfankakee (Illinois) court for a divorce last week, charging that his wife deserted him. In reporting the divorce suit the Kankakee Gazette published the following: "Holding that the complainant, Charles Elder, of Momence, in a suit for divorce against his wife, Amy Francis Elder, of Rensselaer, Indiana, had not given his wife sufficient notice that be was suing for divorce. Judge DeSeim yesterday afternoon refused to grant the decree. ! “It developed in the hearing, according .to Elder’s own testimony, that he left Rensselaer in 1907 and that when he left he gave his wife the furniture. He declared that his wife left him about the same time, taking with her their three children, all under 14 years of age. "Elder asked for a divorce on the grounds of desertion. ‘lt looks as though you might have deserted your wife and family yourself,’ said Judge DeSeim, ‘instead of your wife having deserted you.’ "The case was continued until personal service on Mrs. Elder can be obtained. The man admitted that since leaving Rensselaer he had sent .his family only $10.” The records of the Jasper circuit court show that Elder was indicted in November, 1912, on the charge of having deserted his wife, Annie Elder, here about Juljr 1* 1910. He was_arrested at Danville, Hlinols, and brought here and lodged in jail in default of bond, and on December 4, 1912, the same being at the November term of the Jasper circuit court, he was tried by a jury and found guilty of the charge contained in the indictment and his age was found to be 33 years. On December 6, 1912, Judge Hanley passed sentence on the verdict, fixing defendant's fine at $lO and costs and sentencing him for from one to three years in Um state prison at Michigan City and disfranchising him for a period of three years. He was taken to prison by the sheriff of Jasper county, and further the records sayeth not.