Divorces P

-- P --

PAGE, Jeanette - John LOGAN

Source Lafayette Journal and Courier Sat 25 July 1936 p 4

Crawfordsville – Opal Paxton is seeking a divorce from Herman Paxton. They were married Sept 15, 1934 and separated in March 1935.

Jeanette Estelle Page has filed a divorce suit against John Logan Page. The Pages were married Dec 30, 1931.

====

PALMER, Salina

Source: Sunday Star, Crawfordsville, July 31, 1899
Mrs. Salina Palmer, of Ripley township, says her husband has been missing and no tidings received for two years, so she wants a divorce from him. - thanks to Kim H

****

PATTEN, Julia - P. R.

Source: Thursday evening, Argus New, Jan 4, 1900

Mrs. Julia Patton of New Market has been divorced from Dr. P.E. Patton the Terre Haute doctor who some months ago broke into print with a sensational story that he was being slowly poisoned by his wife. The charge was made while he was bedfast, seemingly at the point of death but so tickled was he with the sensation his story created, that he speedingly rallied and Doc is himself again. The divorce suit was tried at Sullivan on a change of venue and court awarded Mrs. Patton an absolute decree. It was further decreed that the dear doctor should recover damages from Mrs. Patton to the extend of $500. - kbz

Source: Weekly Argus, Jan 6, 1900 p 1

Mrs. Julia Patton of New Market, has been divorced from Dr. P.R. Patton, the Terre Haute doctor who some months ago broke into print with a sensational story that he was being slowly poisoned by his wife. The charge was made while he was bedfast, seemingly at the point of death but so sickled was he with the sensation his story created that he speedily rallied and Doc is himself again. The divorce suit was tried at Sullivan on a change of venue and the court awarded Mrs. Patton an absolute decree. It was further decreed that the dear doctor should recover damages from Mrs. Patton to the extent of $500.

Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana April 28, 1899

A sensation has grown out of the divorce suit of Mrs. Julia Wilhite Patton. She left her husband, Dr. Patton, a Terre Haute cancer specialist, some 3 months ago, charging him with drunkenness and cruelty. Patton has been sick ever since the separation, and now claims that he is suffering from the effects of a slow poison administerd by his wife before she left him. Mrs. Patton, who is living on her farm near New Market, says it is only a scheme to extort money from her and she makes the counter charge that the doctor tried on more than one occasion to kill her with chloroform. - kbz

Source: Crawfordsville Review 7 Jan 1899

The Terre Haute papers this week announce the filing of a suit for divorce by Mrs. Julia Wilhite Fletcher Patton. In her complaint she alleges cruel and inhuman treatment and drunkenness.. Mrs. Patton is the only daughter of the late Paschal Wilhite and has the distinction of being the richest woman in Montgomery county. This is her fourth venture in matrimonial market, her first and second husbands dying while the third and fourth are still on earth. Mrs. Patton has taken up her residence at New Market. – thanks to Kim H

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 28 April 1899

A special from Terre Haute Tuesday states that the charges of Dr. Patten that his wife gave him slow poison that is killing him, are now thoroughly discredited. Patten’s physicians say he is suffering from a gastric trouble and not from poison, and that his mind is disordered by the frequent use of chloroform and other narcotics. Mrs. Patten is very indignant as are also her friends in this county. A gentleman who is related to her and with whom she has visited since her marriage was a caller at The Journal office Tuesday and stated that Patten was trying to work a bluff game to get a large sum of money from his wife in consideration that he drop the case and allow her to procure a divorce. Mrs. Patten is now holding her residence in Terre Haute until her suit for divorce comes up in the Vigo court. She has frequently stated to friends that she believed Dr. Patten tried to chloroform her while they were yet living together and that upon several occasions she had awakened in the night almost overpowered by the fumes of the poisonous drug. Patten always claimed that he was using the narcotic himself and that he never thought of it affecting her. Mrs. Patten now has the bottle of chloroform which she had taken from the doctor while he was lying in a drunken stupor, and is keeping his former office girl in Terre Haute, who will be one of her witnesses. The girl was afraid of her life when around Patten, who frequently had drunken spells, when it was impossible for him to see his patients and when he threatened violence to everyone in sight. Friends of Mrs. Patten state that Patten always bore an unsavory reputation and that he had frequently been arrested for intoxication while traveling around with a lot of half breed Indians and alleging to cure all kinds of diseases by the use of Mexican herbs and Indian Sagwa. When he became acquainted with Mrs. Fletcher and learned of her wealth he spruced up and temporarily reformed until he could induce her to marry him, divorcing a former wife and marrying Mrs. Fletcher the next day. He soon showed his true colors and tried all kinds of schemes to get his wife to make over some of her property to him. He sent around an alleged real estate agent while they lived in Terre Haute to sell her real estate which he claimed would make her big money. She was not letting loose of her money in that way, however, and told him that she believed Montgomery County land was good enough for her. Finally Mrs. Patten left him, after he had attempted to chloroform her two or three times and his threats were of no avail to make her change her mind. To those acquainted with Mrs. Patten the tale of the doctor reads like a selection from the “Arabian Nights” and is calculated to disgust the devil and give a polecat the dyspepsia. The simple and confiding reporter who wrote the pipe dream should deodorize his intellect and then turn around and kick in the bust of the breeches of the impudent old tub of tallow who has so beautifully hornswoggled him.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 28 April 1899

Mrs. Julia Patten, of New Market, the daughter of the late Paschal Wilhite, made a bigger mistake than she knew when she married “Doctor” Patten, a “yarb healer of Terry Hut.” Not only did the fellow turn out to be a drunken scoundrel but now that she has applied for a divorce, he attempts to get even by charging that she attempted to poison him. The Terre Haute Express gives space to the following sensational article:

“Dr. B. E. Patten, the specialist, who has offices at 17 North Sixth Street, is lying in a dangerous condition at the home of the Rev. T. E. Foreman, 1445 Maple Avenue, suffering from the effects of alleged arsenic poisoning and chloroform, administered, he claims, with murderous intent by his wife, Julia Patten, who instituted divorce proceedings in the Vigo County court some three months ago.

Dr. Patten realizes his serious condition, and is aware of the fact that he has but a short time to live. His claims are sensational, and in order that authorities may take charge of the case in the event of his death, he has made official statements to Coroner Willis and Prosecutor Beal with the request that a post mortem examination be made on his remains after his death, in order to prove the truth of the charges against the woman who abandoned him and now has the suit pending for a separation.

Coroner Willis visited Dr. Patten several weeks ago and secured a statement from him regarding the alleged poisoning. A second visit was made to the bedside of the afflicted victim Sunday afternoon and a full account of how the poison was administered was secured from him by the coroner and did not differ from the first one. Prosecutor Beal also visited the doctor and secured an official statement which will be used in case Dr. Patten does not recover from the results of the alleged poisoning.

Dr. Patten is well known in Terre Haute, although he has only been a resident of the city for a little over two years. He came here from Indianapolis, where he had been located a short time. Prior to locating at Indianapolis he was in Mexico, where he spent some years in practicing medicine among the natives of that country and also making a study of the medicines used by Mexicans in the cure of many diseases subject to the people of that climate. On his return to the United States he introduced a number of these Mexican herbs and roots in the treatment of chronic diseases to which he gave special attention and study. Shortly after arriving in Terre Haute he opened offices at 17 North Sixth Street and took up the cure of cancer. He treated a large number of difficult cases successfully and built up a good practice in a short time.

A year ago he surprised his acquaintances by marrying a wealth widow of New Market, Ind. The couple, after a few days’ trip, came to Terre Haute, Ind., rented a house on North Sixth Street and began housekeeping. The business of Dr. Patten continued to increase and his patients became so numerous that he was compelled to open a hospital for their care on Walnut Street.

Everything apparently between Dr. Patten and his wife was harmonious until about three months ago when she created a sensation by filing suit for divorce on the grounds of drunkenness. The charges in the complaint were the surprising part of the case as it was a known fact that Dr. Patten had taken a deep interest in temperance work and delivered a number of temperance lectures at different churches in the city. He was also at the time a strong supporter of the United Brethren Church and contributed liberally toward the building fund of the Second United Brethren Church, Highland Place. When the suit was filed by Mrs. Patten the doctor claimed that he was not to blame, and a different state of affairs would be shown when the case came to trial. For days after the filing of the suit, and even for days before the suit was placed on the docket of the court, Dr. Patten was confined to his bed with illness, the manner of which was unknown. Immediately after filing the suit Mrs. Patten left the city and Dr. Patten did not improve in health. He continued to grow worse in fact until last week when he was taken to the home of the Rev. T. E. Foreman to be cared for and nursed.

In the three months of his illness, Dr. Stunkard has been the attending physician, but has been unable to check the complications of his case. Other physicians have been called in the case and have made examinations of Dr. Patten, which has developed the fact that he has enlargement of the heart, from which few recover. This was known to Dr. Stuckard, but Dr. Patten in order to satisfy himself requested the examination by the other physicians. When Dr. Stuckard was first called in the case Dr. Patten informed him that Mrs. Patten had made an attempt to poison him. He also made the same statement to others, but on account of the sensational part of the charge, he was not believed, and it was thought that the doctor had worried over the trouble with his wife to such an extent that he was delirious.

Now, however, when Dr. Patten realizes that there is little hope of his recovery, and has gone so far as to call the coroner and make the same charges it is believed that there may be foundation for his statement that an attempt was made to poison him.

Mr. Patten was seen by an Express reporter and made the following statement: “I know that an attempt was made to poison me. I know that I am in a bad condition and have only a short time to live. I made my will last Monday and made all preparations for the end. Coroner Willis has a statement from me in which I request a post mortem examination of my body after death, when it will be found that I was poisoned. I do not know what kind of poison my wife gave me, but I have several witnesses who saw her give me several black pills and also heard her say a number of times while I was sick that she wished I would die. She also had me under chloroform for hours, and I am satisfied that she made an attempt to murder me. If I recover I intend to prosecute her, but if I die, I have made all necessary arrangements for the law to take hold of the case and prosecute her for giving me the poison which is causing my death.”

Dr. Stuckard, who has been attending Dr. Patten, was also seen by the Express reporter, and in speaking of the case, said: “The man is in a serious condition, and the chances are against his recovery. I do not know what to make of his charges. Dr. Patten has at all times appeared rational, and he has stuck to the statement that an attempt was made to poison him.

Coroner Willis said last night that he had visited Dr. Patten and found him in a bad shape, and, in his opinion, there is little chance for his recovery. “He made the same statement to me today that he made a few weeks ago”, said Coroner Willis, “and the charges, under the circumstances, call for an official investigation.”

Mrs. Julia Patten, the woman accused of the poisoning, ahs been married four times and is said to be worth at least $100,000. Her name at the present time is Julia Wilhite-Fletcher-Gaughan-Patten. Since removing from Terre Haute, after filing the suit for divorce, she has been living; it is understood, on one of her farms near New Market, Ind.”

*****

PATTON, Sarah - James

Source: Waveland Independent, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, April 11, 1919

Sarah Elizabeth [Layne] Patton has filed suit for divorce from James W. Patton of Waveland and also asks $10,000 alimony. The suit filed by Williams & Murphy sets forth that the defendant has been cruel and inhuman and the plaintiff seeks a divorce, alimony and custody of 6 children. The parties of the suit were married 25 Jan 1895 and until 1912 lived in Browns Valley when they moved to Waveland. The separation occured on March 14, 1919 - Crawfordsville Review

*****

PAXTON, Opal - Herman

Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Sat 25 July 1936 p 4

Crawfordsville – Opal Paxton is seeking a divorce from Herman Paxton. They were married Sept 15, 1934 and separated in March 1935.

Jeanette Estelle Page has filed a divorce suit against John Logan Page. The Pages were married Dec 30, 1931.

PEFFLEY - Mae - Carl

Source: Crawfordsville Review 21 Sept 1920 p1

For the second time in two weeks a divorce suit hasw been filed with the county clerk in which the couples lived together but three months following the wedding ceremony. Yesterday Mae Phillips Peffley filed a divorce complain against Carl Peffley, charging cruel and inhuman treatment. The complain cites that the couple was married in May 1920 and separated in the following August. Mrs. Peffley asks the court restore her maiden name, Mae Phillips.

*****

PETERMAN, Clarence
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 10 Nov 1893 p 10

Nov 8 – The famous Clarence Peterman divorce suit which has been up for the last 3 years and which acquired an almost national notoriety by reason of some of its ridiculous features was finally disposed of Tuesday, Peterman securing a divorce on the statutory ground of abandonment. His wife was awarded $3,250 alimony.

PETERMAN, Siphonia
Source: Greencastle Star Press 27 Feb 1892 p 1

Siphonia Peterman, wife of a wealthy Montgomery County farmer has sued for a divorce and $25,000 alimony.

*****

PETRO, Sarah - Sam
Source: August 1, 1901 Daily News-Review p 1

Mrs. Sarah Petro of Darlington has sued for a divorce from her husband, Samuel Petro, who is now supposed to be sojourning in Montana. Sam is of an inventive turn of mind but somehow the products of his genius failed to pan out in a financial way. He originated a combined hay and hog rack, a stump puller and a patent coupler, and went broke on the 3. In addition to his own money he sunk about $200 belonging to his wife. He is now at work on perpetual motion and thinks he can solve the problem if he had a little “cale seed.” He recently importuned his wife to mortgage her home to that end and because she refused, Samuel got huffy and pulled his freight. Mrs. Petro is willing that he shall stay in Montana but she would like a decree and the custody of their two children. - transcribed by kbz

*****

PICKETT, Howard - Hazel

Source: Crawfordsville Indiana Daily Journal Wed March 3, 1915 Howard E. Pickett was granted a divorce from his wife, Hazel Pickett, in circuit court today, the defendent failing to appear in the case. In his complaint Pickett charged that his wife kept company with other men. He said she went to the Waynetown horse show last June with another girl and two single men, remaining out until two in the morning. The Picketts were married in May, 1911, and separted in June, 1914. Clyde H. Jones was attorney for the plaintiff.

****

PINE, Emma - David

FEB 1891 Divorce cases

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 21 February 1891

The time of the circuit court Tuesday was occupied in trying the divorce cases which came up. There were 17 on the docket, but not all of them came up.

The first was the suit of Susan Wilhite against Wm. Wilhite, the popular coal oil vendor. She proved by many witnesses that Will was a great man to destroy liquor and while under the influence of the same to apply pet names to her not in keeping with the character of a Christian gentleman. Will has frequently beaten her too, and upon one occasion drew a knife and threatened to "let his life blood out upon the new carpet" The twain were married on January 3, 1873, and on January 3, 1891 they celebrated the anniversary by parting company. As William did not appear the divorce was granted.

Emma Pine next appeared and said that David, her husband wasn't worth shucks. He appeared pretty good timber when she took him but after two days of married life the provoking old thing packed up his duds and left the ranch. He has not shown up there since and the court got even with him by setting the coy Emma free.

Rosa Platt said that Thomas Platt was a regular dead beat. The wretch had utterly failed to provide for her as he had promised when first their troth was plighted in the shadows outside the electric light. Although Tom was released from the county jail Monday where he had spent a season for his prized fight escapade, the fellow did not appear to deny Rosa's statement and she was released from the odious bonds.

Francis Thebus, of Sugar Creek township, told the court that her husband, George Washington Thebus was a hard drinking, hard swearing and hard hitting old lout and that she was the victim of all three of his acquirement's. George was not on hand and the divorce was promptly granted by the sympathetic judge.

Augusta Larsh, of Ladoga, complained to Judge Snyder that her husband Carl had run off after abiding with her a year and was now feeding in pastures new. She got her divorce.

Another Ladoga lady came up smiling in the person of Nannie Myers. She was married with due pomp and solemnity to Jim Myers, who after two months of wedded life grew careless like and wandered away never to return. Nannie got a release.

Ben Condon is evidently a mighty mean man. Sarah his wife stood up in open court and accused him of drunkenness, profanity and also of choking her. Ben said this was all true and moreover said Sarah had failed to provide for him during the last two years and he was willing she should have a divorce. It was given with a smile.

The Horn case did not come up although Mr. Anderson labored assiduously to bring it to a focus. -- thanks to Kim H

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 7 Feb 1891 p 4

“Pine Cones” – Mrs. Emma Pine has through her attorneys, Davidson & West, brought suit for a divorce from the festive David Pine. Dave stuck his head through the hymenial yoke at the same time with Emma but after two days he pronounced her a dreary old companion and jerked his head out again. He hasn’t lived with her since and hence the application.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 7 Feb 1891 p 1

Mrs. Emma Pine has brought suit for a divorce from her belligerent husband, the great and only David Pine. Emma avers that the wicked Davy left her after but a few days of wedded life, thereby breaking bis marriage vows. Emma also makes a frantic kick in being a wife in name only and asks that the silken thread which hinds her to Davy be cut in twain.

*****

PITTINGER, Elizabeth - Frank

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 11 Sept 1890 p 3
Mrs. Elizabeth Pittinger has obtained a divorce from her husband, Frank Pittinger. The court instructed her to collect the costs of the suit from the defendant. - kbz

*****

PITTMAN, Emma - Levi

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review 29 May 1908 p 7

Emma Pittman has filed a motion before Judge West, asking for temporary alimony in the divorce suit she has brought against her husband, Levi Pittman. Judge West has not yet acted upon the petition. - kbz

*****

PLATT, Rosa - Thomas -- see above PINE, Emma article

*****

PORTER, Laura - William S.

Source: Crawfordsville Review 11 Dec 1869 – Court of Common Please Jan Term 1870 – Laura J. Porter vs. William S. Porter – Be it remembered that on the 24th day of November 1869, it being in the vacation of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County State of Indiana the plaintiff by White & Patterson, her attorneys, filed in the Clerk’s Office of said Court her complain, in writing as a cause of action in this behalf and the affidavit of a disinterested person setting forth that the said defendant, William S. Porter, is a non-resident of the State of Indiana. Now therefore notice of the filing and pendency of this action is hereby given to the said defendant, that he may be and appear on the 2nd day of the next term of said court of Common Pleas of said county, beginning on the 31st day of Jan AD 1870 at the Court House in Crawfordsville, then and there to answer said complaint. Witness my hand and the zel of said Court, this 24th day of Nov AD 1869 – William K. Wallace, Clerk

*******

POWERS, Newton

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 7 July 1899

Muncie Times: Mr. Newton D. Powers and Mrs. Lota Brown in all probability wore married in Chicago last evening, and thus the culmination to a series of domestic troubles. About four weeks ago the wife of Mr. Powers obtained a divorce from him. A complaint for divorce had been filed by the husband and a cross-complaint by the wife. Affairs were compromised BO that the wife was allowed her decree of separation. The divorce came as the close of much marital trouble. Mrs. Powers is said to have departed from the city a short time after receiving hor divorce. About a week previous to the granting of the Powers divorce, Mrs. Lota Brown and her husband, Samuel Brown, were separated legally. Domestic troubles of a serious kind also existed here. Sunday afternoon Mr. Powers left the city, saying he was going to Crawfordsville. He made arrangements to be gone until to-night or to-morrow morning. It seems that he did not go to Crawfordsville, however, or if he did, was not long there. This morning a local correspondent for a Chicago paper received the following telegram: "Newton D. Powers 32, and Mrs. Lota Brown 29, both of Muncie, to wed here. Did they elope?" It was suspected by those who knew the state of affairs that a wedding of these two principals to the divorce cases would be the outcome of the case and it likewise was suspected that Mr. Powers' alleged trip to Crawfordsville was for that purpose. It is probable that Mr. and Mrs. Powers will arrive home this evening.

****

PULLIAM, John - Mary

Source: Weekly Review 28 October 1909 p 8

After having lived together for 24 years during which they reared a family of 10 children, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Pulliam have at last had their marital relations severed in the divorce court. Mr. Pulliam secured the divorce from his wife, whose name is Mary C. Pulliam Thursday morning on the charge of incompatibility. Judge Jere West granted the divorce. Mrs. Pulliam was not represented in court and she did not fight the case. She and Mrs. Pulliam were married in 1867 and separated in 1901 after repeated attempts to patch up differences that arose between them. Since 1901 they have nothing to do with one another. Jones & Murphy appeared for Mr. Pulliam in the case. Some of the children were in court and testified on behalf of their father. – kbz