Divorces

Submitted by Donnie Pickard

Matrimonial Shipwrecks

Van Buren County Democrat, October 18, 1912

Non-Support, Quarrelsomeness, Peevishness, Cursing, Mistreatment, and General Cussedness' Some of the Things Alleged

Since our last peep into the Chancery file box at the county's temple of justice two additional reports of shipwrecks upon the matrimonial sea have been filed. Bessie Westerman vs Allen Westerman is the style of the first complaint, Hon J. F. Koone to appear as solicitor for plaintiff. In her complaint plaintiff avers she and defendant were married in the month of April 1909, and lived together as husband and wife until the 4th day of August of this year. For cause of action she alleges continued and persistent quarrelsomeness, peevishness, crossness of defendant and his continual cursing plaintiff and permitting his relatives to abuse and mistreat plaintiff, making her life intolerable. One child, a girl, was born of this union, of which plaintiff asks custody.

Mary J. Turney vs Thomas C. Turney is the style of the second suit. Their marriage took place in Conway county on the 10th day of December, 1871, and their separation the 30th day of March of the following year, when defendant willfully and without cause abandoned plaintiff and has since continued said abandonment. Non-support and mistreatment during the time they lived together as husband and wife are additional causes stipulated in the complaint. Dowery rights in certain real estate possessed by the defendant and located in Cleburne County, in addition to an absolute decree of divorce, is asked for by plaintiff, together with restoration of value of certain property owned by plaintiff at time of her marriage to defendant.

One of Life's Real Dramas

Van Buren County Democrat, November 15, 1912, Page 1

Husband and Wife Separated in 1872 Just Now Divorced. Each Had Married and Though Living In Adjoining Counties Knew Not of the Others Affairs

A decidedly interesting and, to say the least, a most extraordinary incident was developed in chancery court here this week as a result of the application of one Mary J. Turney, of Conway county, for divorce from Thos. C. Turney, of Cleburne county. As stated in the complaint and recited in these columns some weeks since plaintiff and defendant were married in this county December 10th, 1871, and lived together until March 30th, of the following year, when they separated, defendant going to what is now Cleburne county, then a part of Van Buren county, where he has since resided.

A year or more after their separation defendant was served with a summons by John L. Brewer, at that time sheriff of this county, notifying him that an action had been brought against him in Conway county by his wife for divorce. Not desiring to contest her suit defendant did not appear. Sometime thereafter he was advised she had been awarded a decree and his advice was subsequently confirmed by announcement of her marriage to a citizen of Conway county. Believing himself free defendant then courted and subsequently married one Miss Charlotta Blankenship, with whom he has been happily living for the past thirty-six years.

Some few weeks since defendant was summoned to appear at Clinton and answer complaint in above mentioned case. It being the first intimation in all these years that he had a legal wife living from whom he had been separated for more than 40 years. But in sharing this belief defendant, it seems, was not alone. Being advised, of laboring under the impression that she was divorced, his wife, as stated above, also married her second husband living until some three years past. Her second husband, for a number of years previous to his death, enjoyed the emoluments of a pension and it was in the preparation of papers for the filing of an application for a pension as his widow that the above interested interesting series of facts was developed.

Plaintiff was awarded a decree, defendant to pay all cost, and thus is prepared a way for the final act in this drama of life, which Mr. Turney says will be concluded upon his return home when he and his wife will celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary by being married anew. To them has been born one child, a son now grown and at the head of a family of his own. In conclusion, we might also add that Mr. Turney is a resident of Heber Springs, where he is honored and respected as a substantial citizen, a true friend and a good neighbor.