Allegany County MD Archives Divorce.....Jones, Carrie Belle Crabtree - Jones, Channing Lee 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tina McKie. TMM0427@aol.com Per letter dated 1/18/2000 from Clerk of the Circuit Court for Allegany Co., MD: Divorce #173, Equity Number 7690, Box No. 200, Location Number 0-57-11-09. These papers can be obtained from the Maryland State Archives. [cover] No. 7690 Equity Carrie Belle Jones vs. Channing Lee Jones Bill of Complaint Divorce Llyod L. Shaffer, Clerk Please File Young and Mullin Solicitors Filed March 13th, 1916 Carl G Mullin Attorney at Law Cumberland, MD ---------------------------------------------------------------- No. 7690 Equity, In the Circuit Court for Allegany County. Carrie Belle Jones vs. Channing Lee Jones TO THE HONORABLE, THE JUDGES OF SAID COURT: The bill of Complaint of Carrie Belle Jones respectfully represents: I. That she was married to the defendant, Channing Lee Jones in Cumberland, Maryland on the 11th day of June 1912, and resided with him until the latter part of the year 1914. II. That two children, both deceased, were born from said marriage. III. That, although your Complainant always behaved herself as a faithful, chaste, and affectionate wife towards the said defendant, yet the defendant treated your Complainant with great cruelty and harshness, at times striking and beating her, and also failed to provide her with a proper home and maintain her in a proper manner. IV. That your Complainant had learned that her husband, the defednat, has committed the crime of adultery with various lewd and abandoned women, whose names will be disclosed at the hearing of these proceedings. V. That your Complainant has not lived or cohabitated with him since discovering his said adulteries. VI. That the said defendant is a resident of the State of Maryland, but is now confined in the Maryland Penitentiary. TO THE END THEREFORE: I. That your Complainant may be divorced A VINCULO MATRIMONII from the said Channing Lee Jones. II. That your Complainant may have such other and further relief as her case may require. May it please your Honors to grant unto your Complainant the writ of subpoena directed to the said Channing Lee Jones, now residing in the Maryland Penitentiary, commanding him to be and appear in this Court at some certain day to be named therein, in person or by Solicitor, and show cause if any he has why a decree should not be passed as prayed. And as in duty bound, etc. Arch A Young Carl G Mullin Solicitors for the Complainant ---------------------------------------------------------------- Summons No. 7690 Equity Carrie Belle Jones VS Channing Lee Jones Received this 14th day of March 1916 and forthwith delievered to the Sheriff of Baltimore City test S C Little, Clerk Young and Mullin Summoned Thomas F M Nutty/Nulty (?) Sheriff Fees $.40 Equity Summons Maryland, Sct. The State of Maryland, To Channing Lee Jones, Maryland Penitentiary, Baltimore City of Balto City Greeting: You are hereby comanded that, all excuses set apart, you personally appear before the Judges of the Circuit Court for Allegany County, sitting as a Court of Equity, to be held at the Court House, in the town of Cumberland, in and for said County, on the First Monday of April next, to answer the bill of complaint of Carries Belle Jones against you in the said Court exhibited. Hereof fail not, as you will answer the contrary at your peril. Witness, the Honorable A Hunter Boyd, Chief Judge of the said Court the 6th day of March 1916. Issued the 13th day of March 1916. Lloyd L. Shaffer, Clerk ---------------------------------------------------------------- [Cover] No. 7690 Equity Carrie Belle Jones vs. Channing Lee Jones Order taking Bill of Complaint Pro Confesso and leave to take testimony Mr. Lloyd L. Shaffer, Clerk Please file Young and Mullin Sols for Petitioner Filed April 22, 1916 Arch A Young Attorney and Counselor at Law Cumberland, MD ---------------------------------------------------------------- No. 7690 Equity, in the Circuit Court for Allegany County. Carrie Belle Jones vs. Channing Lee Jones TO THE HONORABLE, THE JUDGES OF SAID COURT: The petition of the plaintiff in the above entitled case respectfully represents: I. That she filed her bill of complaint in said cause on the 13th day of March 1916, praying for a divorce a vinculo matrimonii. II. That a subpoena was duly issued for and served upon the said defendant to appear and answer the premises, on or before the 3rd day of April 1916, but that he has failed to appear, in person, or by solicitor, and answer as required. Your petitioner therefore prays your Honorable Court to pass an order taking the bill of complaint in this case PRO CONFESSO, and granting leave to your petitioner to take testimony before one of the standing examiners to sustain the allegantions of her bill of complaint. All of which is respectfully submitted, Carl G. Mullin Arch A. Young ---------------------------------------------------------------- No. 7690 Equity: Testimony, Filed May 31, 1916: Carrie B Jones Vs. Channing L. Jones No. 7690 Equity In the Circuit Court for Allegany Co., MD TO THE HONERABLE THE JUDGES OF THE SAID COURT: Having been notified by the Solicitor for the plaintiff that he desires to take testimony in the above entitled cause and under an order of Court, heretofore passed, I, R M Luman, one of the Standing Examiners of this Court, did on the 6th day of May, 1916, meet that said soilicitor A A Young Esq., at my office in the city of Cumberland, Maryland and did proceed to take the following testimony: Mrs. Clara Belle Jones, the plaintiff called in her own behalf and being duly sworn and interrogated deposes and says: By Mr. Mullen: Q: State your name, age, residence, and occupation. A: Clara Belle Jones, 19 years of age, I lived in Cumberland, MD till about 1 years ago, when my husband the defendant, was sent to the penitentiary and then since that time have resided here in Cumberland with my Aunt; except when I visited my parents in Romney, WV. Q: When and where were you married to the defendant? A: June 11th 1912 in Cumberland, MD by the Rev. Martin. Q:How long did you live together? A: About 2 and a half years, from June 11th, 1912 till December 2nd, 1914. Q: What caused the separation? A: Because he had a bad disease and I would not live with him and he said he go and get what he wanted from the woman he got what he got from her and I told him to go on. He also said that he would give it to me if he could. Q: Did he make an effort or attempts to inoculate you with this disease? A: Yes, he met me, tried to hold me when I came across the field and I ran from him and ran into her house, Mrs. Parker's house, and I told her to shut the door in her [his], and she did, and he tried to get me to stay at his brother's house [James or Edgar], and I wold [would] not stay and he followed me. Q: What reason did he give for wanting to inoculate you with this disease? A: He said I was not any better than he was and that I ought to have it, too. Q: When did you first learn and how did you first learn that he had this disease? A: On Thanksgiving Day 1914. I was cleaning his clothes and found some stains thereon and I asked him what they were. And I also found a condrum [condom] and I asked him what was that and he told me the stains were a discharge that was coming from the result of a bad disease and that the condrum [condom] was something he bought to use with me so he would not give me the disease. And I asked him where he got it and he said he, he had it, but he wold [would] not tell me where he got it. On the morning of 2nd December 1914, he came in about 4 AM and wanted to get in bed with me and he did get in and wanted to have intercourse and I got out of the bed and went into another bed in another room and he followed me in there and tried another time and I got out of that bed and went and got back in my own bed and then he dressed and said he was going to get it from the girl where he got it, and then when daylight came I dressed and went to Mrs. Parker's and got breakfast and stayed there for two days. Q: When did you go back home next time? A: Two days afterwards I went back to get some things and found that the furniture and everything had been taken out of the house. I then went to his brother's [James or Edgar] house to find out where the furntiure was and he was there and he demanded that I stay all night with him and I refused and started back to Mrs. Parker's, and when I was crossing the fields on Mapleside he caught me and chocked me and told me that I was not better than he was that he was going to give me the disease and that people had better know that I had something, too, and I got away from him and went to Mrs. Parker's and the next day I had him arrested. Q: While you lived with your husband, did he support you well? A: No, he did not. He had no money, no furntiure or home provided for me and we first went to live with his parents. I ran off at 15 years old and got married and my parents forgave me and, afterwards, gave me money to go to housekeeping, to buy furntiure with and we went to housekeeping at No. 15, Grand Ave. Q: After you did that, did he work regularly? A: No sir. I was sick and he had to lay off. He worked pretty regularly for 1 year and we had to move from Grand Ave., where the last months rent was never paid, and we then moved to Locust Grove. From that time on, he did no work. He would work one day, lay of three and work a week and lay off a month. Then we moved to Mapleside but he did no better there. He did worse than better. Q: How did he exsist himself? A: He always went out and got it. He always had plenty for himself and sometimes he would eat before me and would not let me have any. And the situation became so unbearable that I decided to go home and I told him that and he said I should not go and locked me up and everytime I started to the door, he struck me with a whip and he did not give me anything to eat for three days but some hard biscuit and jelly. Q: Did you ever have any reasons to suspect that he had illicit relations with other women, save this disease? A: Nothing except that he was always making over other girls hugging and kissing them in my prescence and I thought he was just cutting up and I didn't think anything about that. But once, when I had been away and came back, I found a fancy black comb in my spare bed and the bed showed it had been used. And, I also found a lady's umbrella and a pair of lady's gloves. For some reason or [an]other, every time I went away, the beds would be changed, both beds showing signs of usage. Q: State to the Court what he did with the whiskey you were using for cramps. A: He put what was afterwards believed to be bi-cloride of mercury tablets in the whiskey I was using. Q: Did you take any of it? A: No, I discovered it and hid it. Q: What efforts, if any, did he use to get you to take some of it? A: After he went to bed, I had cramps and he insisted that he would go downstairs and get it, insisted on going down and get it, and, when he found it, I would not take it. He said "well then wait till morning". And in the morning, he looked for it to get it for me and, when he couldn't find it, he made threats to beat me to make me tell where it was. But, I would not tell him and he said he would find out and he hunted for it but he did not find it. Q: What became of the bottle of whiskey? A: I took it over to the Court, intending to give it to the State's Attorney, but, in the meantime, he was sent to the penitentiary and I didn't bother with it further. Q: State what became of the furniture that your parents bought you? A: He first went to the People's Loan Co., and got a loan, and when I didn't go to the house, he took the furntiure out and sold it. My Mother paid the loan and took the furniture. Q: Have you always behaved yourself and been a faithful, chaste and affectionate wife towards the defendant? A: Yes, I have. Q: Then you did not give him the veneral disease? A: No, I did not. Q: Did he accuse you of it? A: No, sir, he did not. Q: He admitted he got it somewhere else? A: Yes sir. Q: Were any children born of this marriage? A: Yes, but both were born dead. Q: Where is your husband now? A: In the Maryland Penitentiary. Q: What was he sent there for? A: He was sent there for two years for robbing the B&O R.R. Co. Q: What were your ages when you were married? A: I was 15 years of age and he was 26 years old. He was sent to the penitentiary on [her] 18 birthday. Q: Would you be willing to live with your husband again? A: No, I would not live with him again. He was unfaithful, he beat me, he starved me and all he thought of was running around. To the general question the witness answers: "No, sir, not that I know of". [her signature] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. S. T. Crabtree, a witness allied in behalf of the plaintiff and being duly sworn and interrogated, deposes and says: By Mr. Mullen: Q: State your name, age and residence. A: Edith Crabtree, age lawful, Romney, WV. Q: Do you know the parties to this suit and, if so, how long have you known them? A: Yes, I know them both, the plaintiff is my daughter and I've known the defendant since Valentine's Day 1912. Q: State to the Court how defendant happened to marry your daughter. A: When my daughter was 15 years, he persuaded my daughter to marry him and he perjured himself stating that she was 17 years of age and got a license and married her here in Cumberland. And, I didn't know anything about it till after it was over. I forgave them and gave them money to go to housekeeping on. Q: What do you know about the treatment your daughter recieved at defendants hands? A: We tried to do the best we could by them. I visited her here in Cumberland and found that there was nothing in the house to eat. She told me she had nothing in the house to cook and I had to go out and buy things to eat for her and myself. I saw her arms where they were all bruised and pinched, black and blue all over. Q: Do you know about his relations with other women? A: No, only that I did see the stains on his clothing that had been caused by the disease he had. Q: What became of the furniture you bought for her? A: He got a loan on it and, later on, sold it. The loan company and I recovered it and I took the furniture home, after I had paid the loan. Q: Do you think your daughter would ever live with the defendant again? A: I don't think she would and I would not be staisfied for her to have her to. To the general question, the witness answer: "No sir." [her signature] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. Ada Parker, a witness called in behalf of the plaintiff and being duly sworn and interrogated, deposes and says: By Mr. Mulen: Q: State your name, age and residence. A: Ada Parker, age lawful, Cumberland, MD Q: Do you know the parties of this suit and, if so, how long have you known them? A: Yes, I know them both. I've known the plaintiff for about three years and the defendant about three years also. Q: You have heard the testimony given by Mrs. Jones, the plaintiff? A: Yes. Q: State what you remember of the time she came to your house. A: She came to my house and told me what was wrong with him and explained the details and what he was trying to do to her and asked me if she might stay at my house and showed me the marks on her throat and arms and sheed [asked?] if she could stay with me to get something to eat and sleep that she was afriad to stay alone and I said she could. Later on, she went back to her house to get something and found her furniture gone. Q: Did she explain in detail about the disease he had? A: Yes, she said that he had a disease and had tried to inoculate her with it. Q: Did you alllow her to stay there? A: Yes. Q: Do you know how he provided for her? A: Nothing that she came to my house frequently and ask[ed] me for something to eat. Occasionally, he'd stop. Q: Did he ever come to your house after his wife? A: He came here one night about 9 o'clock, and she came in ahead of him and asked me to protect her, saying that he was trying to compel her to stay out with her [him] that night. And, I did protect her and wouldn't let him in. And, he said, "I only want to see her once more. Tell her to come out for the next time. I'll meet her in the hall". He watched around the house two or three nights. I kept her there for three weeks. To the general question, the witness answers, " No sir" [her signature] ---------------------------------------------------------------- This examnination continued this day 10th day of May 1916: Mr. Irvin Wright, a witness called in behalf of the plaintiff and being duly sworn and interrogated deposes and says: By Mr. Mullen: Q: State your name, age, residence and occupation. A: Irvin Wright, age 23 years old, Cumberland, MD, Railroad breakman [brakeman]. Q: Do you know the parties to this suit and, if so, state how long you've known them? A: I know them both. Have known the defendant nearly all my life and the plaintiff three o four years. Q: When and where did you last see the defendant? A: I worked with him at the N&G Taylor Co. Mill, here in Cumberland and worked with him there two or three years and saw him there often. Q: Did you ever go fishing together? A: Yes, we did often and went hunting, too. We used to go down to Magnolia, WV and fish there. Q: On these fishing trips, did you ever see the defendant with any other women? A: Yes. Q: When, where and under what circumstances and what occured? A: Once, when we went to Magnolia, WV, fishing about the spring of 1910, we saw one girl there and, I think, he must have known her before because he took the fish we had caught and went up to her house, at Magnolia, and he stayed there at he rhouse about half an hour, then we caught the fast frieght and came to Cumberland, MD. Q: Did the defendant fish there on the river much? A: Yes, we had a big camp at the mouth of the South Branch and, when we were there, he would dress up in his good clothes and say he was going to Magnolia. He would leave abotunoon and get back late at night, which would give him ost of the afternoon in Magnolia. Q: Were you with defendant at any time when he was with any women? A: No, except this Magnolia girl and I wasn't with him then except that once. He drank a good deal but except that he would go to Magnolia from camp, when he said he was with his friend at Magnolia. Our opinion in camp was that he was going to this girl in magnolia. We would camp along the river at a month at a time and he woudl go into Magnolia, so he said, every week, whether we would be up the line or down, below or above Magnolia, he always got back to camp late at night. Q; Do you know the girl he went to see in Magnolia? A: No. Q: Did you know, at any time you have spoken of and during the time you wewre together in camp, that defendant was a married man? A: No, I didn't. he never said he was married when we were camping together. Q: What do you know about his running aroudn with women? A: I don't know that for a fact. But, I do know at that time he was not doing the right thing. Q: What do you mean by "his not doing the right thing"? A: I mean that he had not business in running around with this girl, at Magnolia, when he wa smarried and he had no business to run around with that woman. And us boys at the camp always thought he was getting his when he went to Magnolia to see that girl. Q: What was the date when this happened? A: During 1910, spring time, and also in 1911, '12, and 1913. To the general question, the witness says: " No, that's all I know" [his signature (Irvin is spelled Ervin by witness)] ________________________________________________________________ Mrs. Carrie B. Jones, the plaintiff recalled and being duly sworn and iterrogated, deposes and says: By Mr. Mullin: Q: You state whether it was ever necessary for you to have assistsance in your housework after your marriage. A: Yes. Q: Did you ask your husband to get someone for you? A: No, he volunteered to get someone for me. I was not able to do the work. That was after a year I came home from the hospital, where I had been confined. Q: Who did he get, if anyone? A: He said he would get this old girl Daisy Conner, from Magnolia, WV and he brought her up to the house and she went to work. Q: How did she do her work? A: She didn't do very well and when I said anything to her about it, I caught the dickens from him and her, too. She bossed me instead of me bossing her. Q: State how long she stayed at your home? A: Eleven days. Q: Why did[n't] she stay longer? A: Because I would not have her. Because I suspected that my husband went to her rooms at night. The week he was on night turn, she would go upstairs where he was asleep during the day and stay there. I was not able to get out of my bed, which was downstairs. Q: Did your husband ever admit having sexual intercourse with Daisy Conner? A: Yes, he did. He said I was not able and that he had had intercourse with her and, if I forgave him, he would not do it any more. Q: Did you forgive him this time? A: Yes, I did. Q: Did he discontinue it? A: He kept right on going to Magnolia and I would say where are you going. He would reply down to see my girl. Q: What did your husband say with reference to where he got this veneral disease? A: He said that he got it down the road. I thought he meant down at Magnolia, from Daisy Conner. Q: What makes you think it was Magnolia? A: Because he said he always went there. He went there two to three times a week when he was working and when he wasn't working, he would go there and stay there a week at a time. Q: How long did these visits to Magnolia continue? A: Well through the time I was married up to the time he was arrested [in] December 1914. Edgar [his youngest brother] testified that they were coming from Magnolia when they were arrested and, he said in this court, that they stopped off at Green Spring and robbed the tie plant there. Q: Please tell the court about the pork incident. A: Well, one day I had some pork, November 30, 1914, and I coked [cooked] it and put it on the table and he said don't eat that and I asked him why and he said "I poisoned it" because I was mad at him. And then, we burried [buried] it and the chickens that I kept in that part of the yard got hold of it and they all died. And, those chickens that were in the other part of the yard didn't eat it and didn't die. Q: What, if anything, was said when the court had passed sentence on your husband about your living with him? A: He said to me, "Well, I guess you'll never live with me again", and I told him no. I was going to apply for a divorce while you are gone and he said, "I don't blame you" because, he said if he had been a true man to me he could blame me. To the general question, the witness answers: "I think I have told you about all of it, some people call me Carrie but my correct name is Clara". [her signature] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Harry Irvin, a witness called in behalf of the plaintiff and being duly sworn and interrogated, deposes and says: By Mr. Mullin: Q: State your name, age, residence and occupation. A: Harry Irvin, age lawful, Cumberland, MD, Tin Worker. Q: Were you Sheriff of Allegany County? A: Yes. Q: What was your term? A: December 1913 to December 1915. Q:Then you were in that office during the months of Dec. 1914 and Jan. 191? [cutoff]? A: Yes. Q:Did you have, in your control and custody, a man by the name of Channing Jones? A: Yes. Q: How well did you know him? A: I knew him as a prisoner under my control in the Allegany County Jail for 2 months. Q: What was the physical condition, if you know. Give details. A: All I knew [was] that he asked for some of those ghoonnerea tablets. There were nine prisoners there at the time who were afflicted with this malady, and he was among the nine. I think we gave him a liquid rememdy for this disease while he was in jail. I remember that there were nine of these men, because one of the men had it bad, and another man was brought and he asked to see the doctor and I said to him "Have you got it, too?" and he said yes and I said that makes nine of you and Chan Jones was among the nine. To the general question, the witness says that: "I remember that I gave him this liquid because it was so strong and was bad to take and that he was the only one who would take it it was so nasty." [his signature] ---------------------------------------------------------------- There being no other witnesses to be examined and no further time being desired to take the testimony of those called, I close these proceedings and herewith return the same under my hand and seal this 31st day of May 1916. R. Leasure (seal) The costs of these proceedings are as follows: Examiners Fee $8.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------- No. 7690 Equity Decree, Filed June 17, 1916: No. 7690 In the Circuit Court of Allegany County: Carrie Belle Jones VS. Channing Lee Jones This cause standing ready for hearing and being submitted, [this line has a line through it] the counsel for the parties were heard, and the proceedings read and considered. It is thereupon, this 17th day of June, 1916, adjudged, ordered and decreed, by the Circuit Court for Allegany County, sitting in Equity, that Carrie Belle Jones be and she is hereby divorced from the defendant, Channing Lee Jones, A VINCULO MATRIMONII. And, it is hereby further ordered that the said plaintiff, Carrie Belle Jones, pay the costs of these proceedings. Signed Robert R. Henderson