100 years ago: Lawrence man sued for ‘alienation of affections’

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 7, 1913:

  • “Proceedings have been brought in the Douglas County District Court by B. Grant Venerable, a barber of Kansas City, against Wiley F. Escoe of this city on the charge that Escoe alienated his wife’s affections. Venerable is suing for damages to the amount of $10,000. It is charged by Venerable that on or about the first of October, 1912, Escoe started paying attention to his wife, who had moved here from Kansas City to put her children in school. It is further charged that Escoe prevailed upon Mrs. Venerable to permit him to visit her at her home and to attend church with him. The charge also states that Mr. Escoe has had improper relations with Mrs. Venerable since she moved here.”
  • “At 3:45 this afternoon the jury in the case of the state of Kansas versus Ross Phenicie charged with manslaughter, had not been able to agree and still remained in the jury room. Phenicie is the young Leavenworth county farmer who ran into and killed L. N. Crell with his automobile in North Lawrence on April 25…. The testimony heard was much the same as had been introduced at the coroner’s inquest and at the preliminary hearing in justice court. Mr. Phenicie and those who were in his party when the accident occurred testified that the car was traveling at a low rate of speed and that it was due, in their opinion, to confusion on the part of Mr. Crell. The state’s witnesses were the same as appeared at the coroner’s inquest and were eye witnesses of the accident. They were of the opinion that the car was traveling at an excessive rate of speed and that Phenicie could not control his car. They testified that the car traveled from 40 to 70 feet after striking the man.”
  • “The County Institute of the W.C.T.U. is strongly opposed to the employment of intemperate teachers in schools and colleges and at the session here yesterday passed strong resolutions of protest against this. The Union passed resolutions covering a number of subjects as follows: Resolved, That we, the members of the County Institute of the W.C.T.U., emphasize the good of more persistent effort in securing the enforcement of the anti-cigarette and tobacco law, and we protest against the employment of any teacher in any school or college who uses Narcotics or Alcoholic liquor.”
  • “President Henry J. Waters of the Kansas Agricultural College will be the speaker at the Merchants Picnic to be held on the Fourth of July at Woodland Park…. Plans are being made to make this one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations held in Lawrence for some time. It will be an all day affair at Woodland and the indications are that there will be something doing all the time.”
  • “Charley Lescher has just received a fine new Studebaker touring car. It is the 1913 model and is much larger than any the Studebaker people have put out before. It is a six passenger car with two adjustable seats.”