Things used to make newspaper headlines that nowadays wouldn't even be considered newsworthy, or that would be considered nobody's business except the parties involved. Some of those items, though, were quite interesting. Take the July 27, 1897, story in the Springfield (MO) News-Democrat headlined "Called Her a Strumpet," for example.
It seems Mary Cable had filed for divorce from her husband, G. T. Cable, on the grounds that he "was possessed of an ungovernable temper" and that she had "endured its outbursts throughout their married life." Mary further asserted that her husband had called her all sorts of vile names and wrongfully accused her of infidelity. Allegedly, Cable had repeatedly waved his fist in front of Mary's face and called her a "good for nothing strumpet."
He also refused to let Mary use the money that she had made from selling chickens, eggs, and other produce that she had raised herself. In addition, any time Mary would visit friends or relatives, her husband would accuse her when she came home of having "associated with lewd and immoral men."
One of Mary's specific complaints was that on July 17, just ten days before the article appeared in the paper, Cable had come out to where she was milking a cow, gotten angry for no reason, and abused and kicked her.
Cable was reportedly a well-known citizen in the Springfield area, and the couple had been married for over twenty years and had seven children together. Mary asked for custody of the youngest one, who was three years old, and for an even split of the family's personal property, which was valued at $3,700.
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