In a message dated 4/10/2004 3:55:46 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes: I don't know and I don't think you can gather anything from the wording of pleadings. There's always a way to say something and make it better [or worse] than it is. "that during the whole of his said married life, your orator has treated the said Eliza C. Pierce in a proper, kind and indulgent manner..." We still say garbage like that today and it is still baloney. <g> Baloney? You can write plainer than that. (smile) It seems the wife, after having been served a summons, did not appear in court to contest the divorce. Or was the sheriff unable to serve her? BTW, did she eventually marry Milo? Peace..... .....Daryl Gehlbach