The Unhappy Home of the Chittendens
A husband seeks a divorce after years of allegedly chaotic domestic disputes and his wife's sudden departure.
Henry L. Chittenden has commenced proceedings in the superior court against his wife, Lydia Chittenden, for divorce. For a cause of action, the plaintiff alleges that they were married in Walla Walla on February 14, 1897, and ever since they were married they have never been able to understand each other, which has caused the plaintiff much anguish. At divers times they had quarreled, and on several occasions she had thrown furniture at him, not only causing him much pain but destroying the furniture as well. Although he had provided her with a good home, on June 1st, 1903, while he was absent, she disposed of all the household effects and deserted him, going to Oregon. He asks for an absolute divorce and the custody of their three minor children, aged five, three, and two years.
“At divers times they had quarreled and on several occasions she had thrown furniture at him.”
Divorce filings in 1903 Walla Walla were public theater, often detailing domestic grievances like furniture throwing to sway court opinion. Today, while no-fault divorce is the standard, the struggle over custody and the division of assets remains a central feature of the local court system.
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