A Costly Five Weeks of Marriage
A Gilman storekeeper finds his marriage ends in a sour legal dispute and a drained bank account.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Jacob Heist, a Gilman storekeeper, is convinced that married life under certain circumstances is a complete failure. After being married five weeks, he has lost his wife, along with his cash, and appeared in two courts to answer the same charge brought by her. He thought he was marrying an innocent, domestic woman, but if his story is true, she was looking more at his money than himself. On July 6, he removed her from behind the counter of the store in such a manner that she considered herself assaulted. The case was brought before Cyrus Darst, the police magistrate of Gilman, and Heist pleaded guilty. The fine and costs figured $11.70, all of which he paid. He was content until his spouse packed up her goods and left, taking the greater part of his available cash, making a total cost of enjoying her company for five weeks $187. Later, a warrant was sworn out by her in another court alleging assault and battery on the same day. Justice Caldwell concluded that Mrs. Julia Heist was trying to persecute her husband; she did not appear in court, and the case was dismissed.
“He thought he was marrying an innocent, domestic woman... but if his story has the essence of truth she was looking more at his money than himself.”
This story highlights the precarious nature of legal standing for women and the financial vulnerability of small business owners during the 1893 economic downturn. The 'mail-order' style of domestic strife and legal maneuvering is a recurring theme in the history of the Washington frontier.
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