Gertrude Crofford Doze vs. Peter Doze

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, December 12, 1901


GERTRUDE CROFFORD DOZE vs. PETER DOZE



This is a case of December and May, the honeymoon terminating in just one month from the date of their marriage. The parties were married at St. Joe., Mo., on Sept. 11, 1901, and lived together as man and wife until Oct. 12, 1901. The marriage created considerable comment at the time as the groom was 77 years old and the bride, 19 years. The plaintiff in her petition alleges the marriage was illegal, and at the time she supposed the defendant was legally capable of entering into a marriage contract. That at the time of said marriage, the defendant, Peter DOZE, was impotent, which fact was unknown to the defendant. That prior to making said marriage contract he represented to her he was worth $50,000 and since said marriage he has stated to her that he was not worth to exceed $5,000, but she is informed he has money and notes to the value of $8,000 to $10,000, and the only real estate he owns is a claim in Oklahoma worth $500. She asks for a writ of attachment to restrain him from disposing his property, and that she be granted a divorce and temporary alimony in the sum of $500, and permanent alimony in the sum of $3,000. V.R. McGINNIS attorney for plaintiff.