Heflin Divorce

Senator James Thomas ("Tom-Tom") Heflin of Alabama--whose mortal hate and fear of the Pope at Rome caused him to desert the Democratic party in 1928-- is a widower. Nevertheless an action for divorce was formally filed against him in Chancery Court at Birmingham. Ala., last week. The charges: desertion and cruelty. The complainant: "Miss Southern Democracy." Excerpts from her petition: "Your complainant and your respondent [Heflin] were married to each other in the fall of the year 1894 at Lafayette where the respondent was a lowly cotton grower and where your complainant first elevated him to the rank of a public officer. . . . The respondent was a model husband and his courtship at Lafayette was swift and ardent. . . . "Beginning in the spring of 1928 this respondent began to stay out late at night and was often seen in the company of disreputable characters known as 'Republicans'; he came home in bad moods and would banefully mutter, 'Raskobite' at your complainant and her friends; he no longer cared for and fed the pet donkey that was their comfort during their married life but brought into their happy home an elephant to which he devoted his entire time and attention. . . . He threatened to break your complainant up and destroy her forever. . . . A. BERKOWITZ Solicitor for the complainant." Though the Chancery Court clerk accepted the petition. Judge William Walker threw it out, saying: "While witty, it is beneath the dignity of this court."

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