San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-11-17
Two Sides to q Story.

in the Quarter Sessions Saturday. His
Honor Judge kirkpatrick was disposing
of the complaints of matrons who's.
husbands had deserted them. So many
cases of an aggravated nature had been
brought up that it began to look asst
the man biped in domestic state was
great and constitutional offender. The
sympathies of the audience was growing
in favor of oppressed women. This
tendency was heightened by the en-.
trance of a very pale, spare, benign
looking lady apparently of culture and
refinement, dressed in neat, dark
fabric. She was accompanied by
sweet young girl of about 10, very TASTE
fully dressed in the latest fasion Of hat,
ONYX ornaments, and also some dark
texture, and little child of 8 or 4 ina
light, and alse tasteful dress.
Great was the sympathy for the lady.
like mother when she arose and in
low voice and refined language told how
she had been deserted by her husband
and how he had failed to.provide for her
support or that Of, her two interesting
children. An old and accomplished
LAWYER, her counsel, drew her statement
with an effect almost dramatic. His
Honor was affected. Any man with
sympathetic nature wouldlbe. His Hon.
or called upon the husband to stand up,
and all eyes turned upon the culprit.
He was a tall, thin Irishman, and
aged perhaps so, gray-haired, and with
mild, careworn features. His boots
were too large his coat hung about him
in folds that suggested he hadonce been
a stouter man; he wore no collar, his
shirt at the neck was frayed, but cleanly
He stood before the ban.trembling, not
with fear, but with sorrow, and big
tear had gathered in. his eye.
"What answer have you to make to
this charge, sirP" said the Court, rather
severely, but with some establishments
the apparition, which was different from
what had been expected.
"Well, indeed, l don't know, yer,
Honor" said the man in a low tone
"I'm but poor man, and have done
the best could"
"Your Honor" said counsel ffor the
defendant, "this poor man has been
ruined by folly and extravaganza of bis
wife, who is now here suing him."
The Court proceeded to investigate
He found that the mild-featured old man
defendant was puddler, though he did
not look as if he had strength for hszd
labor: that he had accumulated some
property and sold it for $500 to meet
the demand of his comparatively fash
ionable wife and family; that they
moved into $40 per month house and
afterwards one little cheaper, bought
marble top tables and lived high until
this money was spent, allowing the OLD
man meantime to work over the furnace
and keeping the luxuries neasurablyto
themselves; that when out of money
they got his wages until he had not
enough to pay board where he was liV-
ing in Sharpsburg; that he had given
them all he had; that he could get work
some times but about three days in the
week, but all he made they were wei
come to. 3D..
A universal feeling of indignation ran
through the Courtroom. Even his
Honor could not help sharing it. SAID
he, turning sharply to the prosecutor
and her fashionably dressed young
daughter: j" You have no business in
this Court, madam. You can go, madam
you can 60 at once! You pushed this
man into hardships by your extraVa-
gance, and now you come here in your
grapes and your reps and your stylish
clothes to prosecute him because he is no
longer able to maintain you. Inns
Court will not assist you. And as Tor
you, poor man," continued his HONOR
"we pity rather than prosecute you,
Go-go free-not even the costs shall
you have to pay"
There was low murmur of applause
through the court. The lady and her
children walked out somewhat abashed;
the indicated husband took his hat and
with a "thank yer Honor" left, not
triumphant, but still sorrowful.
And through the remainder of the
session it was noticeable that the tide Of
feeling was turned the other way, and
complaining wives had to undergo 3