The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-08
FAMILY JARS IN POLICE COURTS.
Some or she seen.s that Reou- Every Day IL
the Year.

the Year.
There are about forty complaints every
day In the police courts Of this city by wives
against their husbands. Tho complaints arc
generally for failure Of support. Not infre-
Quently they are accompanied by charges OF
cruel and inhuman treatment
The complaints are stereotyped: Judge.
my husband has not given me cent in six
months" My husband comes homo drunk.
and will not give me a cent" He never keeps
a situation month" He spends his money
in .liquor stores" He eambes his wages
away every Saturday" He beats me and the
children" :" He calls me villa Names" ' He
threatens to kill me-" He keeps company
with other women" He knocked me down
and kicked me-" He threatens to leave the
country" He hlackened nv eye yesterday"
81 am afraid to live with him."
These stories come not alone from poverty
stricken and degraded women. They are told
by women who are comedy. well dressed.
poor. Not infrequently the Justice asks. Can
you get along without him2" and tue woman
dren II he will only Keep away. All I want is
for him to let mo alone. have worked ever
since was married. and can work yet"
1t is common occurrence for these ,unfor-'
tnnata wives to so to the court with babies in
their arms and tostand with the fre,tn, In ants
tales. Sometimes they 20 with SCARED faces
AId bandHged heads. meinentOrs OF the brutal
treatment OF their unfeelinG, spouses; Often
the mother in-!aw br ngs up the rear. develop
Ink the real sonrGs Of mI va, Of the trouble
snd crimy skins. some f9me win smP'Y Yi
to support, her. but cannot bear her, re!n-
tons" struck her. but she struck me
first" Il did not hit her: she was drunk and
e give a hS5 a" the
She has company that do not like" She
wants me .S be PVT opt OF the way SO ina, she
her what have not got" II will give her a
fair share OF what earn"
refuses to say anything. but marches off 10 Jail
Justice German said the other day TO n teacher
IN one OF the public schools who was brought
bsfore him: In five minutes you will be in q
cell unless You ngree to support your wife. and
furnish surety to do So
Tho mar, !obstinataly reiterated, II will not
furnish bail" and marched otY to tho Gel.
Genera ~ the justices use the utmost power
OF the law to compel the delinquent husbands
cases the man becomes alarmed at the pros
poet ot Imprisonment: and gladly gets the re-
| CURED surety. either from some relative. en-
Even after most heartrendne tales OF Ill
| treatment and neglect. women often relent
when they sec their husbands behind the bars.
| ful ns before. and say: Please let my husband
ou.. Judge: he can't earn my money where he
the Justice ntters homily on the wrong Of
| thus taking M the time OF the Court for moth
Ing. and winds up by letting the man out.
| term VI six months. only 70 come out OF prison
| flied with thoughts OF revenge.
Occasionally the JUSTICES lind the causes OF
| disagreement trivial. They see that there Is n
poss ibilty OF reconciliation. and they send the
| parties into one of the court rooms to- talk IL
| over. Then, rs the reunited couple walk out
| out OF court arm in arm, the Justice looks on
| smiling ut the happy result.