Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-09
NEGLECTED..
A Woman Demands Support
for Her Children.
DESERTED BY THEIR FATHER
She Charges BIN With Threatening
to Kill Her - Their
Wretched Life.

Yesterday morning Marellino Rissio,
the Italian who figured so prominently in
the City Justices Court on Wednesday
last, for threatening to kill Louisa Rissio,
again appeared Before Justice Lockwood
for arraignment upon another charge.
He was informed by the Court that
Louisa Rissio had filed another COM
plant against him, duly sworn to, alleg-
ing that he had deserted his two chill
dren, ged respectfully,2 2 years and 5
months, and months, with intent to
wholly abandon them and his examin-
alton on this charge WAS set for the 10th
instant at $50 I'm. He was subse-
quently released from custody upon de.
posting 500 for his appearance at that
time.
The complainant's account of the cir
cumttances surrounding the case is q
peculiarly sad and distressing story Of
woman's devotion and mans duplicity.
Five years ago, she says, they met by
chance. and after brief acquaintance,
mutually agreed to live together as man
and wife. Riesio had accumulated q
good deal Of money, which he invested
wisely in property. During the boom
everything prospered with the Italian,
who was uniformly kind and attentive to
the woman of his choice. AS sometimes
happens, however, Rissio, according to
her account, changed for the woree as he
became more prosperous and he spared
no pains to acquaint the woman whom
he had openly acknowledged as his wife
of that fact. No open breach occurred
between them until after the birth of
their second child, when Rissio made no
secret of the fact that he was chafed by
the bonds which held them together.
Matters came to crisis with them in
March last, when, as a sequel to quar-
rel, Rissio threatened to kill Louisa, and
she was compelled through fear to de-
mand the protection OF the courts. The
Italian was arrested, but when the case
came up for trial in Justice Lockwood's
court, Louisa refused to prosecute the
man whom she had loved too we'll. The
case was compromised shortly afterwards
by an agreement being drawn up be-
tween them, in which Rissio acknowl-
edged the woman as his wife, and prom
ised to provide for her while they lived
apart, Louisa having refused to live with
him any longer for fear of his doing her
violence.
Three or four weeks later, Riesio made
advances to her and finally persuaded
her to resume their former relations, he,
on his part. promising to treat her as his
wife. A few weeks ago he again broke
out, and while in drunken frenzy re-
newed his threats to kill her. She once
more sought the protection of the
authorities, and he was arrested and
taken before Justice Lockwood. Since
his arrest he has turned upon the
woman and denounced her as a dis
reputable person, and his children as
Legitimate ofspriDg. He Threatened to
leave her and them to starve to death.
He announced his intention of departing
to Italy, and sold his property, amount
ing to about $35 900 in value, to &.
Castruccio for SIS 900. By way of adding
insult to injury, he not only left Louisa
without cent with which to support
herself and the children, but visited her
in her destitution and drew vivid pic
lures of the French dinners he had just
partaken of in an uptown restaurant !;
and was guilty OF number Of other
things calculated to add to her distress.
The woman Louisa, acting under legal
advice, claims that under the California
law, Rissio's open acknowledgment of
her as his wife constitutes legal mar
riage. The defendant, on the other
hand, refuses to support her or the
children on the ground that be is not
legally bound to do 30, no marriage hav-
ing ever taken place between them.
The woman Louisa, pending the de-
cision OF the courts, is absolutely penni-
less and destitute at her home, No. 255
South Los Angeles street.