The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-24
ENOCH WITH VARIATIONS.
Finds His Wife Still Faithful, Gets
Drunk and Goes to Jail.
Philadelphia Times.

Philadelphia Times.
A case emb0dying some of the features of
an Enoch Arden romance. but ending rather
differently, came before Magistrate Donnelly
yesterday, when Walter B. Snee was ar
raigDed on a charge of non-support pre-
ferred by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Snee Of
Someryile.
Mrs. Snee had not seen her husband for
twenty years until two months ago, when
he entered her home and surprised her as
greatly as if he had returned from the tomb.
When he departed he was a resident OF
Jenkintown. and for ten years his faithful
wife lived in expectation that he would re-
turn. IL not for her sake, for the happiness
OF a twin boy and girl he left fatherless and
In almost destitute circumstances. After
waiting for years for his return, Mrs. Snee
mourned her truant husband as dead and re-
signed herself to his absence, while she
worked as best she could for the support of
the children and herself. The boy and girl
have now grown TO manhood and woman
hood. and all are living together in peace
and comfort.
Before he left home" said Mrs. Snee, in
testfylng against her husband, she was
probably employed by the Reading Rail-
road as locomotive engineer on the North
Penn branch. There was no trouble in our
domestic circle, and while we were not
boarding money our home was one of peace
and happiness Five years after our mar
rlage two children were born, and the
Christmas following their birth their father
left one morning and was practically dead
to them for twenty years. When he re-
turned the children, of course, did not
know that he was the father who had left
them In their infancy, and | hardly recog-
nlzed him, because he did not look like his
former self. / gave him as warm a vel
come as l could under such unusual creum-
stances and told him he was welcome to the
privileges OF my home. The children, too,
were delighted to see him.
"BQt while every liberty was accorded
him decided unless he lived as man ought
TO that he could not remain. | have a nicely
furnished heme, the profits Of my own hard
labor, and what have said for twenty years
has been law. Ny husband failed TO pay
me the compliment of remaining sober, and
he refused to contribute a penny of the
money he had earned since he came back.
and decided to compel him to do it or go
to prison."
When Mrs. Snee finished her evidence she
sobbed so loudly that she was heard over
the courtroom.
Snee was prompt to acknowledge that he
had failed to provide for his wife and fam
lily during those twenty years. "When /
wandered of" he said, Il joined the United
States army and for five years [ was in
service In Texas, Idaho and the Dakotas
My period of enlistment ended while 1 was
on Governors Island and had $500 to my
credit After receiving my money / crossed
to New York City. where l was robbed. /
expected to return home and present my
wife with the money. but Twas so grieved
over the disappointment that sailed on a
whaler and for Ave years / was thus en-
ployed, chiefly on the southern coast OF
Africa.
Il then returned to San Francisco, and
five years more were spent on seal-cateh-
ing vessel. made money and lost it in
speculation. and was as poor as when l
started The remaining five years were
spent in prospecting in Colorado, but |
made nothing more than days pay. [
finally concluded to come East, and when /
arrived the wife of twenty years before
pretended she didn't know me, ana ordered
me of. remained, ana since then she has
made 1t unpleasant for me in every possible
way"
Have you any money left after all those
years. asked the magistrate.
S1ee answered No"
hen you can 90 to the House OF Correc-
tlon Tor the period of one year."
Mrs. Shee passed out the door weeping.
while her daughter looked very queeriy at
her father, who had just been taken in
charge by the constable.