The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-03-18

SHE CRUELTY DESERTS HUSBAND, Chill
DREN AND HOME FOR A NEGRO LOVER.
The Ashland 1dcocate of last week
tells the following story, which will be
Of interest to the people Of the lower
portion of this county.
The proceedings entered at the re.
cent term of the Bloomsbury Court in
which VIM. Gittins petitions for de.
cree of absolute divorce from his wife
Gladis Gittins, has revived a story of
woman's frailty that was a prolific
source of conversation among the peo-
pie of Centralia, a couple of years ago,
and which has not heretofore found its
way into print. VIM. Gittins is to-day
one of Centralia's most respected young
men, honest and upright, and no one
could be found who could cast any as
persion upon his character whatever
He is sober, honest and industrious,
and earns living for himself and his
three pretty little children, by working
as a miner at the Logan colllery.
Twelve years ago at Hazleton he was
married to Gladis Williams, the daught-
er of most respectable parents, who
were formerly of st. Clair. After a
short time the Gittins family moved
TO Centralia and the young husband
installed his wife
IN A COSY LITTLE HOME,
and in the course Of time four children
were born to them, and brought sun.
shine into the home where peace and
plenty reigned. Up to two years ago
there was no happier home in this
quiet little town than was that o. the
Gittins family, but alas! the tempter
came, and the woman fell, fell to the
lowest depths Of female degradation,
and she walked into the snare of the
tempter with her eyes wide open, and
forgot husband, children, parents,
home, and all that earth could hold
dear to her, and fled IN the night. At
that time the work on the Centrala
drainage tunnel was begun, and the
population of the town was increased
by the addition of score or more of
negro families. Some of these people
took up their residence near the Git
tins homestead, and before very long
it was noticed that Mrs. Gittins had
struck up an intimacy with these peo-
pie, and was frequent visitor among
them, and especially at the home Of
one of the families who kept boarders,
and after time her name and that of a
pUsKY SON OF HAM
who went under the sobriquet of Doc"
Hull were coupled together in very
unsavory manner. This boarding house
was the scene of many drunken orgies
and it soon became known that Mrs.
Glttins was one Of the participants.
Ti:ese facts after time came to the
ears of the husband, and he besought
his wife in the name of all she held
near and dear to her, to see the error
other way, and for time she gave up
her unsavory acquaintances, and
promised to do better, but the demon
of strong drink had taken possession
of her, and to the horror Of her hus-
band, came the most undoubted knowl
edge Of her illicit relations with the
negro Hull who was most uncouth
specimen of his race, while the wom-
an, who was only about 80 years OF
age, was rather prepossessing in ap-
pearancc. Shortly after this became
known
MRS. GITTINs DISAPPEARED,
taking her infant child with her. She
stated to those outside of her home
that she was going to the home of her
parents who now live at Honeybrook,
near Hazleton. Hull had found it SO
hot for him in Centralia, when the
above facts came out, that he speedily
left the town to escape the wrath OF
the enraged husband. Only recently
it was learned that the i'll guided WON
an was living at Niagara Falls, where
she had joined her ebony lover who is
in the employ of Contractor A {.
Douglass. This fact was confirmed
by gentleman from Centralia who
went to Niagara Falls.to verify it, and
who sought information that will be
used as evidence in the coming divorce
proceedings. He had personal inter,
view with the misguided woman, and
though she was full of questions relat,
ing to those whom she had left behind
her, she showed no signs of repentance,
but expressed willingness to give up
the child that she took away with her.
and which she still retains.
The MOTHERS HEART WAS TOUCHED
however, when the gentleman took
from his pocket cabinet photograph
Of the husband ana children whom
She had SO cruelty deserted, and 81 owed
It to her. and she wept tears OF bitter