Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-15
ENOCH ARDEN UP TO DATE.
lie Returned to Find Bis Wife Faithful, and
Lived RiotousIy on Her Earnings.

lie Returned to Find Bis Wife Faithful. and
Lived Riotousiy on Her Earnings.
case embodying some of the features Of an
Enoch Arden romance, but ending rather diff
ferently, came before Magistrate Donneily in
Philadelphia yesterday. when Walter b. Snce
was arraigned on charge of non-support pre-
ferred BY his wife, Mary Elizabeth snee OF
Somerville.
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 q resident of Jenkintown.
and for ten weary years his faithful wife lived
in expectation that he would return. If not for
her sake. for the happiness of = twin boy and
girl be left fstherless and in almost destitute
circumstances. After waiting for wears for his
return, Mrs. Snee mourned her truant husband
as dead and resigned herself to his absence,
while she worked as best she could for the sup
port Of her children and herself The b6v and
girl have now grown TO manhood and woman
hood, and all are living together in peace and
comfort.
THE DESERTED wIFEs COMPLAINT
Before he left home, said Mrs Snee in ses-
tifying against her husband. "he was profitably
employed by the Reading railroad 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
marriage two children were born, and the
Christmas following their birth their father LEFT
one morning and was practically dead to them
Tor twenty years. When he returned the chill
dren, Of course, did not know that be was the
father who bad left them In their infancy. and
l hardly recognized him, because he did not
look like his former self. gave him us warm q
Y a.
stances, and told him he was welcome to the
privileges of my home. The children. too. were
delighted to see him.
"But while every liberty was accorded him
decided that unless he lived as q man ought
that he could not remain. have q nicely fur
nished home, the profits OF nv own hard labor,
and what have said for twenty years has been
law. My husband failed to pay me the compli-
ment Of remaining sober. and he refused 10
contribute penny Of the money he had earned
since he came back, and decided to compel
him to do 1t or go to prison"
THE WANDERERS TALE.
When Mrs. Snee finished her evidence she
sobbed so loudly that she was heard over the
court room.
Snee was prompt TO acknowledge that he had
failed TO provide for his wife and family
during those twenty years. when L wan
dered off" he said Il Joined the United
ice in Texas, Idaho and the Dakotas. Nv
period OF enlistment ended while l was on
Governors Island and had $500 10 nv credit
After receiving my money / crossed TO New
York city, where | was robbed. l expected 20
return home and present my wife with the
money. but was SO grieved over the disap-
pointment that sailed on q whaler. and for
five years was thus employed, chiefly On the
southern coast of Africa.
Il then returned TO San Francisco and five
years moro were spent on seal-catching
vessel. l made money aud lost il In specula-
ton, and was as poor when / started The
remaining five years were spent in prospecting
in Colorado, but made nothing more than a
days pay. l finally concluded to come east.
and when l arrived the wife of twenty years be-
fore pretended she didn't know me and ordered
me of. remained, and since then she has
made it unpleasant for me in every possible
way"
Have you any money left after all those
years. asked the magistrate.
Snee answered No"
Then you can go TO the house of correction
for the period of one year."
Mrs. Snee passed out the door weeping. while
her daughter looked very queerly at her father,
who had Just been taken in charge BY the
constable