The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-04
ENooH WITH VARIATIONS.
Finds His Wife True After 40 Years,
Gets Drunk AID Goes TO Prison.
From the PhiIqdeIphtn Tfp,s,

Gets Drunk a 10 Goes TO Prison.
From the PhiE1deIphtd Times.
A case embodying some of the features Of
an Enoch Arden romance, but ending rather
| differently, came before Magist ate DON
nelly yesterday, when Walter B. Snee was
arraigned on charge OF non-support pre-
ferred by his wife. Mary Elizabeth Snee Of
Somervtle.
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 IL be had returned from the tomb.
| When he departed he was a resident OF
Jenklntown, and for ten weary years his
faithful wife lived in expectation that he
would return, II not for her sake, for the
| happiness Of a twin boy and girl he left
/ fatherless and in almost destitute circum-
stances. After waiting for years for his
return 1Ts Snee mourned her trusnt hus-
baud as dead and resigned herself 30 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 man.
hood and womanhood, and all are living
together In peace and comfort.
Before he left homen said Mrs Snee In
testifying against her husband, she was
proftably employed by the Reading rail-
road as locomotive engineer on the North
Penn branch. There was no trouble In our
boarding money our home was one Of peace
and happiness. Five years after our mar
riage 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-
nized him, because he did not look like his
former self. gave him as warm a well
come as | could under such unusual cir
cunstances, and told him he was welcome
to the privileges of my home. Toe children,
too, were delighted to see him.
But while every Ii erty was accorded
him l decided unless he lived as man
ought to that he could not remain. have
nicely furnished home, the profits Of my
own hard labor, aud what | have said for
twenty years has been law. My husband
failed to pay me the compliment Of remain
ing sober, and he refused to contribute a
penny OF 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 court room.
Snee was prompt to acknowledge that he
had failed TO provide for his wife and family
during those twenty years. "W hen / wan
dered off," he said, II joined the United
CtdteS hELuys anu lot nV6 years was IN
service in Texas. Idaho and the Dakotas
Ny period of enlistment ended while was
on Governors Island, and bad $500 to my
credit. After receiving my money l crossed
to New York city, where l was robbed. l
expected to return home and present my
wife with the money, but was so grieved
over the disappointment that sailed on a
whaler, and for five years was thus en-
ployed, chiefly on the southern coast of
Africa.
81 then returned to San Francisco, and five
years more was spent on a seal catching
vessel. made money and lost it In speoula
ton, and was as poor as when / started.
The remaining five years was spent pros
pectiug in Colorado, but | made nothing
more than days pay. finally concluded
to come east, and when l arrived the wife
Of twenty years before pretended she didn't
know me, and ordered me off. remained,
and since then she has made 10 unpleasant
for me in every possible way"
Have you any money left after all those
yearsP asked the magistrate.
Snee answered mo"
Then you can 60 to the house Of correc-
ton 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.