The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-27
SHE WANTS ALIMONY.
In Her Petition Mrs. BcGbe Tells Why
She Left Her Husband,

AAN 49, 49,
A Mulatto Woman Named Julia Cuts
a Prominent Figure in the Case.
Mrs. Beebe's Petition Alleges That
She Was Unkindly Treated by Her
Husband, and That She Feels Under
No Moral Obligation to Live With
Him.
The suit of Mrs. Helen Y. Beebe against
her husband, Charles c. Beebe, for ali
mony was taken up in the superior court
court yesterday morning Mrs. Beebe's
petition was read and testimony in sup
port of it was introduced.
The circumstances of this case, which is
an interesting one, are pretty well known.
After Mrs. Beebe left her husband he was
tried before a committee from Grace
Methodist church, of which he is a mem
Der. on charges of cruel and improper
treatment of his wife and conduct border
ing on immortality. His trial resulted in
his conviction The committee was
divided. however, and Mr.. Beebe's appeal
from the decision is now pending before
the district conference of the church.
MRS. BEEBE's PETITION.
After the church trial Mrs Beebe petit
toned for alimony. At the beginning of
the proceedings Mr.. S. B. Adams, her
counsel, read her petition to the court and
proceeded to introduce testimony in sup
port Of the allegations.
Mrs. Beebe sets forth the facts of her
adoption and her life in the family of the
Rev. J. p Wardlaw, stating that after
his removal from Savannah by the con-
ference she insisted on remaining here
and maintaining herself with her needle
as she was able to do, being unwilling
longer to be dependent upon her father by
adoption.
Her marriage to Mr.. Beebe took place
March %, 1892, and they both went to the
home Of Mr.. Beebe which is about mile
from the city, that night.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
"She found at the said home " says the
petition, ''in the front room and appa-
rently in charge, a mulatto woman by
the name of Julia Beard, and it is because
of this woman and the conduct of her hus-
band on account Of this woman that the
petitioner is now living as she is living,
separately and apart from her husband.
This woman was there seemingly at
home. She came forward, introduced
herself as Miss Julia Beard, and was APP
parently in charge of the house to the
same extent as a wife would be-"
Prior to her marriage Mrs. Beebe had
heard rumors which coupled the name of
Mr.. Beebe and the woman unpleasantly,
but she did not believe them, and had
confidence in the sincerity of the religious
profession and character of her affianced,
and naturally was surprised and shocked
to find the woman in apparent charge of
his home
The morning after the marriage Mr..
Beebe was the first to finish breakfast
and leave the table, and Immediately
after, while his wife and her husbands
children were at the table, the mulatto
woman took his place as if a member of
the family and in the habit of eating with
it. Mrs Beebe afterwards learned that
this had been her habit. She at once
demonstrated with her husband, but with
out effect, and soon found that he seemed
to be under the control of the colored
woman.
FOUND JULIA's PICTURE.
The petition goes on to state that few
days after the marriage Mrs. Beebe
found a cabinet size picture of Julia and
the young lady daughter of Mr.. Beebe
taken together and hung upon the wall of
his bed room. She took down this picture
and destroyed it and this gave Mr. Beebe
offense. Very soon he began to neglect
and totally ignore her, and was fire.
quently elsewhere when he should have
been at home.
Upon one occasion, continues the petit
ton, Mr.. Beebe brought Julia to her and
insisted upon her apOlogizing to Julia for
some fancied offense: he would sometimes
accuse his wife in the presence of Julia
OF being jealous Of her, and would not
speak to her, she says, except when
obliged TO do so, and then never kindly.
On account of these facts and other
things of which Mrs Beebe thought
they We're Indicative, and of this unkind
treatment to which she alludes, she be-
came very sick
WENT TO LIVE WITH FRIENDS.
Her womanly instincts revolted at the
kind of life she thought her husband was
leading, and she finally determined, she
says, to leave his house, which she did,
and went to live with friends in the city.
Her petition goes on to show that Mr.
Beebee is able to make good living and
that she IS not; that he refuses to make
any provision for her support, upon the
ground that She has left his home, to
which she submits that under the circum-
stances she is under no legal or moral OBJ
legation to live with him. She therefore
asks for decree Of court awarding her
permanent alimony, also temporary ali
mony and counsel fees, and that her hus-
band be restrained from disposing of any
part OF his property until after the termi-
nation of the case.
THE HEARING BEGUN.
Judge Falligant ordered Mr.. Beebe to
show cause before him Yesterday why
this petition should not be granted, but
only two of the witnesses for the petit
toner were introduced, Rev. Mr.. Ward
law and Mr. Exley, the former stating
what he knew with regard to Mrs Beebe's
life before her marriage she having
been adopted into his family and Mr.. Ex-
ley former partner of Mr. Beebe's
making some statements with regard to
the value Of property by Mr.. Beebe.
Mr. Beebe, through his attorney, Mr.
j. r. Saussy, Jr., filed long answer to
the petition of Mrs. Beebe, but its con-
tents were not made public. The testi-
mony for the defense was not reached,
and the case went over until tomorrow
morning at ten O'Clock