The herald., 1893-12-09
THEY TOOK HIS WIFE away.
Bathman's Peculiar Experience
with a MOther-in-Law.
An Amusing Case Before Judge Shaw
Yesterday.
He Loved His wife and She Loved
Him, but Her Parents Didn't
Love Bnthman. 40 Bath
man Got LEFT.


yesterday afternoon. Charles Bathman,
. painter, brought habeas corpus pro-
ceedings for the purpose OF compelling
his wife's parents to deliver up the afore-
said spouse.
1t transpired from the evidence that
the entire family, with the exception Of
the wife, had formed a prejudice against
the unfortunate Bathmsn, more on ac-
count Of his inability to obtain work
than anything else, for not one witness
could allege anything detrimental to his
character.
The wife herself is somewhat vacillat-
ing, but evidently fond of her much
abused husband.
Batbman went upon the witness stand
and stated that when he first married
his wife they lived with her parents on
Grand avenue. He was unable to get
much work, but paid his father-in-law
for board and lodging. Finally his
mother-in-law and the old father caused
SO much trouble between his wife and
himself that he made up his mind to
leave, and engaged rooms at 2361a South
Spring street.
He had not been there very long be-
fore his mother-in-law appeared, and
persuaded his wife that the witness was
not keeping her in sufficiently luxurious
style. and forced the girl to go home
with them. ra
Since that time both the mother and
father had persistently refused to allow
him to see either his wife or his child.
Mrs. Dillman, who lived in the same
house az Bathman and his wife, testified
that Mrs. Bathman always appeared
very fond of her husband, and he of her.
They appeared to be very happy and
used to play about the passages like q
couple Of children. When Mrs. Bath
mans parents persuaded the girl to
leave her husband, she seemed very un-
willing to go with them, but finally did
go, because, as the witness thought. she
was afraid of them.
Witness heard Mrs. Turner say to her
daughter: Don't you let him persuade
you, Flora; you come to your mother
Mrs. Browning, the landlady at 1861
South Spring street, declared that MT.
and Mrs. Bsthman were undoubtedly
very fond of one another. Bathman had
been unlucky, said the witness, but he
always paid up his rent and worked
when he could. He neither drank.
smoked nor played cards as far aa wit
ness knew. They had lovely baby"
continued the witness. 'but since it has
been away from its father it don't look
80 bright, but perhaps we can put that
down to teething."
Here every body including the judge
took look at the baby which evlnced
its embarrassment at 30 much concen-
a hx-o ~ inf NJ In
lungs in protesting howl.
MIRA. Anna Ritter. Bathman's wife's
sister, with prejudice to Bathman was
called.
She led off by declaring that Bath
man was "bad, wicked thing
'Why do you say so?" asked Judge
Shaw.
Mrs. Ritter hesitated and then snapped
ont:
Because he amt got the right kind
of temper to raise family"
Judge Shaw again demanded her rea-
sons.
"Well," said the witness, lone of my
boys once called him Dutchy and he
pulled his ear, and once he trod on my
little boys sore toe on purpose, so he
did,"
As this was the full extent OF Bath
mans depravity. according to Mrs. Rit-
ter, Mrs. Turner, the mother OF Bath
mans wife, was called.
She also declared that Bathman WAS q
terribly wicked man, but she couldn't
say why she thought 80 when asked by
Judge Shaw. She admitted persuading
Mrs. Bathman to leave her husband.
Old Turner made much more vim
dictive witness and called forth several
sharp reproofe from Judge Shaw who
plainly told him that husband had
the right at all times to see and talk to
his wife and child.
Mrs. Bathman, the wife of the COM
plainant, was called.
She is plain young woman with an
expression which stamps her as being
the vacillating person her father de-
declared her.
She didn't care, she said, whether
she lived with her husband or her
parents. She would like to please them
both If possible. Her husband always
was fond of her and treated her well.
She would like to go back to him if it
would make him any happier.
At this remark Bathman looked up
and smiled, and the baby seeing him for
the first time crowed out, '.Dadda," but
was Immediately checked by the watch
full Mrs. Turner.
After hearing the evidence Judge
Shaw ordered the Turner's to refrain
from keeping the wife from her hus-
band, either by force or by undue
influence.