The evening times., 1896-08-22
LEFT WIFE AND CHILDREN \
EX-P0liceman Wood AbandOns
His Little Fami y.
DRINK WAS THE CAUSE OF IT.
He Lost One Position After Another
Because of Liquor-The Big Strong
Man Then Deserted the Weak Ones
Dependent Upon Him-No Sign Of
Him Since.

Deseriion by an alleged drunken and
worthless husband aud father tells u sad
| story OF one little woman aud her four
children Her uame is Mrs. Robert Wood,
wife OF ex-Policeman Wood, OF The First
precinct
The husband is now in parts unknown,
and has left his wife to battle with life
as best she may and feed, clotbe, aud
shelter her four little ones aud herself.
Drink is said to have been the cause OF
Woods beartless action, as 1t was the
cause of his dismissal from the police
force
Its just three weeks today since he left
home. Since then he has not been seen
or heard from by his friends That he
went out OF the city is certain, for lie show
ed his ticket TO friend on the eve OF his
departure. Where lie went, however, is
mystery.
The marriage took place long ago. and
the Oldest child, a flaxeD haired little
girl with bright eyes, is now twelve years
OF age.
Wood served in one position and another,
but drink early got the upper hand OF him.
His own family helped him, 1t was said,
until they could help no longer.
He succeeded in getting on the police
force last winter. One day he overstcppcd
his beat and was fined. And then he
drank. More money went in drink. 1t was
said. than went 10 his wife and little
family. The end came.
WOOD WAS DISMISSED.
He was found drunk. was tried and dis
| missed from the force the lst of May.
&,
neighbors say.
He came 10 his home one Saturday aft
erpoOn and told his wife that be was GO
ing out for while. After he left the house
she found a note he had written. 1t was
brief and said that he had gone away
never TO return.
You Will have to look out for your
self and the Children" wrote the big,
strong man, and then started out to shift
for himself.
Mrs. Wood had just 16 cents in the house
She knew that the rent would be due again
the following Tuesday, but thanked her
stars that it was paid up to that time. She
could certainly prevail upon the landlord
| to carry her over a few days.
But 1t took only a day or two to make
| another discovery. The husband hadcaused
her to believe that the rent was all paid.
| 1t wa S not. The money for two months was
| yet due. 1t could not be paid with IS
cents. Mrs. Wood was compelled to take
her little ones and move.
She went to No I'LL Tenth street north
| west, where she now lives A few roolners
| lived with the Woods. They decided to 20
| with Mrs. Wood; but with all they paid her
| house rent.
THEY ARE IN WANT.
She and the little ones are actually suf-
fering, the Deighbors say, AMI it is only
| through the generosity and kindness OF their
| friends that they are able to keep the wclf
| even short way from the door.
The mother is sick and feeble and the
| eldest child is i'll. Not e penny comes in
from any other direction other than the
small sum reaped from the rooners and the
contributions OF the neighbors.
The husband used to say he was an Odd
| Fellow In good standing He was not, the
| wife learned, when she investigated. His
dues were far behind and tile lodge could
not assist the wife.
| 1t is said that Mrs. Wood appealed to the
| family of her desertiDg husband. They had
helped him and his until they were tired.
it was said. Wood always wanted to drink,
and when he could not get it other wise he
would so to his family and ask them for the
| money.
| Mrs Wood is too feeble to do hard labor.
She can sew, but sewing is difficult to
| find. Whenever fortune favors her with
some mite of work to do, she does it with a
viii, but it seldom comes her way.
| She and the young ones are leftto struggle
asbe st they they may, while the strong hus-
| band is looking out for himself.