Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-25
THREATENED ; MRS. AUSTIN
Lewis J. Yeagers Bitterness Toward His
Mothei.in-1,aw.
Admits the CharEesaI. Required by
Judge Mills to Give Bond to
4 Y
Keep the Reace.

Lewis j. feager, who, in the latter part
OF April, as was published in The Star at
the time, created an excitement at the
corner OF 18th and U streets northwest, by
Iorcloly taking possession Of his infant
enid, then In the custody of his wife and
her mother. Mrs. Louisa H. Austin. was
tried today before Judge Mills in the United
states branch of the Police Court on the
charge OF making threats against Mrs
Austin. Yeager was held In 500 bonds to
Keep the peace for six months. or in de-
fault sixty days imprisonment. Bonds
were given.
Rev. Sven Testifics.
Rev. E. Hez Sven, pastor of the Second
Baptist Church, was the principal witness
for the government. He testified that dur
ing the latter part of April, the exact date
or day of the week he did not remember
4eager came to his house and related to
him long story of the manner in which
ne claimed to have been treated by Mrs.
austin, who had, he declared, caused his
wife to leave him and take their child
with her. In the course of the conversa-
ton Yeager. Mr.. Sven said, threatened a
number OF times to kill Mrs. Austin, and
expressed the opinion that in view of the
way In which she had treated him he world
commit no sin in the sight of God If he did
kill her.
Il tried to dissuade him from carrying
out his threats" said Mr.. Swem land
at Yeager's request we prayed together
over the matter. At his request, also, l
went up to Mrs. Austin's house to see her
ana Ris wife, with the intention of trying
Yeager and her husband
Changed His Mind.
But after having conference with
Mrs. Yeager and Mrs. Austin 1 made no
attemnf tn
dumfounded at what 1 was told by the
me OF the Yeagers during the period Of
their residence IL Richmond, which was
Tor about two years duration.
Upon returning to my home 1 found
ieager waiting for me- ard / reported to
MIN the result of my visit to Lis wife and
lnother-in-law. He then repeated his
threats to kill Mrs. Austin. and 1 again
t tIleo TO dissuade him, and after long
time he left the house.
"A cay or two aftefward I went to see
iesger III response to his request at his
nome on 9TH street southeast. l found him
In bed, and on a chair beside the couch
was a knife, with which, he said, he in
tended to kill Mrs. Austin. AS on the pre-
vious occasions, 1 tried to dissuade him
from carrying out his threat, and told him
that II he did the law would give him
great trouble
Mrs. FOrds Story.
MIS-. Selynoa FORD testified that Yeager
informed her of his feelings against Mrs.
Austin, saying they were SO intense on ac-
count of the latter separating him and his
VIE tEat II he met Mrsa Austin he would
certainly kill her, because he would not
be able to keep his hands off of her
Some evidence was given in reference 20
the transaction at 14th and L streets, when
the baby was carried off by Yeager, all of
which was fully printed At the time.
4eager, who testified in his own behalf,
admitted that he had saiehhe believed that
from the manner in which Mrs Austin had
treated him if he ended her miserable ex-
istence he would notobesguilty of any Of
tense In the sight of Cod but said he
knew If he killed her the law would give
him great deal of t5oubie"
Lawyer Gloss spokefin behalf of Yeaser,
and pleaded with Judge mills for an ac-
quittal of his client.f ME-. Mullowney, for
the government, madb' strong argument,
and asked that bond 70 keep the peace
be required of Yeager.l bf' q
Judge Mills said there was no doubt that
Yeager had made threats against Mrs
Austin, and that he would hold him in
500, but subsequently reduced the amount
to 800 bond. which was given.