The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-08
SHE CHOSE BETWEEN
FATHER AND MOTHER
Pathetic and Sensational Case Heard
Before Judge Edwards.
FIGHTING FOR THEIR CHILDREN
John II. Gates and His Wife Do Not
Hesitate to Make the Most Serious
Accusations, One Against the
Other, in Their Great Desire to
Win--Eight-Year-Old Child on tho
Stand--Judge Will Give His De-
cision Friday.

A case that was quite as pathetic as
Judge Edwards yesterday afternoon in
the main court room, after the ad-
journment of argument court. 1t was
a habeas corpus proceeding brought by
Mrs. John H. Gates, of Priceburg, to
secure possession of her 12-year-old
boy and S-year- old girl, who are now
in the care of their father in Peck
vile.
They lived together in Priceburg un-
til October, 1893, when Mrs Gates left
her husband because of his alleged in
temperance and cruelty. The oldest
boy. who is now Ia years of age, went
to live with the mother. The father
retained possession of the two younger
children and moved to Peckville. He
is now keeping house in that town, a
young woman named Dora Synder act
ing as his housekeeper.
The charges made by the wife
against her husband and the counter
charges made by him against her were
of a highly sensational nature. In ad-
dition to the allegations of intemper-
ance and general untitness for the
bringing up of children Mrs. Gates
AYERS that her husband and his house
keeper are now living as man and
wife. He preferred a similar charge
against her, naming Joe Gilgallon, a
young man of Priceburg, as her para
mour. He swore that his wife left him
not because of his cruelty, but be-
cause she preferred the companion
ship of young Gilgallon.
WAS FOND OF JOE.
Witnesses testified that they had seen
Mrs. Gates and the Gilgallon boy set
ting together on the porch as late as
11.30 o'clock at night, and that he had
been seen coming out of the house at
all hours of the night, when Mrs. Gates
husband was working in Duryea. A
letter was also produced which is al
legged to have been written to Gilgal-
lon, and which started out Dear Joe"
and wound up your Dearest Anna" !"
Court would not, however, allow the
letter to be read as it was not proven
that Mrs. Gates wrote it.
Mrs. Gates denied any wrong doing,
and by her husbands own witnesses
il was shown that Gilgallon was only
Is or 16 years of age at the time these
actions are alleged to have occurred.
The husband also denied that there
was anything wrong between him and
his housekeeDer, but he was greatly
nonplussed when his little daughter
whom he called to the stand, admitted
that she had seen the housekeeper
kiss Pa in the kitchen"
When the little girl was on the
stand Attorney John u. Brown, who
was representing the husband, asked
Wouldn't you rather live with your
father than your mother?"
Edith, Edith, answer the truth
now" interjected the mother jumping
up and extending her hands appealing
towards her child.
PREFERRED THE FATHER.
Yes" answered the little one hang
ing her head in a shamefaced sort
Of wav.
You don't want to live with your
mother do you?" said Mr.. Brown.
NO" said the child with some hes
itancy.
"She isn't saying that for herself. "
sobbed the mother. You can see she
was put up to it,
Nobody has talked to you about
what you should say, have they?" re-
joired Mr.. Brown.
mo, sir"
evidently" remarked Mr. Carpen-
ter attorney for Mrs. Gates, mo one
coached her about having nothing to
say concerning any little kitchen epi-
sodes."
Judge Edwards said he would give
his decision in the case Friday.