The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-06
MORE ABOUT THAT BABY
Asd tic Mystery Surrounding Its
Maternity.
no. wiiiis Goes 10 jail Cor Refus-
ing 10 Disclose the Identity
Of the Child's Mother.


yesterday took up the entire day making
two days OF the trial. and Is still unfln-
isbcd- Many new witnesses were intro
duccd and the divergence OF the testimony
Of witnesses on the opposite side on the
same points was startling.
The close OF the case for the day brought
about a rather sensational incident. which
was the Hat refusal OF the witness q. q.
Wilson TO answer a question put by the
petitioners counsel.
The trial was taken up where II was
left OF the day before by the respondent
introducing Mrs. Morris on the stand. She
testified that the baby in question was
or 6 months old, when she one day saw
It at Mrs. Franks house. near the point
OF DEATH She said Mrs. Wilson was pres
cnt at the time. She also testified to hav-
ing bought the clothes worn by the baby
as shown In tin type introduced, and
which clothes Mrs. Wilson had the day
before testified that she had sent the
child herself
The next witness was G.. Q. Willis, who
claims TO be the father Of the child lie
aaid he was q brakeman on the Interna-
tional and Great Northern railroad, and
his testimony WAS an follows. u am the
father OF tho child. / have the mothers
word for IL. Have taken care OF It for
the past two years and i've months, the
entire time OF It's existence. 1t has always
been sckly child until last March. Mrs.
Wilson Is moi ~ unfhCp Eha frat ola %
II about August 10 Of this year Know
her very slightly. U.s. to give her Sunn
sewing to do. l am ready. able and VIII
ing to take care oil the child q"
IN orCSs- examination he admitted that
Mrs. Wilson had claimed IT, publicly be-
fore he had; that he did not know any
thing at all aboat the midwife who AZ
tended the woman whom h. claimed gave
birth to the child. Speaking OF the woman
herself, he said he had known her inr
about five years, met her NJ the Grand
Central depot AT this point Mr.. Burns
asked him at what house did he ilrst meet
her. The witness nGtly, but respectfully
refused TO answer the question and u
heated and lengthy argumen. followed he
tween counsel for the upppsng silos, Mr..
Sears contendlng that as the unknown
woman was not In court pskng for any.
thin8 that the question was wholly irrCle-
want and immaicrial Mr.. Burns. an the
other hand, vchemently declared thui the
evidence was germaln 10 and the Very
backbone OF the whole case thet respond
ent had claimed the child and spoken OF
The woman aui that his side had every
rlsht to ask the question for the purpose
OF dsproying the crodibility of the wit
ness.
Mr., Sears reaftrmel his contention and
SAID That the olhcr side now sought to pui
put Wills N jail Cor REFUSING TO testify
which, he said was their ulterior motive
Mr.. Burns said his client bad been
dragged through the courts. arrested. nor.
secuted and pnt In jail, and what was sauc,
for tho goose was sauce for the gander
Judge Shaw ruled that tho witness mus
answer the question and that II he ~,
not he would be committed
Tho witness was given another opportu
nifty tn answer the question. Hc said. 90
could tell, but | won't; 1t involves otho
people,
Mr. BURNS then arose and said tina
this was n pretty late day to think o
shielding the woman character, that ne
fair fame should have been considers
much sooner He ended by demanding
an answer to his question.
Mr. Sears said he admired the courag
and manhood OF The wltnoss In refusin
10 answer the question
JuuEc SnhW, ulttr lisleulnE 10 lnOI
heated and lengthy argument Of counsel o
must answer
Witness--l can not, Judge; 1t involve
her.
Judge Shawl see no reason why fu
light should not be thrown upon this mat
ter. aud you must answer.
wi,ncssAil right, Judge; but | can nc
answer.
Judge Shaw then decided to give the wi,
ness until afternoon 10 make UP HIS min
what he would 10,
Tho next witness WAS Mrs Miner. VIII
was put ON In robuttal for the petinone
She said that John Cox came to her nous
at 1920 Congress- avenue In October OF 1874
ana tried to rent "A room for himself an
Mrs. Wilson. ihon called Johnnie Robisni
that sho told him she did not keep thl
kind of n house.
Mia. Lawrence was next called and 81
testified that shc had seen Cox aud sir,
Wilson together In her house In lSgi an
thai she had frequently seen the most col
yincing proofs that they Were crmlnall
intimate. She also testified that Mi,
Franks had told her that the baby belong,
20 Mrs Wilson, Referring 10 John co
Mus. Lawrence said he was at her hou
during tho reunion. and While there sa
that he had sent Johnnie Robson (Alr
Wilson) $40 In u letter; but that the lett
crine back TIC him.
Ihe next Witness was Mrs. Harlow. wi
testified that she was present At the bir
Of tho child, Jaw II about an hour att
birth On cioss-c examination she said
Ind been sent to Mrs. Franks by the la
0sT's eolSred girl, Louise 0gle.
Mr. Robinson, father Of Mrs. Wilso
then took the stand and testified TO abo
the same things mat his daughter iad.
70 the birth OF tho child. lie said he wro
note to Mrs. Franks, for his daugh,,
when II was born. saying: STRANGER
my nousa wants room and board" Tn
MIA Franks reply was: Send the s,rans
on, room aud board ready Louise or
wss here identified the witness exclaimir
Yes. that's the niger" lie said the ncp
un carried OF large biskct Of cloth
with tho child; corrpborated Mrs. Wilso,
statement Chat he had on one occasl
9iyeu her ~ 30 70 send TO Mrs. Franks
- NAG Of the child; and spoke Of II
wilson's husband a. moral. good and sob
he9erring 70 the alleged yislt Of IA,
1yHnks 70 bic hcuse on the night OF the 4
yaen Mrs Wilson took the child he \
nv. Eranku hRd threatened ~ xiii |
onild epd he whole uutltt. +.
~ furtAer said that Mrs. Franks On r
seeesion. at thu 0alveslun trial mad \
AZ L9M ehe would Give up The child II :, !
~ ~. ~%.f'4 NJ tik