The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-06
DAY WHEN TEARS FLOW
USUAL PATHETIC CASES OF DISPOs-
ING OF CHILDREN.
The SeIvages RecOnciIed and Are Civ
en- Back Their Infant
on Trial.

Judge Allen, of the Circuit Court, put in
a good part of the day yesterday trying
cases in which the Board of Children's
Guardians were interested. There were two
cases which particularly impressed the
court and those who happened to be in the
courtroom as spectators. One of these was
the case of John and Annie Sewage, who
were there to get possession of their child,
Charlie Selvage, three years old. Their
story is a sad one. The father is about
thirty-six years Of age, and the mother is a
few years younger. Several months ago
they separated. IT was shown that both
were addicted to the of intoxicants and
had been in the habit of drinking beer. On
this account each became dissatisfied with
the other and they agreed to separate.
After the separation, the father, conclud-
ing that his wife was not the right sort of a
woman to have the care of their infant
child, brought charges against her and had
the little boy placed in the Children's
Guardians Home The unhappy pair were
never divorced, and lived apart but a few
months. Sewage told the court yesterday
how they came to make up their differences,
which was brought about on Friday. On
Thursday night, he said, he walked the
floor of his room all night, thinking of his
wife and child, and of his duty to them.
During the night he resolved to go and see
his wife the next day, and, if possible, get
her to live with him again. Early Friday
morning he started out to find the woman,
and before the day was over they had
reached an understanding. They came into
court together yesterday morning, but each
was represented by an attorney. The attor-
neys consulted with each other and then
consulted with the husband and wife. Then
they all talked with the court, and there
was much crying The man and woman
both made solemn promises to the court
that they would live right hereafter, and
that intoxicants should not come into their
home. They also promised each other that
they would do the best they knew how to
get along. Judge Allen then said he would
give them the child on trial. and If they
succeeded in getting on smoothly for two or
three weeks he would award them the final
custody of the boy. Husband and wife APP
peared very happy when they left the
courtroom
u In the suit brought by the Board of Guar
dams for possession of little Rose Smith,
the court decided in favor of Mrs Anna
Thompson, who has had the care of the
little one for some time. Mrs. thompson
took the child from its stepfather, who was
living in a houseboat at Terre Haute. She
had known the mother of the child, and
felt an interest IN 1t. There was no evil
dence to show that Mrs. Thompson ever
mistreated the child and the only charge
was that she and her husband worked away
from home during the day, and while they
were absent little Rose was given indiffer
ent attention. Mrs. Thompson said that a
policeman of Terre Haute had informed her
that the child was desired by a wealthy cit
izen of that city, who had asked the Board
of Guardians to get possession of it for
him. The child is winsome little creature
about five years old, and Judge Allen de-
eided that Mrs. Thompson might keep it.
During the trial the woman cried a good
deal and pleaded to be allowed to take the
little one back home with her. The judges
heart was touched by the apparent devotion,
and he did not feel that the woman should
comfort to her.