The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-26
TWENTY THOUSAND SUIT.
The Williamson-Prettyma Jury Dis
charged Until Monday.

Court convened at 2 o'clock Friday af.
| ternoon. 49,
| Mrs. Prettymantook the stand to testi.
fy in behalf of the defendant, e. p.
| Williamson.
Mrs. Mary l.. Preltymanis not hand
| sOme woman, neither Is shD an Ungaiply
| looking woman. Sho Is about forty-five
| years OF age and wears glasses, which
! gives her an older look. She looks like a
woman who has worked hard in helping
| to support her family
She sald that she was married to her
husband at the parsonage in Wilkes
barre, Pa, that her husband after they
bad been married had no money with
which 10 pay their car fare to Phllalel-
phia.
She had given her husband her pocket
book which contained some three hun.
dred dollars. He took $500 with which
to procure their tickets. 1t was on Wed.
Philadelphia he asked ME where we should
go and beard. knew u lady with whom
had been acquainted and went 20 her
house at Fifth and Dickerson streets. He
had been trying to borrow enough money
from NE to go into the grocery business.
bad money in the bank in Georgetown,
and drew 1t out at his solicitation. This
was the second week after we were mar
ried Finally he went and purchased q
grocery store.
Mr.. Cooper-What name, was your
house?
This question was objected to by Mr..
Hayes and sustained by the Court.
He took me to large store about three
weeks after we had been married. We
were shown one store that 50, 600 was ask
ed for.
then saw another store and rented it
and loaned my husband 81, 600 to stocE tho
same.
Mr.. CO oper--How was the business
conducted9
Mr.. Hayes here interposed and objected
to tho questions being answered by tho
witness, which The oour6 sustained, as 1t
has done in nearly every question arising
in tho case.
MIR. Coopor-Who conducted the storep
This question was objected to by Mr.
Hayes and ruled out by the court
Mr.. Cooper-Mrs Prettyman while you
were in the grocery business did not your
husband leave you for an indeflni
time?
What was the conduct of Mr.. Pretty
man towards your
Mrs Prettymnn--Ho would be in he'd
until o'clock and then go out and laave
lie to attend to the store He would go
into the store few minutes in the evening
and come and go into tho cigar store few
doors below and leave Inc TO close up the
sore. This went on for about s OF 6
months. My affec ions had all gone, but
| had respect for him because he was my
husband.
He was gone three weeks at one time,
leaving me all alone to attend to the busi-
ness. Tho business was closed out. be-
cause conld not attend to it any longer
and my husband would not help me. We
then lived OIL his mothers farm in
Sussex county. He held the position of
boss on the farm over some colorrd help.
1t was very good farm We lived there
oneyear. His mother put him off of the
farm.
This answer evoked another protest on
the part Of MIR. Hayes and sustained by
the Judges.
He provided for me by my selling the
goods purchased with my money.
He only owned mulu at that time.
We then moved on the adjoining farm,
which was owned by Henry Snyder.
Then had two children. He provided
very poory. Our condition continued to
grow worse. My fathers barn was fur
hettsr than the house he took me to live
in
Mr.. Cooper-Did you have enough to
eatp
Such as 1t was, replied Mrs. Prettyman.
Then we moved to his uncle's farm. and
often had hardly enough to eat. had pre-.
pared he sleeping accommodations with
my money Colored people lived in the
house before we moved In.
Mr. Cooper-Were there vermin in the
house?
This question was objected to by Mr..
Hayes, and sustained as usual by the
Court.
Mr. Cooper-You heard the testimony
of your husband that he provided you
with good and happy homo?
Did ho provide you with home one
month after marriage?
Mrs. Prctyman-I provided tie homo
myself.
A Lewes my husband owned horse and
wagon and he told me that it was taken
from him for debt. He earned very little
with 1t before it was taken
Mr.. Cooper-Did he provide you with n
home in Lcwes?
Mrs. Prcttyman-Wo did not have
shoes and stockings to our feot. washed
and iooned and took boarders to help sup
pert myself and family Of small children.
We purchased from he store us long us
our credit twas good
The Court here ruled that only direct
questions could be asked he witness.
Mr.. Cooper Mrs. Pretfyman how
long did you re Idle in Lewcs?
Mrs, Prettyman-About 7 years.
We came from, there to Wilmington. He
came up in freight train, Joined him in
Wilmington aftera day or SO. He met me
at the depot and said ho had no house to |
take Inc to. My whole object in coming
to Wilmington was 10 lake boarders. l
sat down in u strnga town on the step of
hOuS O without n dollar.
Was never in Wilmington before. My |
friends took myself and family for three
days. Rented II house three days after. |
wards Mt Fifth and French streets. My |
friends provided for us for II few days / |
procured boarders before l had he carpets
down. My husband secured position on
q gravel train which he filed for rs days.
He then secured position at jackson &
Sharp Company. l supported the family
by keeping buardcrs.
Mr.. COoper-Who furnished the greater
portion of the money to support the
family?
Mrs. Prettyman-I got trusted at tha
store and then paid the bills us they came
due.
Mr.. Cooper-Dld you occupy tho same
bod chamber then with your husband?
Mrs Pret'yman-Mr. Prettymun slept
IN third story room. occupied one in
lie second story
l rented rooms in The house No S27
Orang go street from Mrs. Daniel, and paid
Ter the rent Never saw Mr.. Williamson
out once until ohc next 2jth of March
when rented tho house from Mr.. VII
hanson.
Mr.. Ccoper-How often did Mr.. William.
ION come after the rent?
Mr1. Prettyman-I told Mr.. William.
on to come once q week after the rcnt rs
was not able to pay him tho months
ent at one time. He generally after that
amo once II week. He come in the evening
linking that he could got the money