The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-01
OVER THEIR OFFSPRING
DIVORCED PEOPLES SQUABBLES
HEARD IN COURT
DIseRuNTLEDS PRoeENIToRs
MI. and Mrs. Wilson and Mr.. and Mrs.
Porta Have Their Cases Um-
PRED in the Courts

There was a roomful Of ladies In Depart
ment six yesterday forenoon to listen to the
post-divorce troubles of c. d. Wilson and
his ex-wife, Lucy W., over their 9-year-old
boy. Mrs. Wilson, who is a school teacher
and sister of ex-Townshfp Justice or the
Peace Savage, obtained divorce from Mr..
Wilson, an architect, some time ago, IN
q suit in which his default was entered and
which he did not contest. The court
awarded the custody of the minor child to
the mother, but an order was made allow
ing the father to see the little boy each
Sunday between the hours OF noon and
D. M, at Mrs. Wilson's home, who lives
with her father.
Relations between the divorces being
very strained. each side construed the or
der as unfavorably to the other as possible,
and the result was still greater friction and
unfriendly feeling. When Mr.. wilson
called and brought his own mother, she
was denied access to the house; and when
he wished to converse with his boy unre-
STRANGELY, that would be prevented by
young Mrs. Wilson's sitting in the same
room, with her hands in her lap, overhear-
ing the condolences between father and son
and wearing on her face mingled express
sion of angelic resignation and bitter scorn.
result of these unpleasant conditions, and
Judge Allen was of the opinion, after he
had heard the different tales that the
friends of the parties had to tell. that the
lady and gentleman should use moderation
and good will as much as possible in in
terpreting the order of the court. While
he did not believe that Mr.. Wilson should
be permitted to take out the child, there
xx,,- ho 70 n
be able to entertain his son without the
irksome supervision made more pointedly
disagreeabe by the acrid relations of the
severed pair. provided they remained with
in the limits of Mr.. Savage's grounds. Mrs.
Wilson's attorney said that she was afraid
her ex-husband intended to spirit the
child away, from remarks which he was al
legged to have made to his son; but the
court was not inclined to take this report
as serious, and it was denied by the archi-
tect and his friends, who all shook their
heads vehemently in a negative manner
when they heard the matter preached.
Judge Allen finally modified the decree,
In that he cut down the paternal visit to
his offspring from five hours every Sun
day to two.
Mrs. Lucy Wilson, who is teacher In
the Thirtieth-street school, and lady of
excellent reputation, was granted di-
vorce from Architect Wilson in November
of last year on the ground of cruelty. The
defendant was of very jealous DISPOSE
ton, and he accused his wife of infidelity
so often and so unjustly that married life
became unbearable to her.
A case in which Divorces were also con-
cerned was heard by Judge Shaw in the
afternoon. Angelo Porta had been cited
to show cause why he should not be pun
ished for having failed to obey the order
of the court In providing proper support,
in the sum of $40 per month"; for his infant
child, John, whose custody was awarded
to Mrs. Martha Porta when she obtained
her decree of divorce. On the other hand
Porta had filed an affidavit alleging that
his ex-wife is a person unfit to be the
guardian of an infant child, by reason of
her personal habits, and he prayed for its
custody himself
Angelo Porta is an italian and Mrs.
Porta is native of Ireland. He accused
her. when suing for divorce, of intern
perance and uncleanly habits. She denied
this and put in a cross-complaint, charging
him with cruelty. Mrs. Porta was not
used to ''polenta' and macaroni three
times day, and she kicked. Neither was
she accustomed in her native land to work
for from twelve to fourteen hours day,
as Angelo exacted from Der. There were
other allegations Of the husbands brutality
with his fists when his blood was up, and
the decree went to the wife.
After patiently listening to both sides,
Judge Shaw refused to grant Angelo the
custody of little Johnnie and ordered that
he henceforth pay the so monthly alimony
into the hands of the county clerk, under
pain of punishment. AS in the Wilson
case, the court room was full of women,
who acted as silent arbiters and were
friends for one side or the other