The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-22
NOTHING TO LlVEFOR
Pathetic Cry of Mrs. Lutes
When he Gave Up Her
Children to Her
Husband.
THE YOUNGEST BOY REBELS
He Fights the Court officer and
Insists Upon Remaining
With His Mother.
The YOUNGEST BOY REBELS

A sad scene occurred at the foot of
Cortlandt street, New York, shortly after
eight o'clock this morning, when
mother in obedience to an order of the
New Jersey Court of Chancery, gave up
her two younger children to the man
from whom she has been divorced. The
man who took the children is Joseph
Perrine Lutes, confidential clerk in the
tracing department of the Adams Express
Company at No. 40 Broadway. Three
weeks ago he secured a divorce from his
wife, Viola Keeler Lutes. The decree
was signed by Vice Chancellor Pitney in
the Court of Chancery in Jersey City,
and it provided that Mr.. Lutes should
have the custody of the two younger
children, Elwood nine years old, and
Eugene, eleven years old. The oldest boy,
Almerion, who is nearly fourteen years,
was permitted to stay with the mother.
None of the children apparently cared
to go with the father. Three times after
the decree was granted Constable Joseph
Locke called at Mrs. Lutes home for the
two boys and each time Elwood created
a scene and absolutely refused to go. Al
last the Constable told Mrs. Lutes that
unless she voluntarily gave up her sons
they would be taken by force. He visited
her last night and she decided to sur
render them this morning. Lutes agreed
to meet his former wife at the Cortlandt
street ferry on the New York side at
eight o'clock. Mrs. Lutes, the two boys
and Constable Locke arrived few min
utes late. Lutes did not speak to his
divorced wife. He handed Locke ~ Tor
his services The Constable. knowing
Mrs. Lutes to be in actual want, took the
money and in the presence of Lutes
placed it in the woman's pocketbook,
saying: Take this you need it,,
Mrs. Lutes was crying bitterly: my MY
Gods She said, Il have nothing to llVe
for now. Don't take my youngest boy
away from me-
Lutes called the children to him n:
They would not go. He grabbed eacn 1.;oI OF
them. Eugene submitted, but ElWood,
the -year-old, broke from his grasp
and ran away. His father chased him
within the gates to the ferry before ne
caught him. The little fellow cried and
screamed:-"Let me 60" He punched his
father and struggled desperately. he
finally wriggled himself loose and ran
to his mother. She kissed MIN passion
ately several times.
All this time the constable stood pc
tween Lutes and his wife fearing that
she would attack HIM as sne nau aone
several times prior to- the settlement OF
the suit. Mrs. Lutes kissed the other boy
and then turned away and started into
the ferry house. Elwood clung to her,
and the constable had to take him away
and hand him ever to his father: Lutes
had to forcibly carry him away. The boy
Bit and pinched and scratched and left
a number of marks upon his father He
cried all the time to be permitted 10 go
with his mother.
Lutes took the children to Eliza
beth, where he left them with
his sister. He had them there.
while the divorce suit was pending,l
Lut Mrs. Lutes spirited them away, and'
kept them until this morning Although
Lutes owes his former wife money for the
board of the boys for the week prior to
the signing of the decree he never offered
her a cent this morning. The constable
was more generous, and knowing that
she was liable to be put out of the two
small room she occupies in Wayne street
he gave ner his fee. While the suit was
pending Mrs Lutes received $40 weekly
alimony. she was able to live comfort
ably on this Now all she has is So a
week which her Oldest son earns in drug
store as errand boy, and like amount
which she earns by working in New
York
This week she has been too sick griev-
ing over the coming separation from her
children to work. Three days ago there
was nothing in the house for breakfast,
and she was obliged to let one of the
boys pawn her wedding ring for 81. Long
ago she pawned her engagement ring set
with solitaire for S., and later sold the
ticket for $5