The San Francisco call., 1899-12-29
Decree of Divorce Is
Given the Wife.
CRUELTY THE GROUND NAMED
ROBERT DABNEY WILL GO TO
his GRANDMOTHER.
Judge Daingerield Hears Witnesses
and Gives Judgment That Will
End the Habeas Corpus
Proceedings.

With the precision OF a machine, the
/ law. lawyers and litigants worked togeth-
I er IN Judge Daingerheld's court yester-
/ day morning. and within an hour and a
! half after the complaint was filed Mrs.
Alice c. johnson had been granted a di-
/ vorce from her husband, Albert Sidney
! Johnson. By the terms OF a compromise
/ however, the defendant was awarded the
custody OF their son. Robert Dabney John
son. but the boy will Immediately be
placed with his grandmother. Mary A.
Johnson. who resides in Galveston. Texas.
The funds necessary for his maintenance
and education will be furnished by the
father
Il was announced Wednesday morning
by counsel representing the litigants that
compromise would be reached yesterday
morning. but IL was not expected that d.
Norce proceedings would be the basis
. thereof When court convened Mrs. John
son, accompanied by her attorneys, w. II.
/. Barnes and o. y. Eaton. filed her com
plaint IN the County Clerks office. As
cause OF action she alleged extreme cru
city. by way OF introduction, she stated
that she married her husband in Calves
ton January ., 1856. BY reason OF her
husbands violent threatening. abusive
ana obscene language. she averred. she
/ mad suffered extremely, and on that
ground prayed that the bonds OF matri-
monN existing between them be dissolved
and that she be granted permanent all
/ mony in the sum Of $50 a month, together
with costs and counsel fees.
A short time later NJ. = Eisner and
Louis Hirsch, representing Mr.. Johnson,
. filed an answer 10 the complaint, I'm which
all Of the allegations Of the plaintiff were
denied.
All OF the parties litigant were next ush-
cred into Judge Daingerfield's court. Bes-
size GalbraiJh. Mrs. Johnson's sister. was
Immediately called TO the stand and the
case was on. The witness. after stating
that She knew Of the marriage OF the un-
, happy couple and the existence Of the son.
said that the troubles Of the litigants be-
gan on the night OF their marriage. They
were sitting on the porch of their new
home At Galveston when the witness
heard a scream She hurried out. and
found that Johnson had struck her sister
and was heaping abuse on her.
From that time on. she said, the war
ragged At one time Johnson said that he
would throw the boy into the river and.
after they moved 10 this city. he said
that he would drown the boy in the bay.
Referring 70 troubles in this city, the
witness said that last Wednesday even
ing Mr.. Johnson invited his wife. her
mother and the witness to a dinner at
Marchands. The evening passed pleasant
ly until after the conclusion OF the din
ner, when the ladies retired 10 an ad-
joining dressing room.
When we were IN the dressing room. -
said the witness. AN Englishman whom
/ had known all my life came up TO bid
US good evening. When we came down
Mr. johnson said that men only followed
women into a dressing room for immoral
purposes. and he upbraided us all. He
had been drinking and was very abusive
Later In tho evening. however. we all
went 10 Zinkand's for dinner. There the
trouble again started. and finally We got
up and left the place and were followed
10y my sister. Mr.. Johnson followed US
and told my sister not 10 be a - fool,
which was strong language for him. We
all went 10 the hotel and there ! even Of
fered 10 kiss Mr.. Johnson in an effort to
heal the breach. but he shook me off and
said that he wanted nothing more TO 10
with his wife and hoped he would never
see her again"
Miss Galbraith was excused and Mrs
Johnson. weeping and looking thin and
worn. took the stand. Between sobs she
corroborated the testimony OF her sister.
and added that ever since her boy was
born her husband had made a practice
Of stealing him and keeping him from
her for days at a time TO her great terror
She went through a long story of the
abuses suffered at the hands Of her hus-
band and was suddenly interrupted by
Judge Daingerfield. who said. Read the
prayer Of the complaint" The prayer
was read and Mrs. Johnson was granted
"a decree Of absolute divorce and the Gus
tody OF the child was given TO the father,
as stated. with the proNlso. however that
the mother can see him whenever she de-
sires. either at her own home or the home
Of his grandmother.
The habeas corpus proceedings insti-
tuted by Mr.. Johnson. by which he sought
10 gain the custody OF his son, will be
dismissed this morning and the unhappy
family Will move 10 the old Texas home.