El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-09
THE CHILDREN
DID NOT KNOW
That Their Parents Were
Suing For Divorce.
TWO BABES IN COURT

Judge Walthall, To Whom Is Attribut
ed the Wisdom Of Solomon, Said He
Did Not Think 1t A Good Plan To
Separate Small Children, But Be-
lieved the Mother To Be the Pro-
per Custodian.
A dramatic as we'll as most pathetic
incident occurred in the district court
room Saturday afternoon just before
Judge Walthsll delivered his decree
in the Schultz divorce case.
Defendants counsel was anxious that
the two children of the parties to the
divorce proceedings be exhi bited TO
the court SO that he might more readi-
ly Judge whether they should be given
to the father or the mother.
"Has the defendant seen his children
since the separation" was asked.
NO." replied the woman, 81 was
afraid he might steal them.''
There is no danger for them in
the court ROOM" replied plain lifts a.
torney, whereupon the judge ordered
the sheriff to go into the CLERK 8 office
and get the children. They we re found
there in custody of man who had
volunteered to keep his eye On them
and see that they were guarded against
abduction.
The sheriff pushed back the swing
ing doors of the court room. 1t was
like a scene from:some.pOwerfulo drama.
A blue eyed little boy of four came
first. He had chubby legs ard rosy
cheeks and in smiling his small teeth
glissened like pearls. A dark brown
hood covered mass of long golden
curls. He was totally unconscious of
the fearful solem nifty of the proceedings
xuifh m ho ha nf w i,-h
would result in utterly changing the
young life from what his creator in
tended 1t should be.
Fate inexorable and Interchangeable,
paused on dusky wings, and lowered
above the tribunal of justice Matching
its decree from which there would be
no escape.
The child unabashed. looked about
him and his laughing blue eyes scan
ned dozen faces that were turned
toward him, some in curiosity, some in
pity.
The mother arose and came toward
him. The father was seated some dis
lance away beside his attorney. He
forgot everything when be saw his
child and springing to his feet, bound
ed forward and STOPPING caught the
blue eyed baby in his arms, kissing
him repeatedly. The woman retired
with the elder child to the opposite
side of the room and divorce suit went
on.
Above the din produced by "weary-
ing lawyers with endless tongues" the
shrill voice of the child rang out and
awoke the echoes.
80, mama!" the baby said, "papa
has given me bag of'candy;' don't you
want some.'
The woman turned away and did not
seem to hear and the divorce court
proceedings that had been momentari
ly interrupted, proceeded. The judges
face was grave and a few of the specta-
tors were seen to hastily brush away q
tear.
After all the testimony was inland
a portion of it was extremely nsuseat-
ing-the attorneys argued briefly.
There was no opposition on the part of
defendant to defeat the suit for
divorce. but he wanted at least one of
the children.
After listening patiently to the con-
tention Judge Walthall said
Il do not think it is a good idea
I have frequently noticed that it is a
bad plan for the children themselves.
II one was given to the father the
mother would be greatly Inconvenience
ed when she wanted to visit it,
whereas if both are given to the moth
err it will be much less trouble for the
father to visit them when he feels so
inclined.
"Tho court does not feel disposed to
separate the children, inssmuch as
they will be under the Jurisdiction of
this court and the father may see them
at suita BILE times.
81 will issue a decree granting the
divorce but will hear furthur argu
ment concerning claims to the chill
dren, on Monday"
Police Briefs.
John Woods, an employe in the