Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-21
FAMILY SECRETS
Of the West Household Laid
 Bare in Court To-Day.
IN A FIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN

Inc Man Of the House Lays Cause D.
 Trouble to the Mother-in-Law-The
 Wife Lays the Blame To Factory
 Girl-AIany Witnesses To Be Heard
 and Case Will Be Long Drawn Out.
 The battle between Harry A. West and his wife for the custody of their two children, Myrtle aged years, and Edith, 5 years. began in the superior court to-day before Judge Thayer. West was represented by Attorney Root and Mrs West by Attorney Dur ant. The latter had host Of wit nesses. They Were Special Town Con- sta ble Terrell, Judge A. P. Bradstreef, George Ward and his wife, pr F'aber, Fred and Mrs Mildred Adams. Sam llel Haney, Eunice Post Frank J. and Mrs Roberts, Louise Gates, Robert Cook, Hugh X. Pendlebury, John De- borde, George Plumpton, Ernest HoXey. Thomas B. Carney and Ed ward Wallace. The Wesrs were mar ried in 1887. West is q subforenan in the employ of the American Pin com pany in Watervile. A few years ago they bought d house in. Waterville. buI it is heavily mOrrgaged. West was the first witness. He said in his direct examination that his wife left him on l the morning-of February II, taking the children with her. The previous even ing they had d dispute over the chil- dren being put to bed with Mrs Vests | mother. who is about 1G years old. West claimed that they should not be 1 put there: it was unhealthy for them. Next morning they hardly spoke at 1 breakfast. He thought she went to 1 live with Frank and Mrs Roberts and
 considered her unfit to properly care l fnpf I hp li1 h.,I .,ts
 support. She never made q thing fer l the children; his mother made all of | their clothing. She illtreated the chil- l dren and used obscene language in 1 their presence. She has accused him | of intidelity and often prayed that he
 would be brought home from the fac i tory dead, and tried to educate their
 children to dislike him. If he caressed 1 them they would scream. He accused 1 her of sending the eldest child to q
 drug store for whiskey and produced
 that which was used for the purpose. | Under cross continuation inc said | that the trouble between him and his l wife originated with her mother.
 About the time she went to live with them he became acquainted with q l girl who works under him. Attorney tDurant tried to show that this girl
 was the cause of the trouble and made 1 West admit that he confessed to his i wife his acquaintance with this gigi.
 He further admitted that he rode on
 his wheel with this girl to Watertown 1 one evening last summer, also that he l probably talked more with this. girl
 than with any of her fellow workers. The court asked him if he ever met rhe l girl alone and he said he did, once, | about four months ago.
 Their methods of housekeeping. 4ex- l penses for groceries. etc, and clothing | for Mrs West were fully gone into. l West invited q committee from his 1 lodge to hear his domestic woes and it was decided that the only cure was
 the departure of his mother-in-law. One night Mrs West jumped out of
 q window. Witness tried to stop her
 and tore her dress in the endeavor. 1 All the doors were locked to prevent 1 her going out and making q fool of | herself among the neighbors." That night she complained to ConSta ble Terrell and he took her back home. l When his wife complained of the giG
 alluded to he ceased his acquaintance 1 with her. Fellow wOrkmen spoke to his about his acquaintance with the
 girl and he said she. was morally sn- l perior to the average brass shop girl He denied that these men said To him that he was breaking his wife'S heart because of this girl.
 West denied ever striking his wife.
 He was on the stand all the forenoon. Mrs West was the next witness. Sha testified that in a general way she was i'll used by her husband. She was mora specific than he was regarding his conduct with the girl III question and she also introduced another wom-
 an into the case.
 If sha is given the custody of the
 children she said she would expect to
 work for them and get some help from him.
 Mr Gates. superintendent of the
 Welch Hosiery mill. was the next wit-
 ness. Mrs West is q niece of his wife.
 His testimony was favorable to her.
 He considered West unfit to have
 the children and told of . specific in- stance of complaint on her pari against
 his treatment. On that occasion she
 claimed he put her out of doors on ac- 1 ,f1