The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-12-21
MRS. KING GETS
THE CHILDREN.
Joseph Brown Refused His Boy
and Girl.
CAN VISIT THEM HOWEVER
Testimony Showed That Their Grand
mother Cared Tor Them Properly.
Pathetic Story Told in the
Superior . 9ourt.

lie said he didn't want no d kids,
he led her terrible life" said Mrs.
Sarah +. King in Superior Court this
morning telling the ju gcs of the court
Of the treatment OF Joseph Brown of his
wife, her daughter Elizabeth.
1t was a pathetic story with pathetic
surroundings. In the court room with
| Mrs. Kirg, their grand mother, were the
two children of Joseph Brown, Leon
ard, aged 7, and Sarah, aged 5. A few
feet distant. not more thaE six. sat Jo-
scph Brown, father of these two child
rcn. for the possession of which he lights.
| Several days ago Andrew q. Gray.
representing Brown. secured II writ Of
habeas corpus on Mrs. Sarah +. King.
Whose daughter, now deceased. was
Browns wife, to pro1uc" in court this
morning the children who are in her
possession. Harry Enmons represents
Mrs. King.
| In her answer to the writ Mrs. King
said the children were not deprived Of
| th.ir liberty: and that Brnwn had de-
serted them aid his wife four years ago
and had never contributed to their sup
port since. nor had he taken any inter-
test in them. She also said she is able
10 support the children now and thinks.
it for their best interest TO be with her.
Mrs. King testified to this effect "My
daughters married lifc seemed to bc
very unhappy. Brown deserted her about
| four years ago. and tie children have
he"n with me !nce. Their father never
gave a cent since .hcn toward their sup
port nor has he IN; de an attempt to pro
vide my daughter Il nome.
When that man left her" she contin-
uci. ''hc did not leave her oI.e bit of any
Thing He tried To drive her out Of the
lhcme when she was there. The very day
he went out is what | am telling about.
He wrote out ar agreement that day
which WIS that he would go IL she didn't
and that sne would no; snr him for sup
port of tho children. My daughter didn't
sign it,
"IIe said he didn't want no damn
Kids, he 'ed her n terrible life" answered
Mrs. King in reply to a question as ia
what he said abouf the children.
DO you rcmemher when he came
home and y6n thrcntrncl to nit him III
the head with a skillet" asked Mr.
Gray.
Il don't remember. never lid" was
The reply.
Dr. Henry II. Sprlilncc and the Rev
~. w. Easlcy testified that Mrs. King
had properly cared for the children and
provides then good home
Mrs. Kings son. Harry Hurley. hri
sister, Mrs. Richards. and Mrs. Katie
Jackson all testified that Brown did moi
provide for his wife and children ant
WAS abusive to them.
Brown was called to give his sid" o
tihr story. As he rose from his chni
AMI passed by his children, little Saraf
broke out In childish prattle.
. "Grntlcmcn." said Brown, addrcssln:
1.-The court. .'thc reason we separated j
this. couldn't get little washing dom
| If | wanted it: | had to do II myself"
lie denied statements made on th'
ther side that he would not work an'
hat ae was Il drinking NAN. lie ha'
offered To provide n home for his wifi
! and children away FROM his mothcr-in
, law hut his wife refused the offer. II
admitted that he had never, since IN
separation, contributed 10 the support o
His wife nor directly toward the supnor
II the children hut that Ee had mad
contributions for the children indirectl
: through his relatives. He did not hea
/ Of his wife's death until several day
lftcr She died. which was about wee
Ieo.
Browns mother who lives in Newark
" said she was ready tc take tn" chil'ire
u il he, home and provide for them. He
4on, she s.ei,l, had given her money fo
L th, children and she had handed 1t ove
$ Il those who were in charge OF the Chile
= rrn. Once he gave her fifty cents or
u dollar. She could not remember which.
!, Mrs. King was recalled and said sl'
i" never received n cent from Brown for IN
!, children directly or indirectly. AZ
u nycr knew of was n pair of mittens thf
he gave them last Christmas. ~
i children ms them noS. Show your mi
y ,,rs children. show what your father an
= his relatives have done for YOU. sf
y said. producing the mittens and hold'r
$ ,L.m M. one pair black. the other ligi
= blue.
This evoked laughter from the JudS'
~ rs well MS the snectatcrs
The court rulc,i chat the "hildr'
should remain in custody of Mrs. hin
..Bnt We do any." said Chief Jnsti'
Lore. ''that the father has right to Wis
ar these children at any proper time ~
also their relatives have that right. =,
he has 10 right to take them away.