The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-23
POLITICS
IN DIVORCE
ACTION.
Interesting TssIlmany Given in
tho Case Of Peabody VS.. Pea
body Of Westerly.

Judge Douglas in the appellate division
of the supreme court today heard the pc
lition OF Mrs. Nellie j. Peabody for the
custody OF her three children and an al
lowsnce for their support and her own.
Mrs. Peabody is seeking divorce from
her husband Frank =. Peabody, who az
present conducts a tavern In Warwick.
The home of both parties for long time
was Westerly
The hearing MAS a hong one and counsel
i'm the case brought In not only the char
acter of the petitioner, but testimony in
regard to morals in Westerly generally.
MIR. crafts. who announced some months
ago that he Mas the leader of a moral
crusade in Westerly. was counsel for
Mrs Peabody. Samuel w. *. Allen was
counsel Tor Mr.. Peabody and he had lots
OF police testimony To show that Mrs.
Peabody kept not very good company.
IL soon became evident that politics hg
ured i'm the case.
Mrs Peabody said her husband had not
for ID months, contributed 10 her support
or that vi their three children. She
claimed that her father had supported her
and the children until he died Her mother,
she said. was a ht person 10 take care OF
the children Mr. Peabody, according To
his wife. has $1,000 worth of personal prop
erty and an income of sl200 year.
In answer to questions by her counsel
Mrs Peabody said her husband swore at
a trial In Kingston that his place ia War
wick was not a suitable place for the
children and that he would. II ne could,
place the children in charge of Mr..
and Mrs White.
NO AFFECTION FOR CHILDREN.
Mrs Peabody told the court her hu,-
band had no affection for her children
lie never furnished them with clothes
and that the children were kept from
starvation ny the efforts OF their grand
father who dropped dead
There was an attempt by counsel to dis
pose of the case without further hear
ing by agreeing on a place where the
children might be placed. Mr.. Crafts
wanted the children TO 20 to Mrs. Pea
body's mothers home.
Mr.. Allen said that Mr.. White with
whose wife Mr.. Peabody wanted to place
| his children was the manager OF Senator
| Aldrich's Warwick place. The home or
MIR. PeabodN's father, Noah Peabody a
brother OF Hon. Thomas H. Peabody OF
| Westerly was also suggested an suit
able place for the children ny Mr.. AL
| len.
| Counsel could not agree among them
/ selves oil suitable place and the court
! suggested an adjournment OF a week. the
| father To pay 81 a week for his children's
| support. This was not satisfactory so
| Judge Douglas decided TO hear all the
| testimony.
| Mrs Peabody then told few more i'm
cidents OF matrimonial hardships and Mr..
| Crafts rested his case.
| AN INTERESTING WITNESS.
| Mr. Allen called as his FIRST witness
| Chief OF Police Branchheld OF Westerly.
| The chief proved an interesting witness.
\ lie testified Mrs. Peabody was not
| suitable person to have the custody of
| the children, as he had seen her on the
street carousing. lie was called on to
| give particulars
ON one occasion he said Mrs. Peabody
was on the street very early sunday
| morning with a man. She had gone away
in team with another woman and
stayed a couple OF days.
The chief said he had seen Mrs. Pea
body going along the streets having the
Once She told him he might know a good
deal but he could prove nothing against
her.
To Mr. Crafts witness admitted he went
with Deputy sheriff Lynch to demand the
children and Mrs. Burdick, their grand
motheE- said she would work her knees
| OF before Mr.. Peabody should have
them. Witness thought Mrs. Burdck a
woman who kept a good home
HEARD OF POKER ROOM.
Mr. Crafts Did YOU not know that Mr..
| Peabody ran a poker room on the main
street in Westerly for eight years?
| CHIEF Branchned-No, but heard OF
MIR Crafts-Dd I not tell YOU about the
sale OF illegal liquor by tenant of mine
| chief Branchheld ! told YOU. and
then Nou said: Well prosecute the man.
! The chief said he did not knew that
/ when Mrs Peabody was on the street she
was looking for her husband In answer
the chief said he visited the place IL was
charged Peabody run the poker Joint ana
he found regularly orgsnized clui
again MIR Crafts asked very pointed
questions Ills chief one was: "Didn't
MIR Peabody pay YOU for the Information
. YOU gave him about his wife?"
CHIEF Brauchheld-lle offered 60 pay
me / declined. aud then he bought =
. | eases cigars and distributed them. Nr
Peabody was never seen drunk by thi'
witness nor even taking to- woman.
Former chief of police West ot th'
| same town did not give Mrs. Peabody
, good character neither did two other po
, licemeu nf Westerly They said ther'
was nothing against Mr.. Peah"dN save
! that he ran rum shop
MR.. PEABODYs TESTIMONY
MIR Peabody testified he would tsk'
| care % his children well " they wer'
! warm words between Mr. crafts and thi
I witness. lie accused Mr. tratts or per
sonal spite,
Mrs Peabody denied every charge mad
hN me poiice and said her husband ha'
' boa sted to heT of brihing some OF them
Judge Douglas de, idtd there Was n
preponderance ~ evidence that Mrs Pea
body was of 4 character 90 he enutitd U
the children. So ne gave the custody .
them go the father The Childgen WI
he placed with Mr. Pesbodys father
Mrs Peabody was allowed ~ = week To
her support aud ssh for counsel fees.
REQUEST DENIED