Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-12-26
By Order Of the Court They
Remain in the Custody Of
Their Grandmother,
Mrs. King.
BUT BROWN MAY CALL ON THEM
Mrs. King Testified That She
Had Cared for the Children,
But That Brown Had
Done Nothing - In
Superior Court
Z Monday.

| Soon after Superior Court opened
Monday mo-ning, Andrew @. Gray in
| formed the court that he was intert steG
| in hAbeas corpus case. lie repre-
/ esnted John Brown, who sought to re.
cover the custody OF his two children,
Leonard. ageu 7, and Sarah, aged /
| years, from their grandmother, Mis-.
Sarah King. Mr.. Gray stated that tie
woman did not appear to be present.
Chief Justice L5re handed MIR. Gray
letter, remarking that perhaps it had
som athing to do with the matter, The
letter was from DIR. Frank Roop Smith,
ami asserted that ii would be dangeto
for Mrs. King, on account of heart
disease to appear in court. The
physician added that she seemed to
know little ABOUT the case.
Sheriff Mcdaniel informed the court
that when Mrs. King was summoned
she sa she would not come to court.
Tue sheriff said she seemed TO be in
good health
The court was thinking of sending
the sheriff after The children when Ii
learned that Mis-. King had counsel in
the person of Harry Emmons, aud not
long after, Mrs. King appeared with
the children, and backed Up by several
witnesses
When the case was opened. it soon
developed that family troubles had
been moving cause.
Mrs. King told the court that her
daughter and Brown we're married 10
or ii years ago, but their married life
was not happy. They separated about
four years ago. Mrs. King said that
one time she was i'll and h,r dauR tier
came to see her, and when IL came
time to go hume the daughter declared
that she would not. unles some uf her
people went with her. just before the
separation Mrs. King sad she went to
the Brown house. Brown was fussing
and disagteeable and provided poor
home. When he left his wife he didn I
leave her one bite of anything. He
tried to drive her out of the home
when che was there said Mrs King.
The witness denied that she had
threatened Brown with a skillet.
DR.. Henry X. Spruance and the Rev.
=. W. Easley, pastor OF Scott M. Il.
Church, esid that Mrs King had
properly cared for the children,
Mrs. Kings son, Harry Hurley, her
sister, Mrs. Richards, and Mrs. Katie
Jacks n, testified that Brown did not
provide for his wife and children and
was abusive to them.
Mrs. King declared that she sup.
ported the children.
The children were in court and are
very bright looking. n Their grand.
mother supplied them with oakes while
they were before the court and they
paid no particular attention to their
father. a.4
Their mother died on December 9th
and was buried last Sunday, and Brown
said he did not know of il until last
Monday. He had been working in
Lancaster, and came here on hearing
OF her death. He said the cause Of
their separation was that he was unable
to get a meal or any washing, unless
he did 1t himself. He admitted to the
court that he had not contributed
directly to the support of the children
since separating from his wife, but
said he had offered TO contribute,
which offer had been refused. II given
their custody, he said his children
would be cared for by his mother and
sister, who live at Newark. lie denied
that he was a drinking OF lazy man.
Mrs. Emma Brown, James Browns
mother, said she was willing to take
the children, Browns sister also said
she vas willing to take them. Mrs.
brown denied that she told Mrs. King
that Brown was not fit to have the
children.
Mrs, King, on being recalled, said
that all she bad ever received from the
brown family for the children was two
pairs of mittens last Christmas.
They have them, now. Show your
mittens, childreu," said Mrs. King,
and the mittens we're duly displayed 4,
the court.
Tho court declined to change the
custody Of the children, Int said the
father had the right to see them.
"Thank the Lord, IS exclaimed Mrs.
King.
The court told Brown that he could
sec the children, but could not have
them. Their relatives may also see
them, and Mrs. King faid she would
treat them right when they came.