The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-03
SHE BLAMES THE POLICE.
pathetic, but Interesting story of
DexertiOn Told by Woman.

DPsGFItOn ny " Omah.
Mrs. Mary Masseaas.a niddle-aged Ger
nan woman, is at the Thomas House, at
17rougnton and Drayton streets, with two
,oine children and without funds. She
ans a pathetic but interesting story, and
x+ 10 her husband, who is Spaniard,
che blames the police for her condition.
et4 declares that her husband squandered
+bs greater portion of $500 in bar rooms
and gambling rooms in Savannah, and
,bs+ every cent of the money belonged
=. her. According to her story after he
tsd assaulted and kicked her, Masseaas
ras arrested by the police, and at that
lime had $3O1.
The Spaniard was arrested Saturday
,,,bt. and was released a short while
tafer by superintendent Reilly. Monday
Mrs Masseaas had a warrant sworn out
CHARGING him with wife beating but he
r5j already left the city. The woman
ssvs that she suspected that her husband
would do this and she warned the police.
Mrs. Masseaas charges that when. ner
husband was taken along with her by
directive before the superintendent the
prisoner was permitted to call her
Cd liar" She further alleges that
when she made an effort to prove her
contention the police told her to shut up
on penalty of being locked up, and this
tbreat prevented her from expressing
herself freely. Supt. Reilley de-
MES the womans charges so far
AS the police are concerned.
He says that no profane word was used
in his presence, but that the man and
hav
language was used he warned both Of
them that if they got into any trouble
they would be locked up. The superin-
tenGent said that he had investigated the
case and finding that the money was the
properly of the man had released him.
Mrs Masseaas says that she has been
married fourteen years and that she has
lived most of her life in Indiana She has
a boy of 10 and a girl of u years with
her She is a candymaker, but has been
unsuccessful in her search for employ
ment since her husbands departure. The
Noman's story briefly told follows:
II had a livery stable in CHATTANOOGA
in my own name and sold it out for 5000
cash. With that amount, which / asked
my husband to keep for me, we left with
the children for Savannah and arrived
here TWO weeks ago. 1t was my inten-
ton TO open a confectionery store and ice
cream garden. The first night we were
in the city we stopped at the Planters
Hotel and afterwards engaged rooms at
Broughton and Montgomery streets MY
husband began drinking and gambling,
aad our money got lower and lower He
Was also spending it on some woman
that he met, and l knew that very soon
it would be all gone.
Il saw him gambling in a Greek place
aud tod a policeman that he was gam
bling and was using my money l asked
the officer to arrest him, but he only
laughed at me. Last week my husband
came home drunk and struck me and
kicked me. l begged him to give me
enough of my money to take the two chill
dren and myself back to my people in
Indiana. He refused. l then asked for
enough to reach Chattanooga and again
he refused.
Friday night l went to the police and
reported the matter to the superintendent
he told me not to worry but to go home
and my husband would be arrested |
went back twice on Saturday, but they
had not arrested him. Saturday night a
detective brought him before me. Up to
that time the officer said that l would
not have any trouble in getting my
money but he seemed to have changed
bis mind. The detective had a receipt
tS4ioh tAS WHeIe my nuSDallQr mad spent Sl60
Tor furniture for the woman whom he had
met.
The police would give me no satisfac-
ton and l was threatened with arrest
II did not stop talking. / implored the
superintendent to either hold my hus-
hand or the money until Monday when
could prove to him the truth of my as
SeIuons. He said that he would turn the
money over to my husband, and told him
10 go with me and have no more trouble
begged the police not to do that and
warned them that my husband would
SKIP l was told to shut my mouth or l
would be arrestes.
All of the magistrates offices were
Closed then and had to wait until Mon
uay morning before 1 could get warrant
explained the case to Magistrate Naugh-
un' and a warrant for wife beating was
issued AS / expected the officer who at
tempted to serve the warrant learned that
my husband had left the city Sunday
morning. for Florida. Next to my hus-
udhd blame the police for the fix l am
H. II they had done their duty l would
nave had some of my money now. I shall
llon4nue to try and get work. My hus-
oahd was Mason