The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-02
DESJARDINS STAYS
WITH THE WIFE WHO
HAS CARED FOR HIM
Chooses Poverty With Faithful
He.pmeet to Wealth With En-
forced Separation = Court
Sustains Choice.

| "It may be only for a week or two.
possibly a year. What's the use?"
This was the reply of Joseph Des-
| jardins, eighty-four years old and
| helpless, when asked if he desired to
exchange his miserable little home in
| the attic of a house at 644 Park ave-
| nue., for home with a wealthy daugh-
ter in Chicago, where he might end his
days in peace and comfort. For three
years this old man has been unable to
leave the cot provided for him in the
dirty, unkempt little room which he
occupies, but when it was for him to
decide between such surroundings and
the company of his wife, or home
with his wealthy daughter without his
wife. he decided that he would be sat
isfied to finish his days as he has lived
for three years past
Believing that the old man spoke
truly, Probate Judge BaZille yesterday
|. denied the application for a guardian
ship for him, made by his two daugh-
tiers, one from Chicago and the other
from England, who sought the guar
dianship that they might remove him
to the home of the Chicago daughter
regardless of the protests of his wife,
who Is stepmother of the daughters,
and whose marriage to their father
caused an estrangement in the family
| thirty years ago.
When the daughters learned that
the application had been denied and
their efforts had been for naught they
| left for Chicago in anger and tears,
! declaring they would not rest until
| they had succeeded in getting their ia
Their away from his present miserable
surroundings.
Woman Is Titled.
The story of poor old man Desjardins
of npfr, I,
tiers to secure possession of him, after
an estrangement lasting thirty years,
is one shrouded in mystery.
1t was learned yesterday that the
daughter from England, who gave her
| name as Mrs. Deynse Porter is the
wife of wealthy titled Londoner and
that her social standing in the worlds
metropolis was one to be envied 1t
was admitted by Mr.. Price, her broth
er-in-law, who was here with his wife,
that Porter was not the true name of
his slster-ln-law, but one she had as
sumed for the reason that she feared
the publicity Of her visit here and the
| miserable condition in which she found
her aged and helpless father might
reach London and lead to gossip which
would cause her embarrassment when
she returned home. She appeared
especially anxious to have her father
removed to the home of her sister, but
would not consent to his being accom-
| panied by his wife. She was willing
however, to provide literally for her
stepmother if the latter would remain
| in St Paul and consent to being sepa-
rated from her husband.
Both of the sisters remained in the
| probate court room all of yesterday
afternoon waiting for the decision of
| the court which was to determine
whether or not they would be per-
mltted to take charge of their father
and when their attorney informed
them that the judge had denied the ap-
plicatIon, giving as one of his reasons
that he could not appoint a guardian
because the old man possessed no prop
erty, the London daughter became en-
ragged. Turning to the attorney. her
| face flushed with anger, she said
Daughters Enraged.
why didn't you tell me this before?
Had known it I would have depos-
tied any amount of money in a. bank
| to his credit. It's shame and an
| outrage that this should turn out this
way"
While she continued to give vent to
| her feelings, Mrs. Price, her sister.
walked the floor of the court room.
trying hard to suppress the tears
which forced themselves from her
Slldppy DldCK eyes.
Finding that it was useless to wait
about the court room any longer, the
party left at $50. going to bid their
| father farewell before leaving for Chi
cago on the o'clock train.
AS told by T h e GLOBE yesterday,
Mr.. Desjardins. who is eighty-four
years old. has been i'll and unable to
leave his cot III three years He and
| his wife have been cared for by chart
l lnnInn6 I,1k
| round1ngs have been beyond descrip-
ton. misery and poverty being in evil
| dence on all sides. Thirty years ago
| he was married to his present wife.
and this resulted in an estrangement
between him and the children by a
former wife, He and his children
drifted apart and finally lost all track
OF each other. Recently Mrs. Price
| learned Of her fathers condition. and
| accompanied by Mrs. Porter, who was
visiting In the United States. thew
came to st. Paul to induce the father
to return with them to Chicago and
make his home with his daughter
there.
Stepmother Objected.
Mrs. Desjardins objected to any in
| reference by her stepdaughters, and
| the women invoked the aid of the law.
| applying to the probate court to have
| guardian appointed.
| Judge Bazille thoroughly investf-
gated the matter. and while realizing
the pitiable condition of the old man.
| decided that he had no Jurisdiction in
| the matter and the application was de-
| MED.
| Walters Union instaIIs Officers.
At their regular meeting last night the
members of the Walters unino Installed
| the officers elected at their last meeting.
| and voted on the amendment recentiw