Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-21
IOWA HAS NO Law to
PUNISH WIFE DESERTERS

! & ', y j
fort to keep warm, hungry and without
a bite in the house to eat Shevelka
had had good warm breakfast and
two or three drinks to warm him up
and had started to his work on the
Milwaukee warmly and comfortably
clothed.
On this very morning only the fortu-
nate discovery, the furnishing of coal
and good warm breakfast prepared
by Mrs. Redburn, the nearest neighbor
stood between his deserted family and
freezing and starvation.
Can Not Punish Him.
And yet Iowa has no law by which
this man can be punished. II cat.
dog, horse, calf, COW or a pig had been
abandoned. the strong arm of the law
would without delay sweep down upon
him and put him in prison. This man
has deserted q sick wife In the most
bitterly cold winter weather, taking
her few hard earned dollars, leaving
her and her three children with death
from cold and starvation staring them
in the face. yet there is no law By
which he can be punished.
Should Shevelka continue to desert
his wife for two years the desertion.
would constitute grounds for petit
ton for divorce, but that Is no relief
for the present conditions. Shevelka ID
being held in the police station and an
effort Is to be made to find some means
Of furnishing him for his inhuman ac-
tions and to compel him to aid In the
support Of his sick wife.
ls Well Supplied.
Never has the big-heartedness Of OF
tumwa citizens been more amply
shown than in this unfortunate case.
A visit to- Mrs. Shevelka this morn.
ing found her in good spirits and full
of hope and confidence that she will
now be able to tide over the present
difficulties with her little family.
Throughout the day yesterday, peo-
pie from all parts of the city came
bringing words of comfort and good
cheer, and what Is more to the point,
food and articles Of clothing. Today.
Mrs. Shevelka is we'll supplied with
clothing for the children and there isj
plenty of food for immediate needs.
Thoughtful persons have also pro
vided her with medicine for herself
and little Hilda.
AS the representative from the Cou-
rier approached the home this morn
ing man from Riverview came across
lots from Court street searching for
the little yellow three room cottage
about which he had read. He had
big sack swung across his shoulders.
The two men entered and found Mrs.
Shevelka busy folding up and care
| fully putting away some articles Of
clothing received but little while be-
fore.
Inside the big sack when It was
opened was found good warm cloak
for Hilda, a set of white furs and a
white Tam O'Shanter. They were per-
fectTin fit and the little girl presented
a handsome appearance in them. They
were the gifts from a little girl, the
daughter of the man, to little Hilda.
Knew He Ought to be Arrested.
"No, did not have a warrant.
knew he ought to be arrested for doing
trick like that, SO just pulled him
said Officer Axel Nelson who recog-
nized Sheyelka on the street last night
and arrested him. THAT man deserves
a good thrashing and I'd like to be
delegated to give 1t to him."
At the station Shevelka got little
sympathy. He's q dirty cur" said
Chief Gray, "and we ought to have a
| whipping post for just such fellows.
wish his punishment was left In my
hands. He'd not do a trick OF this
kind again."
| Bread. and Coffee for Breakfast.
Sheyelka when questioned by Police
Judge Moon declared that he had left
home because his wife could only give
him a piece of bread and cup OF cof-
fee for breakfast. He had long tale
/, of woe, that in the telling only con-
victed himself upon his own testimony,
of all the neglect charged against him
i by the sick wife.
/ The $2.23 found on his person was
on the order OF Mayor Picker taken
to the wife this morning and was q
1 most welcome contribution.
Washington Maids Defeat Fairfield.
Fairfield. Feb. 10. The baseball
team Of girls from the Washington
4 academy scored decided victory over