Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-01
THE nAHER HEARING
Judse EthsridGs Began Case In Dis.
 trict Court To.day.

l SIbCS NOOtt IOs0oys
 Before Judge Etheridge of Thomas
 ton in the district. court room to-day.
 at S:S0 o'clock, began the hearing on
 Mrs John E. Mahers petition for the
 appointment of a conservator over her
 husband. The Mahers live at SO9 East Main street and for years have been | identified with the eastern part of the city. Attorney Carmody appeared for l the petitioner and Attorney Bryne ! represented Maher. From the trend of the hearing it was evident that not
 only was Mrs Maher opposed to her husband in this matter, but their chil-
 dren sided with her. Theirs is evil dently a house divided against itself. Mrs Maher testified in general way
 that for some time past her husband
 has been very incorporate and she feared he would squander his proper. ty from which they derive a rental of about $50 month. Some time ago
 Maher gave up work in the Rogers X
 Bros factory, and that, it would seem.
 was one of the main features of this
 family difference. Mrs Maher did not
 want her husband to give up work.
 and his statement on that point was
 that she said he would have to work
 to support the kids. He feared his
 health was undermined and upon the
 advice of Dr Hayes he left off work.
 The doctor told him, Maher said, that
 ne would not live two months if he
 kept at work in the shop. Maher In.
 sisted it was not because he was
 going on a spree that he quit the shop.
 From January to June of this year
 there were some weeks when he did
 not give his wife as much money as
 on others, but there were weeks when
 he gave her ST.
 When he quit work his wife had
 S6OO which she thought of investing iR real estate on Round hill At that
 time, he said, she told him he was too old for her and it was time for him
 ito get out and go and live with those combination tickets" by which she
 meant his sister and brother. Mrs
 Maher wanted him to raise $1 200 and make her boss of the property. She was to open store and he was to work in the woods. Another time he said she wanted him to deed the prop erty over to her, but he refused. Since their children have grown up there has not been an hours peace for him in the house. The girls are especially op- posed to him, and Mrs AIaher main. tains them in that attitude. On one occasion he reprimanded one of the girls for going to what he called
 these cheap dances and she told him he was no good.
 He denied his daughter Minnie's statement that he threatened her life. or pulled her hair The children, he said, watch him from morning to night.
 He was asked if he got his meals regularly and with a solemn shake of his head he said:
 "Oh, get nothing" Sometimes he had to cook his own meals and other times he gets them at his sisters and brothers. He said he asked his wife one day to prepare food for him and she told him he was too drunk to eat anything, and was drunken bum. It was not true. he said, that he has been drinking, yet he thought 1t ad- visabie to take pledge a few days ago. He said it would not do for him 10 drink. because he has got 10 keep his eyes open. It was not true. he said. that he had to be taken home re- peatedly, being too drunk to walk alone. He was never carried home in his life. he said, and he was not 'toney' enough to use a hack.
 on July 11 he raised $20O on his property for the purpose of buying 'lothes. because his wife would not yiven him any money and also to pay ,f some bills and do some work on he property. His wife would not yiye him any money for anything, not even a penny for pipe. He had Q borrow from his brother Charles though to buy gallon of paint. One lay he asked her for one of the bank ,ooks as he wished to draw some money from the bank with which to ,ay off some bills, and she not only efused him but afterwards hid the 'ooks. It was soon after that he bor- owed the S2O0. Out of that sum he aid about so for clothing. SIS went or a three days sojourn at the shore. e paid a few bills and car fare cost i'm a little.
 And how much have you left?" sked Attorney Byrne.
 There's all that's left" was Ma CTS reply. standing up in the witness OK and throwing down a number of ills and a cheek. The latter was en- orsed and was for s100 and the bills to SJs. thus showing that ut of the S2O0 loan he had S15S left. ttorney Carmody then took Maher l hands. He denied positively that e got the bills from his brother or ttorney Byrne before coming to )urt.
 After working thirty years in lop. as he had worked. he thought mself entitled to a little vacation, oreover as his health was poor and Is physician recommended a rest. he reason he did not stay at the lore longer was because he vas raid Attorney Carmody would have
 conservator appointed over him in s absence. Drink. he said. had ,thing to do with his domestic oubles. because when he was ten onths absolutely abstinent. there as just as much trouble in the house now. T can stop drinking when se." said he.
 Formerly he gave all his money to s wife and he admitted that she ok good care of if and he considered r competent to do so and manage 2 house. but he does not .hink % W. ani has not thought 90 since 2 chiliren have grown up. Thomas Moran. superfnsendeut If