The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-09
THE WHITE MANS BURDEN.
Husband Discharged in Police Court
After Promising to Support Wife.

The usual case of a wife having her
husband arrested for vagrancy. be-
cause she charged him with non-sup-
port, coupled with pathetic phases
which would wiring any mans heart
as Judge Hamilton put it. occupied
the attention of the police court for
over two hours Saturday 1t resulted
in dismissal and a lecture.
The complainant and defendant in
the case, respectively, were Mrs. Jessie
Rigdon and Mr.. Charles Rigdon, of
716 Topeka avenue.
The plaintiff is a little woman plain
~ a sufferer from inhrmities which
/ stamp her as an invalid. For two
years she has been9 entirely deaf. re-
tanning however, full spea king powers.
Last August she was run down by a
street car in this city, and for several
days lay at the point of death at the
hospital. Her deafness is attributed TO
nervous prostration and paralysis.
Her husband has been a clerk in
various railroad offices. principally
however with the Santa Fe in Topeka.
He himself admitted upon the stand
| that he is IAN occasional or periodical
drunkard.'
1t would be very difficult to really
analyze the charge. Mrs Rigdon ac-
cUsed him of not giving her enough
money to buy clothes and medicines
such as she needed. On the contrary
her husband introduced evidence that
he arranged for her to get whatever
he could afford, that he had arranged
for her to draw his salary, and in
other ways lived uD to his obligations.
He admitted that his taste for strong
drink did make trouble between them.
The difficulties extend over several
months. RigdOn was promoted to a
better salaried job in Cripple Greek. At
first his wife said she would go and
then refused. He went. When she was
injured he came back to see her, but
returned again upon her promise to
come when she was well. Then he says,
she refused again to come. Then he
gave up his job and came here. He
has been out of work for several weeks.
The other day the two had a heated
discussion and he wrote her a note to
this effect: You may make arrange
ments with any lawyer you want You
need not expect anything in the future
from me" With that he picked up a
few of his possessions and went to his
parents home in this city.
That evening Mrs. Rigdon went 10
Police Judge Hamilton, and after she
told him her story. he issued a war
rant for RigdOn's arrest for nOn-sup-
port. At that time Judge Hamilton
says that Mrs. Rigdon threatened TO
commit suicide unless something was
done.
Judge Hamilton heard but two wit
nesses and then said he was ready to
dispose of the case.
1t is a peculiar action all around" said
the court. This woman is undoubtedly
nervous and perhaps at times petulent.
injury. The two together make a hard
afflictiOn. It is in the province of man TO
bear Things He ought to be willing al
ways to bear the heavier part of the load
and especially so when his wife IS sick.
as this woman plainly is. L viii ask the
defendant that he do everything for her
he can. will say further to him that u
is not an excuse for him to get drunk just
because his wife gets angry That Is silly
and without an apology. I will further
say to the defendant that his drinking has
without question added to the unhappi-
ness Of both. That will never do for
man. A drinker loses his own self-re-
spect and that of others. He loses place
in society. He loses happiness outside,
and in his home.
Answer me one question" said the
judge. win you provide for herr Do
you mean what the note safd2 Did you
Indicate there that you will do nothing for
her in the future2"
No don't mean that" answered Rig
don. Il viii do the very best I can to
make her happy. / believe we can live to-
gether pleasantly"
Then said the court, you are dis
charged Make the best of things that
YOU can. Make your wife happy II YOU
can by doing what Is right Shoulder the
larger share of the burden yourself