The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-02-15
TOO MUCH MOTHER-IN-LAW
CLAUDE woLvERToN's DoMEs-
TIC TROUBLES AIRED IN
POLICE COURT.
His Wife-Bound Over to Keep
the Peace.

Claude Wolverton, a stone mason in
the employ of George H. Smell, was ar
raigned in Judge Huffman's court yes
terday afternoon on a charge of
threatening to kill his wife. After a
story scene in which Mrs. Wolverton
and her mother, Mrs. Dora Evans, ar
rayed themselves against the husband
and in which the family troubles of
the Wolvertons were laid bare VOL
verton was bound over, to keep the
peace for six months in bonds of 5000.
Charges of broken promises, threats
to kill his wife and babes, and numer-
Gus other short comings were hurled
at WolvertOn by the irate women.
by stating that it was simply case
of too much mother in law
The trouble which led up to VOL
verton's arrest on a charge of threat
ening his wife occurred Monday af-
ternoon. After family quarrel last
week Mrs. Wolverton packed up her
belongings and taking her children
moved out to her mothers farm east
Of Walla Walla. Monday, with her
mother and the hired man, Mrs. VOL
verton came to town for the purpose
of taking away her furniture. VOL
sisted on an interview with his wife
and mother in law. He was SO in
sistent, Mrs. Evans said in her testi-
mony, that she became suspicious and
asked him if he did not have a gun.
Yes. mother answer Wolverton,
but l would not hurt you or Ollie
for the world" Mrs. Evans said that
after admitting that he had revolver
Wolverton passed it over to the hired
man and then asked that she and his
wife enter the house to talk things
over She was afraid that he meant
them harm and they would not go.
Hatchet Under His Pillow.
Mrs Wolverton, rather a pretty
ner husband had threatened her life.
When living at No. Oak street VOL
verton, she said, had slept with a lath
Ratchet under his pillow for more than
week. She was SO afraid of him
that she had a girl come and stay
with her.
A week ago he told her that if she
did not get out that he would kick
her out of the house. After this quar-
rel she said that she had visited AT
torney Marvin Evans and he advised
her to leave Wolverton and go to her
mothers place. She did this on mis-
advice.
Too Much Mother-in-law.
WMverton denied that he had
threatened his wife and stated that
his troubles came from too much
motherin law. He recounted do
mestic troubles back in Indiana be-
fore they had moved to Walla Walla.
They began when Mrs Evans had
secretly sent ner daughter $35 with
which to pay her way out west. His
mother in law, he said, had tried sew
eral times to get her daughter to leave
him and had exerted a bad influence
over her for several years.
Mrs. Evans took umbrage at this
testimony and pointed out several de-
fects in the conduct of her sonin law.
She darkly limited at What could be
expected in the way of testimony at
the coming trial, referring to the suit
for divorce which Mrs. Wolverton has
already filed against her husband.
Ancient History.
At this point charges and counter
charges were hurled back and forth by
Mrs. Evans and Wolverton. Mrs.
Evans claimed that she had sent VOL
verton SIS with which to pay his fare
to Walla Walla. Wolverton retaliated
by telling of a family arrangement
back in Indiana whereby ne had paid
his mother-in law $40 month for the
board of himself and wife.
Yes and 1920 wouldn't square you
with me either" Mrs. Evans snapped.
At the conclusion of the testimony
Judge Huffman placed Wolverton I'M
der bonds of 5000 to keep the peace
for period of six months. He was
warned not to modest his wife or any
member of the family Wolverton Sc
cured as bondSmen George H. Smell
and William Rourke.