The Washington times., 1906-12-20
T. WiSter Brown, Veal
thy Man, Has ECcen-
trio Ideas.
HINTS ON CHILD-REARING
Learn Bible, Stand in Cold,
Walk Barefoot in
Snow.

Phil IADELPHIA Dec. 20.-T. Wister
Brown scion of a noted family. veal
thy, and a popular Wit. IS the crueicst
father on record. and one of the most
eccentric parents in the world.
Things that Brown says he did To
make his children hardy are interpreted
as cruelty by the authorities. and the
Gloucester county ~. j.. grand jury,
on charges preferred by the New Jersey
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty TO
Children. calls il cruelty, and returned
eight indictments against Brown, charg
ing assault and battery. and cruel and
inhuman treatment of his children.
Wife Is in Hiding.
Browns trial is set for January. and
meanwhile. his wife. who was a Miss
Coldstream, of London, a member Of the
family for which the famous Coldstream
Guards were named. and the children,
have left him and are in Germantown
with Mr.. Browns relatives. their exact
whereabouts being kept secret.
Brown is a son OF the late Moses
Brown of this city, and brother OF
Moses Brown. Of School Lane, German
town. Closely connected with the old
Germantown Wisters, his mother hav-
ing been a member of that numerous
family. Brown is at the same time high
ly educated. extremely intelligent,
brilliant conyersatonalist. possessing a
keen sense of humor. but. some think,
eccentric.
The Little Victims.
The little ones named as victims of the
mans peculiar notions about rearing
children are. Marjorie. 10 years old;
Moses, "A; Francis, p; While, II; Roda,
3. and Lydia. ..
The action against Brown alleged TO
be the result of complaints by Phila-
delphia relatives, was a surprise TO the
man. Unknown to either Brown or his
wife, the action was prepared by Lewis
Starr, prosecutor of Gloucester county,
and on Monday. December l0 sUbpOe-
macs were served upon Mrs. Brown. and
the four older children To appear the
following day at Cape May courthouse,
and testify regarding his treatment of
the children before the grand jury.
Curious To know what was the mean
ing of this action, Brown accompanied
them TO the hearing. and uulpJentlOnally
carried out the enemy plans 10 peTIec-
tiOn. The case was NOT called until late
in the afternoon. and then the evidence
appeared 10 be SO overN helming that the
grand jury returned Presentmonts at
once.
Two Days in a Jail.
Brown being present, Judge Hndreth
read the indictments, TO which ne plead
ed not guilty, and held him under 500
bail on each. Though Brown could have
given his check for many times this
amount il appears that freehold bail
was demanded. and this not being avail
able. he was placed In Jail, where he re-
mained until Thursday following. Joseph
J. SCull, cf ocean city. then going bail
Mrs. Brown and the children had re-
turned TO Ocean city, packed up mum
Der of personal belongings, ana left. so
that when Mr.. Brown returned he was
greeted by none but the cook. And thus
far he does not know whore the re-
mainder OF his household is
1t was testified that Brown, with the
intention of making his children hardy,
had compelled the older ones TO go
bathing IN the ocean In Jhe coldest
along the beach, that he had compelled
them 10 remain Out-Of-dOOTs Tor several
hours every day, no matter what the
weather might be, and that frequently
they became So cold that the little ones
cried dismally.
Believing that they should be close
students of the Bible, il was testified
that he made the older ones commit TO
memory whole chapters, and that IN the
event of their failure to promptly
answer questions pertaining to il they
would be severely punished.
Making Children Hardy.
Not because he .grudged the expense,
but in order that they might become
hardy and Injured TO cold further testi-
mony ELECTED the fact that during the
coolest weather of last winter. and of
previous winters there was only enough
heat maintained in the house 10 prevent
the water pipes from freezing.
For nearly an hour one witness after
another testified 10 the manner in which
he had treated the children, and when
the Rev Harvey T. Casselberry, pastor
of the Ocean City Presbyterian Church,
Of which the Browns were members,
took the stand and COrrOborated the sa-
lent points, the Jury acted promptly
Before being admitted to bail il ap-
pears that a promise was eXacted from
Brown that he would make no effort to
find his wife and children, nor compel
them 10 return 10 him until this case
was settled.
Yesterday a reporter went to Ocean
City and interviewed Brown. His cot
tage is located at the corner of Second
and Wesley streets, near the ocean. and
when the bell rang Brown hurried 10
the door, his face lighting eagerly in
expectation and hope of hearing some
thlng IFom his family.
He was strangely attired for one in
his position in life A pair OF heavy
Woolen stocking, slippers dt is declared
by residents that he never wears shoes
IN ocean CITY, even in midWinter),
rough trousers, a heavy blue flannel
shirt gu1ltless OF collar and a pea
jacket formed what is said TO be his al
most invariable costume. There was no
fire, excepting in the kitchen
Explains His Views.
His manner was cordial and hospft-
able, and. leading the way TO a little
study, he drew his chair slightly away
from a table upon which lay an omen
Bible. Asked point-blank concerning,
the affair, he replied with no hesitanev
and his manner throughout the whole
conversation was frank
These indictments are eXtravaeant Mt
and outrageous" said he. "They saw
/ am malicious and cruel Just think
OF ito my own children-and | love
every one of them dearly, It is true