Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-08
WIFE AND BABES DESERTED
Young Woman in Destitute circumstances
isLeft by stage-sick Husband.
WORKS OUT WITH INFANT IN ARMS
Authorities who Find Her with Last
Quarter Struggling with
PERJURY File Complaint
AGAINST Man.

An unusually pathetic case OF restitution
and alleged wife abandonment came to the
attention Of Deputy County Attorney Shot
well I'm the police court Saturday morning,
when Mr.. Shotwell filed with the police
Judge complaint against william J.
Woolever of 1882 North Nineteenth street,
charging the man with having wifully
deserted his wife, 5-months-old baby boy
and 2-year-old daughter. This offense now
carries q penitentiary sentence. A war
rant for the mans arrest was given to
Court Sergeant whelan Saturday morn
ing, but as yet the authorities have been
unable to locate woolever A diligent
search is to be made for him. as it was
reported the case was most distressing
one.
Woolever is 30 years Of age. A fascina-
ton for stage 1fe is said to have caused
his downfall and the present plight Of his
sick wife. nursing infant and little daugh-
ter.
Mrs woolever said her husband left
Omaha two weeks ago last Monday to Join
a cheap stock theatrical company organ
tied In Omaha under the name of the Ma
tional Stock company. The organization
went to pieces in eastern Iowa after hav-
ing been out ten days woolever and his
companions were stranded. Woolever
came home to his wife and family last
Sunday morning, but finding his wife in
no pleasant frame of mind Immediately
left in a tantrum and did not return, the
wife stated.
Woman Does House Work.
81 have but Is cents left for the support
of myself and two helpless infants. ! am
in poor health myself, but have been doing
day work when I could" said the wife
Saturday morning she picked up her
nursing babe and went forth to earn a
little money at general house work. The
little girl is being cared for by sympathetic
friends in Omaha.
Mrs. Woolever's rent at her present adj
dress was due last Thursday and the land
lord said Saturday morning he would be
as lenient as possible with the unfortunate
woman, but he feels he must have his
rent. The woman has been bereft of all
her personal effects. She said her hus-
band pawned a lot of their household
goods and her only set of knives and forks
for $3.50 just before he left. nearly three
weeks ago. Since that time she has been
trying to get $3.50 together to redeem the
goods, but has been unable to succeed. A
landlord at Seventeenth and Grace streets
is now holding some OF the Woolever
effects for rent.
Married Three Years Ago.
The woolevers were married three years
ago at Long Pine. Neb and came to
Omaha about eighteen months ago. The
husband is said to have worked at odd
Jobs during most of his residence here. but
neglected his family when he became i'm
bued with the idea he was cut out for a
stage career. Mrs. Woolever is now rs
years of age.
The mother says she loves her two little
children ''as dearly as life itself and will
cling to them to the bitter end" although
the way looks dark Just now. There was
a deep touch Of pathos when the woman
showed Attorney Shotwen Saturday morn
ing the last % cents she had, but there
was little rainbow OF hope for her when
she spoke OF her infant offspring.