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

PHILADELPHIA. Dee 2O.-T. Wister
Brown. scion of noted family. veal
thy, and a popular wit is the cTueicst
father on record. and one of the most
eccentric parents in the world.
Things that Brown says he did 10
make his children hard are interpreted
as cruelty by the auth tiles, and the
Gloucester county ~. J. grand jury
on charges preferred by the New Jersey /
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty 10
Children. calls it 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, 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 hay
ing been a member of that numerous
family, Brown is at the same time high
~ educated, extremely intelligent a
brilliant cOnVersatiOnalist. 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, IA; Francis, u; Willie, II; Roda,
g. and Lydia. >.
The action against Brown alleged to
be the result Of complaints by Phila-
delphia relatives, was a surprise 10 the
man. Unknown 10 either Brown or his
wife. the action was prepared by Lewis
Starr. prosecutor of Gloucester county.
and on Monday, December 10, subpoe-
macs were served upon Mrs, Brown, and
the four older children 10 appear the
following day at Cape May courthouse.
and testify regarding mis- 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 uniptentiOnally
carried out the enemy plans 10 perlec-
tiOn. The case was not called until late
In the afternoon, and then the evidence
appeared TO te SO OveTW helming that the
grand jury returned pTesenJmonts at
once.
Two Days in a Jail.
Brown being present. Judge Hndreth
read the indictments. 10 which ne plead
ell 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
/. Scull, OF Ocean city then going bail
for him.
Mrs Brown and the children had re-
turned to Ocean city, packed up num-
her OF personaI BELONGINGS and left so
that when Mr., Brown returned he was
greeted by none but the cook. And thus
lar he does not know where the re-
maindeT of his household Is.
II was testified that Brown, with the
intention OF making his children hardy,
had compelled the older ones TO go
bathing in the ocean in the coolest
weather. and afterward To walk and run
along the beach, that he had compelled
tnrm To remain OuJ-Of-dOOrs FOR several
hours every day, no matter what the
weather might be, and that frequently
they became so cold that the little ones
cried diSmallV.
Believing that they should be close
students of the Bible, it was testified
that he made the older ones commit 10
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 10 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 TO prevent
the water pipes from freezing.
For nearly an hour one witness after
another testified TO 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-
lient points the jury acted promptly.
Before being admitted TO bail il ap-
pears that q promise was eNacted from
Brown that he would make no effort to
find his wife and children. nor compel
them to return 10 him until this case
was settled.
Yesterday a reporter went 10 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 to
the door, his face lighting eagerly IN
expectation and hope Of hearing some
thing from his family.
He was strangely attired for one in
his position in life. 4 pair Of heavy
woolen stocking, slippers dt is declared
by residents that he never wears shoes
in Ocean City, even in midWinter),
rough trousers. heavy blue flannel
shirt guhtless 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 hospit-
able. and, leading the way TO a little
study, he drew his chair slightly away
from a table, upon which lay an open
Bible Asked point-blank concerning
the affair he replied with no hesitancv
and his manner throughout the whole
conversation was frank
These indictments are extravagant
and outrageous" said he. "They saw
I am malicious and cruel. Just think
Of Ito my own ehildren-and | love
every one OF them dearly. 1t is true