The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-24
WANTS CHILDREN
MOTHER is NOW LIVING IN
UPPER M0NTCLAIR.
Connecticut Father Seeks to Regain
Them by Habeas Corpus
Proceedings.

Two score of Connecticut and New Jer-
and daughters filed the benches In Vice
Chancellor James e. Howell's court rooms
in the Prudential building today.
They were witnesses or friends of the
principals in habens corpus proceedings
brought by William T. Francisco, of Con-
neticut. a big and handsome man, against
his wife. Lillian Francisco. a big woman
who tips the scales at about 300 pounds,
to get possession of their children, Clara,
Cyrus and George, ranging In age from 9
to IA years. who now live with their
mother at Upper Montclair.
Mr.. Francisco said to a reporter for
THE EVENING STAR that he and Mrs.
Francisco had lived apart for several years.
His lawyer sought to prove by witnesses
from Chapman, Conn, a place of $50 in
hahitants. that Mrs. Francisco Is not a
proper woman to have the care Of young
children. The proceedings were brought In
New Jersey because Mrs. Francisco and
the children now live in this State.
George w I've, a blacksmith, testified
that he had known Mrs. Francisco six or
seven years, and had frequently visited the
farmhouse near Chapman. in which she
lived. A hired man named Robert Talbot
was at the place for three years. I've said
hat he had heard Talbot curse and use in
decent language in the presence of Mrs.
Francisco. and he ordered the children to
do chores and struck the boys with a
whip. Edward J. I've, a youth of II years,
son of the blacksmith. told n like story.
Hiram Twist. a milkmah, said he called
twice a day at the Francisco home farm
to collect milk, and talk OF intimacy be-
tween Mrs. Francisco and Talbot. He had
seen them in some sleeping rooms.
you testified that on that occasion Mrs,
Francisco wore a night gown. How do
you know 1t was n night gown? 2" said the
lawyer on cross-examination.
"Wa-all. l guess | ought to-" drawled
Twist, for I've been married more'n
twenty-five years"
The women In the court room Uttered,
and even the vic~e-chancellor smiled.
Twist was such a strong witness against
Mrs. Francisco that her lawyer tried to
impeach his character. He asked Twist
If he was not divorced from his first wife,
and had not lived with his present wife
before his first wife died. Twist shouted
mo" to each question.
The lawyer then asked Twist IL he did
not go into bankruptcy at one time. Twists
lawyer objected to the question, and the
other lawyer remarked:
II want to break down the witness's
evidence by finding his character"
IF you attack everybody who Is in
debt" said the vice-chancellor. "you will
have no witnesses In the case"
Mrs. francisco went on the stand and
alphabetically denied that she was intimate
with Talbot. She said Mr.. francisco told
her he was in the insurance business in
New York. but on general principles she
doubted every thing he said. She said
further hat she bought property at Upper
Montclair with money left by her step
father. She cut a road through the tract
to develop 1t. but her husband did not
contribute to this.
Mr.. Franciseo's lawyer declared that
his client was the one who did the work
OF developing the land at Montclair. Mrs.
Francisco's lawyer objected to going into
the property question, and the Vice
Chancellor sustained the objection, and
said the only thing to consider was the
question of the custody of the children.
Mrs. Francisco then testified that she
and her husband separated In the spring
of 1903. after he opened a confectionerS
store at Westwood, because a clerk tolC
her of his acts with a woman in that place
She talked so much in answering ques.
lions on cross-examination that her law.
yer and the e-Chancellor cautioned hel
to simply answer the questions asked.