The Washington herald., 1907-03-29
DECISION BRINGS JOY
Christine Lula Hicks Drags
Husband to Justice.
TELLS TALE OF DUPLIoIrY
While DutifuI wife Toiied in City
FicI1Ie spouse sold Cow ana sew
ing Machine TO "Co'te Another
Lady"-Nosv He Must Contribute to
Help support Better Half.

When Christine Lula Hicks received the
decree whereby her husband, charged
with nonsupport, was ordered to con-
tribute substantial weekly sums to the
maintenance of her separate establish
ment. the breadth Of her smile and the
enormity of her mothers grin led the
Acute Observer to suspect that back of
the plain, sordid little tale Of domestic
turbulence there lay yarn of lighter
vein. A the trio drifted out OF the court
room. and Christine was heard to remark.
Yves chen now, Mr.. Man" with every
evidence of restrained JOY, the OBJ
servers suspicious were strengthened and
he followed the women 20 their little
home inside one Of the city blocks.
At that POINT he aceosted them, and at
the expense of as much diplomacy as 1t
would take to obtain an interview with
the Car Of Russia or John D. Roeke-
feler, he secured permission TO enter and
have unfoIded TO him the details Of the
story Of christine's wrongs and. what was
particularly desirable, an explanation of
her remark on leaving the courtroom, her
smile and the event or events that led up
thereto. Sitting in the stuny little 'cep-
ton room," with Christine's mother. Mrs.
Jones, rocking and tanning herself at the
window and prompting Christine from
time 10 time. the Acute Observer was
able to sift from mass Of immaterial
matter a characteristically Afro-Ameri-
can tale.
Wed i'm '|OIe Virginny."
It seems that Christine is a. Maryland
colored lady" and Mr.. Hicks is from old
Virginia When he met and ''co'ted
Christine some six or eight years ago he
was preaching in a little settlement on
the other side Of the Potomac. not far
from Falls Church They married, and
Christine went to Virginia. In the course
of their early married life Christine, who
earned almost all the money acquired
during the partnership. succeeded in saw
ing enough to purchase a sewing machine
and cow Funds finally falling, il was
decided that Christine should go to Wash
ingtOn and enter domestic service, her
cooking being q topic of discussion
throughout the county. She came found
a place in a short while. and settled down
TO a steady routine of culinary duties,
communicating with Rev. Mr. Hicks in
short notes dictated TO ner white lady,
and inclosing a large portion Of her
monthly earnings.
One day her white LADY, found her
exuding a cataract of tears. and on in-
quiry learned that Christine had received
word that Mr. Hicks had profted by her
absence to take up with another lady
Of the county and TO sell her precious
COW and sewing machine and use the
proceeds as he chose After the first
frenzy had abated. the white lady" act
ing as cOnhdant and cOnsoler, it was
agreed that Christine should take the
matter 10 court
law Descends Upon Hicks.
The white lady" and her husband
advised Christine how to proceed and
after some delay warrant was Issued
in the county occupied by Mr.. Hicks
and he was arrested and held under
cash bond 70 await trial The day was
set for the trial and as it drew near
Christine was observed to be engaged
in a large amount of petty shopping
and on several occasions borrowed her
white lady's' sewing machine.
The morning of the auspicious day
dawned clear and warm. Tt was late in