The Washington herald., 1907-03-24
Chicago's Sunrise Court"
for Deserted Wives.
SAD TALES TOLD TO JUDGE
Judicial Grind opens az O'Clock in
the Morning to Accommodate te
Early Risers-SOeiety Women APP
pear iB the AfternoOR-srantin a
Decree Not Easy for the Arbiter.


are enjoying their early cup Of coffee. the
judge calls his court to order. says the
Chicago Chronicle. His honor finds it
easier to handle these case at this time of
day. Toward 10 o'clock the courtroom be-
comes crowded and many women who
have never been in court before in their
whole lives are present 70 act as witnesses
in the different cases and cause much con
fusion by their chatter among themselves.
Only taose people who are personally in
terested come 10 the early court.
The majority OF cases at the morning
session are from the working and poorer
classes. The woman from society's realm
prefers TO attend the afternoon court.
which conyenes during the week, as early
rising means the loss Of her beauty
sleep" Women constitute the majority
OF plaintiffs in the sunrise" session. II
Is seldom that a man files a bin for d.
vorce
Drink. nonsupport. and cruelty are the
most prominent causes given, and drink is
responsible IN most cases for the latter
two reasons, In a few instances family
interference IS the cause for misunder-
standings, and there are some cases where
people have Just grown tired Of living to-
gether and mutually decided 10 hunt up
grounds for a legal separation.
With the cheerful rays Of "Oid Sol"
flooding the otherwise gloomy chamber OF
justice, the first case IS called.
A poor, bedraggled looking creature with
threadbare clothes. her plnched face tell
ing the story Of priystion and abuse more
than words. comes TO the stand
pleading 10 be freed from a shiftless ne'er-
do-well who has long forgotten that ne
promised 70 love, honor, and protect the
woman whose body shows the marks Of
his violence and brutality.
"Just Disappeared, Your Honor"
Then comes the woman whose husband
has deserted her for unknown reasons.
Just disappeared, your honor" IN
trim tailored suit and with an air OF in
jured innocence she gazes about her as
II TO defy any one who might intimate
that perhaps she was a JTi1s al fault
herself.
A tired little woman carrying bright
baby steps before the rail. Master baby,
all unconscious OF what # ali means,
smiles and COOS over his mothers shoulder
and in his baby way ftrts with every one
In the room. A look of interest and
amusement even fits over the stolid face
Of the judge as the wee little mite OF
humanity doubles his tiny fist and with
a gurgllBg laugh shakes IL at his honor
Poor little innocent; the decree or this
court will mean the loss 0f a parent
for him. and for all we know may change
the trend Of his whole life in after years.
II is the usual story; cFazed by liquor
the unnatural father and husband comes
home and abuses his wife and helpless
baby. His money an gone for drink,
nothing n mains 70 buy food with. The
brave little wife and mother has been
earning enough by washing 20 keep the
wolf away from her baby. but the mother
instinct IS too strong 10 allow her to
stand idly by and see a big drunken
brute abuse the bright little fellow when
he holds out his chubby little arms In an
appeal for a caress that 1t is his baby
right 10 expect. il did not take long
for the judge TO grant q decree in this
case.
Many NonsuppOrt Cases.
Nonsupport cases are very numerous.
and the excuses given by men for not
being able TO support their wives are
varied. AS a rule, no answer is made to
the charge by the husband unless it is
for the purpose Of avoiding an order to
pay alimony.
One man who had been ordered by the
court to pay certain amount each
month toward the support Of hit. children
failed in this duty and was sent for by
the Judge. Instead OF appearing himself.
4 friend Of his came in his stead with a
sorrowful tale Of woe. The defendant
was in dire straits, had entered a plea
IN the bankruptcy court and was afraid
of being called into court. because he
would lose his position il his firm heard
about it. The pleadings of the friend had
no effect upon the judge, who ordered
that the man be brought into court and
arraigned before him 10 answer to the
charge, as the judge thinks that it is a
mans duty to support his children.
It must be a poor sort of a man indeed
Who cannot earn at least a living. He
nay not be able to supply any Iuxuries.
,ut the necessities of life can always be
armed by a pair of willing hands. OF
course, we are forced TO admit that there
ire mitigating circumstances at times. /
ickness and misfortune overtake the most
Wiling, but a sound, able-bodied man who
S not afraid Of work can always find
something to do if he is satisfied 10 take
whatever employment comes to hand. For
his reason a man should be forced to
,rovide for his children.
Poor little things, sometimes worse than
orphans, they are not 20 blame for the
amily discord and ought not to be made
o suffer for it. In the average case they
lave lost the protection of happy home
nd the benefit Of a fathers love. Little /
leaTts can ache as much as bigger ones. !
nd these deserted little tots feel their /
oss keenly when they see their COM
'anions enjoying all they themselves are
eprived Of
Meet on the Same level.
Money, dress. or social position makes 1
cry little difference when it comes TO an |
fair of this kind. A woman is a woman |
10 matter how she may be dressed. Be |
he a lady of leisure or hard-working 1
vasherwoman. she has the same emo /
ions and heartaches, the same craving for /
ympathy, the same feeling of wounded |
ride when the man she loves forsakes or /
buses her. The courtroom is one of the 4
laces where social barriers are broken I
own and women can meet on an equal 1
ooting from the most exclusive TO the !
,wliest, for all are nursing a common sor-
ow and IN mute way sympathize with !
ne another.
No difference is shown in the handling I
T the cases. Rich and poor receiEe the I
anne considerations at the hands of the /
udge, The wealthy woman may be able !
o secure a more eloquent lawyer than
er less fortunate companion. but that 4