The Washington herald., 1907-03-22
HER MEAL TICKETOUT.
Clarissa's Conduct Is Cause
for NOnsuppOrt.
JUDGE CRUsHEs FOND HOPE
Tide of sympathy EBbs and Flows
Between Plaintiff and Defendant
CIarissa yVIIlfams' Inebriety, When
Tide stays Turned Against Woman.

GolOreQ ladies', whose regular HUSBANDS
have long been an unknown quantity
around the house through causes attribu-
tai to wifely errors, are warned not 10
cherish the idea that conjugal relations Of
ancient vintage are always to be made the
source of revenue through the admins
tration of the nonsupport law.
Ciarlssa Williams, wh0 appeared in the
Juvenile Court yesterday, seemed to have
fondled such deluslon. but her dream Of
an easy 81 per week was rudely shattered,
principally because her woefuI tale was
offset by decidedly controverting testi-
mony by Mr.. Williams and his witnesses.
Husky Wave of Sympathy,
Mr.. Williams who is legally Clarissa's
husband but who has not been working at
it for some time. is a large blond African
gentleman, whose weekly earnings at a
grocery store are 81 per week. Mrs. VII
liams had him hailed into court TO answer
to the charge OF desertton and nonsupport,
and made quite an impression when called
10 the stand to state her case. She was
unable to take the oath as witness in the
customary manner of holding up the right
hand and apologized to the court for
holding up her left hand for that cere-
mony. stating that the other had lately
been broken by fall A large wave OF
sympathy washed over the multitude
gathered in that little courtroom. Eyes
grew dim and several babes-in-arms seat
tered about the inciosure deepened the
note of SORROW.
Asks for Money! Gets a Cussfng.
Mrs. Williams was asked TO tell her
story. It was in part about as follows:
ledge. dat WALLER man sittin' dere is er
abmoxious pusson an has been in de penn
befo' now. See dis scar? (Showed back
of neck on which the characteristic traces
Of a razor slash appeared. He gib me dat
some TO yeahs back He cut up me an he
cut up nah mother an he cut up mos
eberything aroun' de house when ne had
his cuttin' habit on strong. He was sent
ter de penn fer permixuous euttin' an
since he come out he amt nevah gib me
nuthin' but 'buse when An went ter axe
him fer money. He's libiH wild er woman,
an when All bTuk nah ahm An went ter
him an axe him fer money an he cuss me
out"
How much would you be satisfied
WITH" asked the court sympathetically.
"Ah1l be glad ter hev tree er 70 dOllahs
er week, y'Onner, thank yah sub
Acts "ScanTOus" in His Absence.
Mrs. Williams sat down and her hus-
band, the cut-up, who bad been sitting in
.sullen silence throughout the arralgnment,
was called forward to tell his side. lie
admitted former matrimonial acquaintance
with the plaintiff, and made no denial of
the charge Of having served a term in the
.penitentiary, but ne set forth the plea
that he could not see why he should sup
port OF help support his wife in considera-
ton of what he alleged to be her we'll
known fondness for midnight carousaI and
frailties Of more serious nature.
"Ah come from nah penitenshary term
full oh de hopes ter be er law 'bdin' clti-
zen All goes ter NAH home an hn's dat
dis woman has been actin in de mos
.scanlous way while An was In de 'eareera-
ton OBJ de law. (Here followed certain
details OF evident "scanIous" character).
An don see why All should be put in de
compulsion OBJ de law ter pay dis woman
nothin'. She ain been no wife ter me an
An don owe her nuthin'. All don't want
dat woman for ter bother me. no mo.
Mrs. Williams in Inebriate Eclipse.
Mr. Williams employer was called for
ward and stated that he had known the
defendant since said defendant was a little
boy. and that he gave him employment as
soon as he got out of prison because he
knew he was trustworthy and that the
charge on which he had been sent to
prison was not particularly serious. Wit
ness also knew of the doings of Mrs. VII
liams. She had often appeared at the
her language on those occasions was
usually more picturesque than pretty.
Another witness in Mr.. Williams behalf
was an imposing blue-coated guardian
of fairy-lunch-room-cas egisters, who
knew nothing about Mr.. Williams. but a
lot about Mrs. Williams.
The Judgment and Notice of Appeal.
Al the conclusion of tue testimony
Judge De Lacey dismissed TIE case, say
ing in effect that there are times when a
husband has a moral right to cease being
meal ticket.
On the outside of the courtroom Mrs.
Williams accosted the officer who had tes-
titled as TO her various iniquities.
$50 yer 'peared fer dat niger. did yer.
Tole er lot er lies bout me. Ah'n get eben
wild you all. He had his white peepul in
cote ter testerfy. dat's whut done IL
Neavah min, Ah'm goin' ter carry dis 10
er higher cote an Ah'll hev nah white
peepuI up ter tell dat Ah'm er God-fearin'
sinner an er church mem'er. I amt fru
wild dis case"
"Ah'm fru wild you" remarked Mr.. Will
liams as they parted. thereby showing
that he is not only a gentle person. but
clever at repartee.