The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-10
DENOUNCED
AS CRIMINAL
ADVENTURER

|
Judge Scores Tacoma At
torney in Decision Over
Custody of Third Wife's
Child.
Branded by Judge Frater in Sc
attic as a vampire and dangerous
criminal adventurer, spurned by
MS present wife, who now asks
Tor an annulment of marriage on
the ground that he is a multi
married man, and rejected by his
own law partner, A. H. Garrett
son because of his past criminal
record, Charles E. George, the
Tacoma attorney who gained so
much prominence in this city by
his defense of Joshua Klein of un-
saVory occult fame, had a bitter
PHI to swallow in the superior
court OF King county yesterday.
HIS reputation was completely
wrecked.
All Crumbles to Dust.
With one mighty sweeD.
Eeorge's house of cards, erected
after much planning, celebrating,
schemlng, and the display of the
most ingenious cunning and tact.
crumbled to dust yesterday when
Judge Frater rendered his deci-
sion in the suit of Dr. Eiliv Janson
TO recover the custody of his H.
year son Roderiek, who had been
granted by a decree of divorce to
his mother, who had since mar
ried George.
Woman Keeps Child.
Janson charged that Georges
presence in the home of his for
mer wife tainted the atmosphere
which his boy must breathe, and
the court sustained him in this
contention. Mrs. Janson was al
lowed to keep the child, however,
as she filed a complaint for an
nullment of the marriage with
George, Immediately after Judge
Frater's decision.
Revealed BAD Record.
the trial, which lasted three
days, revealed the fact that
George had served in the peniten-
tlary at Joliet, and at the house
OF correction at Milwaukee. Be-
sides this, it showed he had been
convicted and sentenced to thir-
teen months for using the United
"tates mails for fraudulent pur-
poses, but had never served that
term.
A. II. Garretson, of Tacoma,
Georges law partner. who was
defending Mrs. Janson, an
nounced on the witness stand yes
terday that Georges criminal rec
ord was a surprise to him, and
that their elations will be discon-
tinued on that account.
George is a we'll built, rather
good looking fellow, always
faultlessly dressed, of pleasant
address, and the essence of de-
corum and polite fashion.
Is Bitterly Scored.
In his decision, Judge Frater
yesterday said:
This case is a development of
the bungling and disgraceful di-
vorce system of this state. A de-
cree of divorce ought never to
have been granted to the Jansons.
They fixed up their troubles out
of court and came in here as
peaceful as a summer day, but af-
ter two years the facts of the
case came out. There has been
no evidence here that has been
discreditable to Mrs. Janson-
George.
Calls Him Vampire.
.'If anything was developed
it was that she needs n guard
ian to protect her from such
vampires and dangerous
criminal adventures as
Charles T.. George, and men
of the Joshua Klein stripe,
who preach such absurd be-
iefs as occultism, and who
make il practice OF prey
ing upon the affections of
women.
sit is to be regretted that
the present wife of DIR. JAM
son was dragged into this
case, if she is now trying to
live a decent and virSuous
life, but this is one OF the
misfortunes that follow peo-
pie who get bound up I'm the
lives of Divorces. So far as
this court is concerned, it
would rather protect women
under such conditions.
81 think IL is proper I'm this
case to refrain from making
final findings, and to take
the case under advisement,
subject to future disposition.
If the court sees fit to make
any change. For the present
Mrs. Janson-George, the
mother, will retain the Gus
tody of her boy. George
must not be permitted TO re-
turn TO the home of Mrs. Jan
son-George, at least until
the court makes its final dis
position of the child"
A burst of applause greeted the
decision, but was instantly
checked by Judge Frater.