New-York tribune., 1910-01-25
TlLLMAN CHARGES
FILED At COLUMBIA.
Senator's Son accused of
Drunkenness and Crueltu.

Columbia, 9. c., JAN 24.-When attorneys
for Mrs. B. r. Tillman, jr.. made applica-
tion before the Supreme Court to-day for
a writ OF habeas corpus to obtain posses
sion Of her two children. Douschka and
Sarah. now being held by Senator Benja-
min R. Tillman, Chief Justice Jones halted
proceedings by citing rule OF the court
requiring such cases TO be presented in
the Circuit Court. On a plea that the law
yers were not familiar with the rule he
consented to hear their arguments later.
Mrs. Tillman charges that her husband
while under the influence of liquor insulted
her and treated her brutality and cruelty.
She says she was responsible for his taking
the Keeley treatment three times but that
he only grew worse after promising to re-
form. She asserts he squandered much OF
her estate.
When she appealed 10 Senator and Mrs.
Tillnan to help her reform her husband
After separating from her husband she
says she went back to live with him for
the sake of their two little girls. She
charges that her husband in violation Of
an agreement to have the children spend
their time between them in case of a
separation. had the little girls dressed
while they were all in Washington last
November. under pretence Of taking them
on an evenings visit TO their grandparents,
but instead turned them over TO Senator
and Mrs. Tillnan. who brought them TO
South Carolina She says her husband then
deserted her. leaving Washington for South
Carolina shortly afterward, and fling a
deed at Edsefeid giving the children to
Senator and Mrs. Tillman. Her ''unfitness
and inability to raise my two children as
they should be raised" was alleged in this
deed, she says although she points out that
she has hansone home at Edgefeld. with
annual rentals of s1.1oo in addition.
After a consultation in court to-day it
was announced that the case would be pre-
sented in the Supreme Court next Monday.
At that time Senator and Mrs. Tillman
will make their return TO the order, set
ting forth their side of the case. The
whole matter will then be referred TO a
special master to take testimony, if any
question of fact Is involved.
The younger Mrs. Tillman is the grand
daughter of Governor Pickens. who was
Ambassador TO the Russian Court, where
her mother was born The latter was
christened Douschka by the Czar of Russia,
which means little darling" Her mothers
sister was the first wife of the late Senator
M. c. Butler, whom Senator Tillman de-
feated for reelection after the Tillman
administration as Governor. She is con-
nected with many of the leading families
of the state, and her social standing is un-
questioned. The Tillmans have announced
that they will not attack the cornplainant's
character
In an affidavit submitted to the court to-
day Mrs. Tillman says that on a previous
occasion she was forced by her husbands s
alleged debauches and cruel treatment to
separate from him, but mot until depo-
nents husband, under the influence of ex-
cessive drink. made most outra geous.
false and degraded attack upon deponent's
character; that deponent. so outraged and
insulted. flew through the night time with
her two infant children from deponents
home at Edgewood to her sisters home in
Edgeheld for protection, where she re-
manned for several months