Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-12
JA|LS 3 HUSBANDS
IN CRUSADE ON
WIFE DESERTERs
Prosecutor and Associated Char
tiles Bureau Will Hereafter
Go After Runaways.

A concerted effort is to be made by
the county prosecutors Office ana the
Bureau of Associated Charities to put
a stop to the desertion Of wives and
families by husbands who tire Of their
homes and leave those dependent on
them destitute.
As a result three men have been ar
rested in other cities within the last
eight days. and more arrests are to
follow as soon as the papers can be
prepared and the deserters located. One
Of the prisoners, Andrew Crawford, Of
Irvington, is now in the county jail,
Thomas j. Carter, of East Orange, was
arrested IL Chicago yesterday, and at
almost the same time Watson Law
renee, who formerly lived at 1914 First
avenue, this city, vas arrested in Bed
ford, Ind, on information given by
Chief Frederick Weimer, of the county
detective force.
Carter and La rence are now held in
Chicago and Bedford awaiting the ar
rival of County Detective Walter Cod
frey, who leaves this afternoon to bring
the two men back with him Carter
has consented to return without ex-
tradition papers, and it is expected that
Lawrence will do the same.
we intend to work in conjunction
with the Bureau of Associated Chart
ties in getting after these wife de-
serters." said Chief Weimer today. W
will devote all the time necessary to
running down these mel n bringing
them ack for trial. This practise of
men going away and leaving a wife
and children dependent on the county
for support is becoming too frequent,
and we propose to put a stop to it by
making an example of every man that
we can lay our hands on."
Watson Lawrence's case is a particu-
larly aggravated one, according to
Arthur w. McDougall, general secre-
tary of the Bureau of Charities, and
Chief Weimer. Lawrence is a stone
mason and earns from s22 to SIS a week
the year round. In August, 1908, he de-
serted his wife and four children, going
to Washington. He was located there
by his wife and he promised to support
her. Shortly after he sent his wife SO,
and that was the last she heard from
him. Just before last Christmas Mrs.
Lawrence swore out a warrant for his
dIltSb Oh 1lA6 Sc VI 0tSSA 1919
fore the warrant could be served on
Lawrence he left Washington.
Through the efforts of Chief Weiner
he was located at Bedford. Ind, and
his arrest followed yesterday. 1t Is
alleged by his wife that Lawrence has
been married Stree leaving her, and
now has a child by the second wife. II
this proves to be true the charge
- = L. I'LL - at.,,aad fraua do.
sertion to one of bigamy on his ar
rived here.
Carter left a wife n four children
in East Orange when he went to Chi
| cago. 1t is said another woma ac-
companied him Gregory will land both
of the men in jail here on Thursday or
Friday of XXI week.
Andrew Crawford. the third man ar
rested on a desertion charge. left a wife
and two children destitute in Irvington
about three months ago. His wife
learned that he was living in Brook
Ign, and trapped him through a regis
tered letter sent ITO the Brooklyn ad-
dress.
II am glad that Lawrence has been
arrested through the effort of the coun-
ty detectives" said Arthur W. Nc
! DOURdls il tie bllGdu vi AScONioNtH
| Charities. today 1T is surprising how
many cases of wife desertion there are
in Newark every year. The number of
cases that We heal from average over
ninety a year and in almost every
case it is the innocent children that
suffer. The wife. left helpless, desti-
tute and often friendless. is unable to
help herself. and as a result the family
becomes a city or charitable charge.
We do all We can to trace the delin-
quent husband. but often with little
success. With the cooperation Of the
county prosecutors force we will be
able to get track of many of the de-
/ serting husbands and will bring them
back to face trial.
This course will not only help in
furnishing the men who leave depend
ent wives and families on public char
ity. but will help as a deterrent 10 9TH
ers who would desert their home and
families were it not for the fact that
they fear they might he brought back
and punished for their crime. not only
against the law but against human
ity."