The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-10
CHILDREN b[ACKEN
MOTHER NAME
Tell Court Parents Infatuation For
Young Man Drove Father Away
and Broke Up Home.


tice OTIS court, Friday morning, Har'
ry II. Williams. pianist in the Majestic
theater. left the court room in tears
because he was compelled To sive tes-
timony involving his mother, wo'
man OF as years, and Henry A. ker-
stem, divorced man, about SO years
old, who Is now paying 50 week To-
ward the support OF his wife ana TWO
young children.
The case was that brought by Ker-
stem to compel Williams TO pay for
the painting Of his mothers home, at
No. SOS Seyburn-ave. Kersten claimed
that he had been hired by the son to
paint the house. but the son denied
this, and testified that kersten, while
living in the Williams home. offered
to do the work If he were Supplied
with the paint The son bought the
paint and Kersten did the work nights
and mornings.
"Kersten's statement that | brought
him to the house to do the work Is
absolutely untrue" the son testified.
The first | ever saw OF this man. |
found him in our home drinking beer
with my mother. Mother said he was
an old friend and ! thought IL all
right then, because l couldn't dream OF
her doing anything wrong. But
have learned a lot since then, and he
has broken up our home. Ii was
through this man that mother drove
father out of the house. and now we
are to lose the place. because the pay
ments have run behind
This taStfmOny az the son WAS cor
roborated by another son. Albert, a
strapping big fellow. who threatened
TO give Kersten a beating If he would
step out into the corridor. Albert
did strike AT Kersten once, but his
mother stepped between them.
This man came into the house 10
board Albert said. and he Is the
man who led my mother TO act as she
has. She became crazy about him.
Nothing was too good for him. She
even spent money on him. and the
money we gave her TO make payments
on the home was squandered in some
way. and now We find that the pay
ments are so far behind that the mort
gage has been foreclosed.
Albert made shocking charges OF
conditions in the home after Kersten
went there. charges which involved
Kersten and Mrs. Williams. He al
legged that as a result OF this conduct
on the part OF Mrs. Williams the
sons left home and are now boarding
with married sister. All these chill.
dred take the fathers part.
My father, Henry Williams, is an
honest, hard working man., the mar.
ried daughter said Father and
mother lived together happily for 81
years and then to have this awful
thing come into the family has just
broken my heart. Ii hurt me to 60
on the stand this morning and testify
against mother, but had to. know
the boys have done everything they
could for her. and stuck TO Der until
couldn't help but see how things
were going"
In deciding the case Justice OFT SAID
that he had heard enough TO convince
| him that Kersten was responsible foI
the conditions in the Williams home
and that he was entitled to no pay
| as he was living in the house and
making il his home.
! mo decent man would live as you
are now, and my advice to you is Il
get away from there" the Justice said
While Kersten was being chided in
this manner, Mrs. Williams. who is a
woman of pleasing appearance arose
and asked If she could say few
words.
mo. sit down. have heard enough
from you" the justice replied.
Kersten was raging when he left the
court. and was heard to remark re
fecting on Justice OFT. The justice
will probably institute contempt pro
ceedings.
Kersten figured in a sensational di
vorce case in Judge Murfin's court
more than year ago. His wife
Frances, charged that he beat her al
most every week and never supported
her properly, making it necessary fof
her to go home to her mother 10 get
sufficient food She said her husband
would frequently bring home choice
food. which he ate himself. while the
children went hungry.
Mrs. Kersten was given a decree
with SO per week alimony and the
Youngest child, while the eldest daugh
tr. aged s. was given TO kersten's IA
Their, the judge holding that Mrs
Kersten was not able financially to
care for it, The child latter ran away
10 her mother, and charged that her
father beat her cruelty. Aftgr a try
ing court scene. during which the
given to the mother