The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-01
MRS, WILDSMITH'S FIRST
HUSBAND STILL LIVING
Prosecutor Believes He Now
Can Use Each Prisoner as Wit
ness Against the Other

ANN ARBOR. Mich. May lin
portant developments in the case OF
the state against Mr.. and Mrs. Bert
Wildsmith, of Ypsilanti, in jail here
on a charge of having caused the
death OF their adopted child last jan
uary, have come to light in the dis
covery OF the fact that William Dewey,
first husband of Mrs. Wildsmith, is
still living.
The woman has claimed that her
first husband died several years ago,
and that she was legally married to
Wildsmith. II that were true, ii would
have been impossible for the prosecu-
tion to have used her as a witness
against Wildsmith, but Prosecuting
Attorney Burke has just learned that
Dewey is still living. He was located
near Fife Lake. Mich, where he Is
member OF logging crew. He states
that he deserted Mrs. Wildsmith when
she was sent to the House of Correc-
tion in Detroit for abusing their child
in 1904.
Each Of the Wildsmiths accuses the
other OF having caused the death OF
the baby which they adopted In De.
troit, and the finding OF Dewey will
have an important bearing upon the
case, as each may be used as a wit
ness against the other.
Prosecuting Attorney Burke has re-
ceived word that the case OF the peo-
pie against Carl Tessmer, for alleged
manning a horse, will be heard by the
supreme court some time in June.
The case is one which Is interesting
humane societies all over this state,
and one which has attracted the at
tention Of humane society officials
all over the United States. On Thanks
giving day, Tessmer, who was employ
ed by a local contractor, started for
Bridgewater, about Is miles from here,
with a load OF household goods in a
moving van. South of the city one
of the horses balked. and after beat
ing II with a club, Tessmer made
loop around its tongue with a strap
and pulled Its tongue out by the roots.
He then drove to Bridgewater, dis
posed of his load of goods and re-
turned here, driving his team at such
pace that when they reached the
barn the horse which had not been
tortured, dropped dead. Ii was found
necessary to shoot the injured animal.
Ii was proved by witnesses that
Tessmer had injured the animal, and
his own testimony substantiated the
stories Of others, but his attorney set
Up the defense that to convict him
under the charge, II would be- neces-
sary to show malice toward the own
er OF the animal. He was found guilty
and carried the case to the supreme
court. His attorney argued that he
could only be found guilty Of cruelty
to animals, a petty offense.
Robert G.. Beck, a junior from Gosh.
en-, Ind, is the winner OF the Michigan
Union opera contest, his book has
been selected for the 1913 opera, and
members of the libretto committee
are enthusiastic in their praise OF
Becks work. According to them the
different from any of the operas the
union has given. Beck has competed
several times for the honor OF writ
ing the book of the union opera, and
his work has always been first-class.
On Friday the class In chemical en-
gineering will go to Detroit on trip
of inspection which will continue over
Saturday. Among the manufacturing
plants which will be visited will be
the following: Berry Bros. Varnish
works, Queen Anne Soap factory, Arm
strong Harness and Leather Co., Carl
l.Schmidt tannery, Acme White Lead
Co., and the Morgan & Wright Rub
Der Co.
Louis Eich, OF Bellevue, KY, who
will represent Michigan in the North.
ern Oratorical league contest at
Evanston, H., will leave for that city
tomorrow, accompanied by Prof. T. c.
Trueblood. The subject OF his ora
ton is "The laws delay" II was this
Grafton which won for him the right
to represent his university in the big
c0pfaat