The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-07
AN AMUSING
DIVORCE SUIT
CHARLES L. 5uRLINGAME DE-
CLAREs IN TESTIMONY THAT
MRS. WILLIAMSON is TAME AS
AVERAGE WoMAN"-DEcREE IS
GRANTED TO HER.
Special to The journal.


st. Louis, July at the conclusion
of a trial which sometimes was so
amusing to spectators that the judge
was disturbed, Mrs. Ella Williamson
received a divorce this afternoon in
Judge Muenchs court from William
M. Williamson, a government engineer.
She also got $500 alimony in gross
and the custody of two children, Gene
We've, 16 years old, and Katherine, 10.
When Mrs. Williamson reported,
January Z, 1912, that she and her chill
dren were starving because William
son had deserted them, a patrolman
sent to the house at 3716 Wyoming
street, to investigate, was astonished
to find pretentious and elegantly fur
nished residence that not only spoke
of comfort, but indicated luxury. Mrs.
Williamson declared, however, that
there was only 10 cents in the house
and no coal when Williamson left
them, and that she and the girls &C
tually We're in want.
Her brother, Charles L. Burlingame,
whose testim0 ny at the divorce trial
often made the spectators giggle and
once Taught outright, sent her and the
children to the Park hotel and provided
for them. One thing in Burlingame' s
testimony which struck the courtroom
crowd as funny was his expressed
opinion that Mrs. Williamson was
about as tame as the average wom-
an"
Women Rebuked.
Judge Muench rebuked women IN
the audience for laughing when Bur
lingame was asked how his sister was
dressed on a certain occasion and re-
piled: Il don't know-but she had
something on The judge remarked
that a courtroom was not a place OF
amusement and ordered the sheriff to
clear the room if the laughter was re-
peated.
Mrs. Williamson said that her hus-
band had left her on several occasions
and that he drank. She also said he
struck her one time and caused her
to have a black eye. They were mar
ried February 26, 1895
Burlingame gave his testimony with
considerable zest. Telling about the
defendants fondness for beer the wit
ress said: Whenever l was at his
rouse he was always running after a
pitcher of beer. He could drink car
load of IL, but he was so saturated with
tie stuff he couldn't get drunk"
When asked if he had seen the de-
fCndant mistreat his wife the witness
answered: Il certainly did not; If 1
nad L Wonld nave knocked MS DIoCh
off"
Are you the kind who inspires
fear?" asked Williamson's lawyer.
No; but a man will hesitate about
mistreating his wife in the presence of
her brother, I'll warrant you" the wit
ness answered.
Wanted to Borrow $1,000.
Burlingame tseifed that his brother
in law complained of feeling i'll one
time and. on being asked what was
wrong, said that he (the brother-in-
law could be the doctor. Then" the
witness told the court, che said he
was worried about his debts and want
ed to borrow $1,000 from me to pay
them. I told him to make out a list
of what he owed and I would pay Il.
This he refused to do. He just wanted
TO get his mitts on the cash.%
Burlingame denied that his sister is
of an unusually nervous. disposition.
She's just about as tanna as the aver
age Eoman," % AS3e@