The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-07


Of his former wife. that he had been
seen In a drunken condition during
the past month. during a visit he made
To Augusta. was made this morning
before the Supreme Court He off, red
In rebuttal To this testimony affida tits
from numbers OF persons who were
with him. both on the train and I'm
Augusta on the day In question. In
which they all testified To his being
sober and not having taken drop OF
liquor. Senator and Mrs. Tillman and
his sister. Mrs. Iona Moore. who was
at that time visiting her parents. al,
made affidavits that he was sober at
tho time and that he was a reformed
man and had not been addicted to
drink for four years.
The Chief Justice. at the conclusion
Of the case. announced that the chill
dren would be left in the custody OF
the mother pending the filing OF the
decision by the court
Mrs. Dugas and the two little chill
dren. around whom the fight Is CEN
tered. with her attorneys. DePass &
DePass. OF Columbia. and S. Meg.
Simpklns. OF Edgeheld. and Il. II.
Tillman. Jr.. with his counsel. Till
man a Mays. and f. Barron Grier,
Of Greenville. were all in court when
the case was called. Many ladies of
Edgeneld and Columbia accompanied
Mrs. Dugas to the court room and
remained throughout the proceedings
Many spectators were present during
the hearing OF the case and the inter-
est OF the people In the matter con-
tinues unabated.
The answer OF Il. X. Tillman. Jr.,
to the affidavits introduced by his for
mer wife. Mrs. Lucy Dugas. at the
hearing last Tuesday. alleging that
he had been under the influence of
whiskey ut as late date as the 9th
and 10th OF last November was read
by his brother. Henry c. Tillman,
Esq.
With forcible manners and en-
phatic way Henry Tillman reviewed
the case from the standpoint OF the
young father In asking the court to
take the children from their mother
and give them to him. Referring to
the fact that the only three parties
concerned I'm the action were the
father. the mother and the little chill
dren. the speaker said: "The little
children were too young to know of
the sorrow to which they were born"
He contended that there had been
material change In the position OF
each OF the parties since the last ac-
tion I'm court. He contended that the
father now came into court with clean
hands and In every way worthy TO
have the custody Of his children and
claimed his rights. which are para
mount TO those OF the mother. He said
he would let the affidavits ne had filed
with reference to the charge OF drunk
enness on the part OF young Tillman
speak for themselves. and said that
whatever he had TO say OF the mother
was through force OF necessity, and
that the mother was not competent TO
rear the children.
Referring to her conduct after the
HhiIHra.
man alleged that Mrs Dugas wrote to
young Ben that II was his duty to
support the children and then declined
To have any further correspondence
with him.. except through her attorn-
eys. That she didn't even let the
children write TO their father, except
until she began preparations for her
divorce. and then sire permitted
Douschka To address few letters
To her father because she probably
was aware OF the fact that ne would
more than likely begin suit for them.
He said that former Superintendent
OF Education Holland once went to
see Mrs. Dugas as the representative
OF Mr.. Tillman. and that she told him
that she intended to leave the state
and never return as long as Till
man was left In II. lie referred to her
refusal 90 Let the children visit Scna-
tor Tillman when he lay on his sick
bed and called Mrs. Dugas n person
OF relentless and revcngeful spirit
II would rather see my child dead
than subjected 60 surroundings of hate
or In daily contact with heart Of stone
and soul Of steel, brought up under q
spirit of dcspotism. hatred and re-
vensc," exclaimed the speaker.
~ tho point Of prime importance i'm
the case, the speaker stressed thc mat