Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-15
Deserted, | Had to Fight Star
walton for My Children"
Cries Mrs. Darden.
GIVE W0RKED-W0RKED
FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS"
"If | Were UnfaithfuI, Why
Didn't He Shoot Me?"
She Demands.

Enraged at the persistent allegations
of inhdelity made by her husband. FL
mer T. Darden. who is in Jail for the
murder OF c. NJ. Goddard at the Union
depot Thursday night, Mrs. Darden
today branded her husband as a para
site. She said that II she were not
disreputable woman it was through no
fault Of his. who left her with no means
TO provide for the little children. She
insisted. however, she has done moth
ing she need be ashamed of.
At her home in Kirkwood today she
held the three months old infant to her
breast while in short sentences in a
high pitched voice she gave her first
interview.
Making a motion with her arm to the
four children playing on the floor and
the CRATE that should have been throw
ing out warmth in the cool forenoon.
she said:
"a Have to Provide"
'T have to provide Ali OF this is
mine"
when he PAGES the floor Of his cell
and raves, does he say anything about
this? Does he say anything about food
and clothing for these helpless chill
dren-helpless if it were not for me?'
Does he say anything of the h he
made me live for eighteen years?
mo. He is only thinking Of himself.
as he always has done. When he made
his money I never got it. Ny children
ma 10
any cause and left me to provide. l
had to stare, starvation in the face. I
had 70 pay IN full
Il have paid and have paid honest
ly. But if I had ben disreputable as
he says, I am not to blame. II is one
way women can live when honest ef-
forts are of no avail Women have 70
suffer always and always they are
blamed.
Calls Goddard a Friend.
oh yes! I knew Mr.. Goddard. He
was a friend tried and true. He was
a friend to my husband and to myself
When I was deserted he acted the
part of man friend-that was all He
advised me what to do and offered to
help me, That was all.
When I saw him on the street
spoke to him. Is a man to be shot down
because he stops and speaks to wom-
an friend?
IF he thought I was unfaithful why
didn't he shoot me Why didn't he fol-
low me to some OF those places [ was
never at and shoot us both.
Frankly if it had not been for these
little children. | might have been any
thing he tried TO make me. but they
have to live on when / am gone.
Just a House Drudge"
And an expression of hopeless wea--
mess crept into the voice that had been
teeming with anger.
Il am just common. ordinary wom-
an. the everyday house drudge. L
don't know anything about law ana
lawyers and I don't know what is ex-
pected of me in the case.
Il suppose they'll weave and weave
a web until they prove something that
never was. They viii if it will save
him-but I have done nothing, abso-
lutely nothing, that any wife and
mother need be ashamed Of.
Done nothing but work, work, WORK.
for eighteen years"
Darden sat moodiIy in his cell at the
county jail today awaiting a hearing
Monday
Il love my wife" said Darden %
Chief of Detectives Lanford. love her
more passionately and devotedIy thaa
any one on earth. I have loved, t
seems, all my life, and I love her to-
day a much as ever"
He seems to have broken down some
under the high nervous tension. and
some Of the eNultiug over the dea-h
Of the man he shot and said if he
didn't kill him then he would when ne
saw him again has given place TO con
side. acton for his wife and the helpless
Continued on Pace Two.