The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-09-02
PROF. KENYON ANSWERS DIVORCE SUIT

compelled to abandon this. DEFEND
ant likewise advanced money to his
wife's father and aided him in pre-
venting the sale of his home. He
expended his money on various men,
bers of his wife's family without the
objection on the part of any one.
Defendant admits that his wife CO.
operated with him at all times in
clothing, maintaining and educating
her sister, but he denies that he ever
ignored his children or ever refused
to speak to plaintiff or communicate
with her. Defendant admits that
while teaching school in Sumter
county petitioner would object to de-
PENDANT associating with his male
friends, and friction would arise be-
tween plaintiff and defendant. Ber-
tina Averitt was about seven or eight
years of age when she entered petit
toners home at first, and was raised
up as child with defendant, and the
relationship existing between them
was at all times proper.
Defendant says that he never at
any time devoted himself exclusively
to his sister-in-law, and that his.
conduct and treatment to his sister
in-law was not different the last year
from what it. had been for years prior
- fhoE NTH tho Cd ro
consent and acquiesence of his wife.
Not Required to Cook and Wash.
Defendant says that at all times,
except occasionally, he kept wash
woman; that petitioner and her sis
ter, Bertha Averitt, have perhaps
washed a few clothes during his mar
riage to petitioner, but that was when
servants were in the cotton fields. or
in other busy farming seasons of the
year, but that his wife never cooked
or washed for Bertha Averitt and
never was required by defendant to
eat at any time except when she saw
fit. Defendant says that he more Of
ten ate after his wife and family had
eaten than vice versa. Defendant
says that he is very fond of his chill
dren, has always sought their society
and they his.
Defendant says that the public
scandal which has arisen was brought
about by the bringing of petition
against defendant, containing allega-
tions which were untrue, and the
public aticn of same in the local pa
per and otherwise. Defendant does
not believe that his wife was fully
cognizant of all the contents, but
which she admits to defendant she
never read freely. Defendant admits
that he carried Bertha Averitt to a
point in Stewart county; that point
was the residence of Mrs. Barge, an
aunt of Mrs. Averitt and of petitioner
and of defendant by marriage, most
estimable lady, from which point Ber-
tina Averitt went to Dawson. Defend
ant had been advised that the mother
of Bertha Averitt, under the instruc-
lions and advice of some parties, had
stated that Bertha Averitt should not
return home. In keeping with the
promise of her father, who is now
dead, defendant sent Bertha Averitt
to Massey's Business College, and has
not seen her since.
Propositions for Settlement.
Defendant did not desert petition
er, but she deserted him. Defendant
continued to live in his residence
while petitioner went to the residence
of his brother. Defendant instructed
the merchants of PARROT to credit
his wife (petitioner) for any articles
which she needed Petitioner drew
checks upon his bank account in Par
rott, which said checks were honored
by his consent and approval. De-
fendaut made to petitioner the fol-
lowing proposition: That if she in
sisted upon keeping the children he
would surrender to her absolutely all
of his property with the understand
ing that it would be subject to his
Indebtedness which was against it.
That if she would surrender to him
the children, whom he was anxious to
secure, that he would give her one
fourth of the property clear of any
Indebtedness. and that he would sup
port the children. He offered to pay
rent for a residence in Parrott; in
fact, every kind of proposition that
he could conceive for her support
and maintenance and for the support
and maintenance of his children. De-
PENDANT did not have the least idea
of leaving the state of Georgia. There
was no occasion whatever for writ ne
exeat for defendant. Defendant had
not placed his real estate in the
hands of any real estate agent, and
after filing petition for alimony, as
he understands the law, he could not
have sold it. Defendant had pro-
posed to make an adjustment as pro-
vided by law with petitioner in any
sum that any friend of hers would
say reasonable, but petitioner stated
that she had been advised that she