Evening journal., 1914-11-12
HER CRUELTY TALE
ILLUSION, Court SAYS
Mrs. Ingram SwOOnS When
Judge Churchman Declares
Her Mentally Afflicted
HUSBAND CONSENTS
TO SUPPORT HER

With several women witnesses al
most in tears and a death-like silence
in the court room, Judge Churchman,
in City Court today, handed down a
decision in the non-support action
brought against Howard r. Ingram, a
musician employed at the Garrick
Theatre, by Mrs. Fanny Ingram, his
wife. The Court declared it his
opinion that Mrs. Ingram's mind is
unbalanced and asked that the de-
fendant consent to pay for her sup
port Attorney John +. Malloy, for
Ingram, agreed and the Court fixed
81 week as Che sum to go to Mrs.
Ingram, and ordered that the rec
ords show payments by consent.
Gentlemen, .his is a sad. sad case
Judge Churchman declared. Il have
watched the prosecuting witness on
the stand. and her answers and man
ner at the first hearing caused me
TO suspect something was wrong
with her mind. When she was re-
called here this morning l became
convinced that she is mentally defec-
tive. There Is no doubt in the
Courts mind that her recital Of al
legged wrongs at the hands of this
man are illusions
At this point Judge Churchman read
a letter written by Mrs. Fannie In
gram to her husband a short time
after she left him. In the
communication. which is couched in
the best Of English, Mrs. Ingram said
she was mot so homesick," and prom
ised to be loyal and faithful to the de-
fendant. The letter is closed with an
expression of good wishes for young
Ingram's parents and friends
"This letter speaks more than all
the testimony presented here" the
court continued. "Let us reason. How
could a woman. who says she has been
subjected to the treatment Mrs. In
gram describes, write such a letter
She could not, and there is no doubt
that the acts of cruelty she alleges
took place only in her mind. AS
said before. this is a very sad case,
and because of her condition, think
Mrs Ingram is entitled to support
from her husband. I am going to ask
that he consent to pay her $4 a week.
before placing an order against him" "
AT this point Mr.. Malloy held a con-
ference with his client. and then
agreed to the courts suggestion.
When Judge Churchman COM
menced delivering his opinion. Mrs.
Ingram, who is in an extremely ner-
vous condition, almost collapsed.
When restored she refused to leave
the court room.
After declaring she married the de-
fendant on November 30, 1910. and
lived with him eleven months. Mrs
Ingram, who was the first witness
called. commenced her recital OF
alleged cruelty on her husbands part
"He never gave me a kind word
not one" Mrs. Ingram said. He
kicked me and / had to take my pill
low and sleep on the floor When he
was working at Blumenthars he
poured hot tea down my back and
locked me in a closet.
"Once ! wanted to go to Brandy
wine Springs Park. but he ordered
me not to go, saying: Do not go
there, therell be a bOozy crowd
went to the park and found him talk
ing to another girl. I had affection
for him: he is my husband. but he
never gave me a kind word
Emphatic denial OF cruelty was made
bv Ingram. Questioned by John F
Nallov. his counsel, the defendant
branded false the statement that he
poured hot tea down his wife's back
lie said he had placed her in closet
with his mother on one occasion. The
witness declared his wife objected to
him plaving in the theatre orchestra
In explaining the Brandywine Park
affair Ingram loudly said; "She met me
ON the boardwalk with her own cousin
and made a fool of me before crowd -
Ingram was closely cross examined by
Deputy City Solicitor John f. Lynn
but stuck to his story.
Mrs. Emma Ingram, the defendant
mother at whose home, No. pos Soutl
Harrison street the couple lived, sup
ported her sons testimony, IN denying
that he was cruel to his wife.
George w. Ingram, father OF youns
Ingram, gave like evidence.
"She was insanely jealous" the wit
ness said. when asked why he believed
vomc Mrs. Ingram left his home.
aPersons who are jealous do not us
uallv leave the object of their aftee
ton" Judge Churchman declared
Recalled to the stand and asked con
cerning several bottles alleged to hav
been in the Ingram home, Mrs. ran
ME Ingram startled court attorneys an
witnesses by declaring she saw the bot
Ties, but they disappeared before he
ewes"