The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-28
EDITOR SPARKMAN
ANSWERS WIFE'S CHARGES
IN DIVORCE SUI

II. c. Sparkman, editor of the
whom a writ of ne eXeat was grant
ed last week by Judge James w.
Perkins, and who was placed under
bond of $4,000 pending the settle
ment of temporary injunction
against his leaving the jurisdiction
Of the court, has filed his answer
through his attorneys, Stewart &
Stewart, and j. f. Alexander. says
the DeLand News.
The answer consumes several col
umns. Mr.. Sparkman denies the
allegations of cruelty to his wife and
on the other hand charges that she
was cruel to his children (by for
mer marriage) failing to prepare
food for them and even threatening
his life and their lives. Mr. Spark
man charged in a statement issued
soon after his wife's action in court
became known that the proceeding
was framed up on him by his polit-
ical enemies. The latter part of his
answer as it appears in the DeLand
paper follows:
THE defendant further answer
ing says. that the complainant has
frequently threatened the defendant
with ruin, declaring upon one &C.
casion, on or about the LIST day OF
August, 1915, that she had seen
Sheriff Smith and that he had
agreed to aid her in giving the de-
PENDANT hell, and upon other occas-
ions that she had also seen Mayor
Titus of Daytona, and he was going
to back her to the limit in an effort
tc drive the defendant out of town.
On Sunday night, August Is, 1915,
the defendant went to church with
the complainant-he invited her to
accompany him. Upon their return
she was in an apparently good hui.
NOR, and soon after returning she
began to cry. and when asked wha'
was the trouble, said: ooh, have
done something awful, and an
sorry for it. wish could undo it.
The defendant asked what she ha,
done. The complainant replied tina
she had seen several of the official
whose official acts had been criti
cised in the columns of the Dayton,
Halifax Journal, of which the de
PENDANT is editor, and that they ha
persuaded her to take steps aeains
the defendant, which she was afrai
would ruin him. The complainant
repeatedly professed great regre
that she had done this, and in eX
tenuation said she realized that I'll
defendant was going to leave he
sooner or later and that when Ties
parties to whom she was going wei
acquainted with the circumstance
they persuaded her to take the.
steps, which she now regretted; an
the said parties told her they woul
furnish all the money necessary
hire lawyers and run the defendal
out of Daytona.
"He denies that she had al
amount of money like S275 when !
married her; he denies that she h;
any amount of money invested
the Daytona Halifax Journal,
that she has furnished him al
money to put into the business;
denies that he purchased an aut
mobile and presented it to her,
that she ever paid any money iowa
the car; he denies that he ev
threatened to dispose of his proper
and leave, or that he ever had al
any intention of going elsewher
he denies that he ever refused
give her money to buy clothing
other necessities, that he has Civ
her from 81 to 50 per day, probat
averaging about 81, to spend as S
saw fit, the groceries being bong
on account, in addition to which
states that her credit at the stol
has not been curtailed or limited
He alleges that the complaina
has failed or refused to proper
feed and nourish his children; of
morning during the winter, when
was working at night, she refue
to get up and get the children a
breakfast, sometimes leaving shire
ded wheat biscuit and a little &C
densed milk with water on I
Atchen table for them, at ott
tipes leaving nothing at all If