Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-08
AWAITED OFFICERS
WITH SHOT GU N
BUT TAKEN SAFELY
Cunningham Threatened Court,
Witnesses, and SWOre
Loudly

An ordinary hearing with extraor-
binary evidence was just drawing to
a close in Judge Lancaster's court
Thursday afternoon when a dramatic
episode was staged which had not
hearing was not exactly a non-support
case. if the simple truth be told. for
the evidence went to show that Clin-
ton J. Cunningham Of Gage street
place has for some time derived his
support from the earnings of his chill
dren; and, further than that, witnesses
testified that the father not only al
lowed his offspring to support him
but abused his children cruelty.
1t was stated by witnesses that on
one occasion Cunningham chased his
daughter Bernice with butcher knife
and she sought refuge behind a bolted
door and on that or another occasion
she escaped from the house by drop
ping out of a second story window.
The action at law was brought to sep
arate the children from the father
and place them in a proper place. 1t
was stated that the churches and
charitable societies and kindly per-
sons have done nearly all that has
been done for the children in relation
to their school experience and in pro-
viding suitable clothing. According to
the testimony, Cunningham has not
worked for a long time. He is SO years
of age.
Five children were in the court.
Bernice. Is years Of age. a worker in
CHI oh~ =
week in wages, all which according to
the testimony is weekly turned over to
the father: Abbie and Rachel. twins,
Is years of age; Eleanora. IA years of
age; and Henry, the S-year-o1d son,
who has had only as much schooling
as is necessary in order to be a pupil
in Grade 1.
After listening to the testimony of
six witnesses the court decided that
the father is not a. suitable person to
have the care of the children and the
court ordered that they be placed in
the care of Mrs. Ada F. Hunt, agent
for the protection Of children
Enter-the man Cunningham and
the dramatic episode! Believing loud
ly, threatening everybody in the court
room, heaping profane epithets upon
Mrs. Hunt, Judge Lancaster. Truant
Officer Brunell, Superintendent of
Schools Stuart, and others whom his
eye discovered, Cunningham entered
his objections to the entire proceed
ing. He seemed to wish especially to
vent his spleen upon Mrs. Hunt and
Judge Lancaster and warned them
both that he was not through with
them and that they were bound ulti-
mately for most undesirable section
of eternity. His breath and other
symptoms easy of diagnosis convinced
Judge Lancaster and others present
that the man was backed up by John
Barleycorn.
The children evinced signs of fright
forthwith and chung to the skirts Of
new-fourd friend. The Oldest daughter,
Bernice. plainly shared the fear Of the
father, who exercised a powerful control
over her which betokened something 9TH
er than filial love and struck obedience
into her feet so that she followed him
away from City hall at his command.
The other four shrank away from him
and were not quiet in mind Thursday
night until their new found friends in
formed them that their father could not
come near them that night at any rate
by reason of his being a resident of the
cell room in City hall.
officers were quickly in pursuit Of Cum
ningham to bring the girl Bernice back
to Mrs. Hunt. but when Mrs. Hunt and
Marshal Harwood arrived at the Gun