The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-18
Prospective Aunts and Grand
ma Row; Father Silent.
THAT JITNEY DRIVING COUSINY
Another Man in Case With
Dark Hair and Eyes.
Husband Says He Joined Bat
terry to Get Away From 1t.


not be brought into the world before
Christmas time-was the indefinite
subject around which a fight was
waged in the court of Topeka today.
Prospective mother. aunts and grand
mother violated all the rules for court
procedure in setting forth their claims
for the prospective child while the
Irrespective father sat still and al
lowed them to fight it out.
When the case started there was
no baby involved in it. Hattie Bald
win had sworn to a complaint charg-
ing Ray Baldwin with wife desertion-
He had been arrested md was being
tried on that charge. The wife is
only II years of age. They were mar
ried May of this year.
There We're charges and counter
charges. which if proven would JUS
tify either in bringing divorce Pro-
eeedings. And incidentally it was
mention of divorce proceedings that
brought up the question of the child
Mrs. Baldwin testified that she is re-
sponsible from now on for the child
life as well as her own and she sought
to compel the husband to provide for
the child as well as for her.
Some one asked what would be
donc with the child if divorce We're
granted.
wen look after the child" volun
teered one of Baldwin's sisters.
Others seconded the motion.
II guess you'll not broke in Mrs.
Dorcas, mother of Hattie Baldwin, I'll
be its grandmother and I'll look after
that child"
None of you IS going to have it,
declared Mrs. Baldwin. the prospective
mother. III have it myself. l ought
to have something to say about it.
The whole argument was out of or
der but not more SO than much that
had gone before. Several times while
Mrs. Baldwin was testifying. Hazel
Baldwin, sister of the husband.
pointed hcr finger at the witness and
you did" or Il beg your pardon,
you didn't"
Bought Shoes Before Marriage.
Mrs. Baldwin testified that after
they were married May her husband
went to Maple Hill to work on a farm,
that he came home only about once a
month and that the total amount he
contributed to her support was eight
dollars. He bought her one pair of
shoes, she said, but that was a month
before they were married.
Baldwin enlisted in Battery A, and
she stated that the groceryman visited
her and demanded some money on
their bill. She had none and went to
the fair grounds, where the soldiers
were encamped, to ask her husband
Tor some of his pay.
rHe told me- she said. that he
could give me only two dollars; that
he had to pay the rest on a pool hall
debt. He told me to let the grocery
bill go He gave me two dollars
Mrs. Baldwin admitted she went to
the fair grounds in a jitney and that
the jitney driver went with her to see
her husband. She introduced the jit-
ney driver as a cousin from Holton."
The cousin from Holton bobs up fire.
ouently in the case. In fact, he is the
excuse upon which Baldwin hangs his
deSarfinO Baldwin admitted
der examination that she went
to a picture show with the cousin" :"
that she went to Garfield park with
him. and met him on Kansas avenue
She described him as having dark hair
and dark eyes. Baldwin has light hair
and light eyes.
= Her Idea of Joke.
Yes" blurted out Baldwin. "and
she asked my sister and me if it
wouldn't be a joke if her baby had
black hair and black eyes,
When Baldwin went on the stand
he declared he had done everything <
possible for his wife but that as soon
as they were married she seemed to
lose all interest in him. He admitted
he deserted her but excused himself.
81 heard while 1 was working at
Maple Hill that she was running
around with other men," he said.
when 1 came home she told me
that my mother told her she was
afraid to leave a nickel lying around
the house for fear I would steal it.
That anu the way my wife was acting
discouraged me and I joined the bat
terry to get away from it.
when I was released from the bat
terry after the examination, 1 came
back t. Topeka and went over to Gar
field park. That was July A. 1 saw
my wife there with that jitney- y-driving &
cousin of hers who wasn't any cousin
at all She didn't see me. The next
dag 1 went where she was working
and asked her what she meant by it.
She denied she was with the fellow
but admitted it later. I was willing to
do anything reasonable for her, but
I didn't think a man with any sense
would live with a woman after that
His Sisters Testify.
Sisters and friends of Baldwin were
put on the stand to testify having seen
Mrs. Baldwin with the jitney driver
during the husbands absence
A brother. Harry Baldwin, testified
that one night Mrs. Baldwin sat down
on his lap. put her arms around his
neck and kissed him. calling him her
''old sweetheart"
Mrs. Baldwin denied all except that
she sat on his lap and she declared
that as sister-in-law she thought she
had a perfect right to do that.
Baldwin testified that although they
had very little money his wife went to
the Santa Fe Watch company, bought
n falking machine and had it charged
to.him.
Mrs. Baldwin had testified that
Baldwin urged her to get out and
err some money"
fAll 7 said.'' said Baldwin, was wher
saw the machine in the house. told
her she would have to pay for it.
.'Yes." broke in Hazel Baldwin. land
she told me a wealthy uncle of hers