The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-29
NEGLECT OF CHILD
CAUSE Of Staying
Mrs. Cumming Tells Why She
Killed Prominent Virginia
ri Attorney
(continued from First PaseJ


that overlooks historic Hampton
Roads. The shooting. while creating
a sensation Of course. did not cause
any great surprise.
Matte Ann Jester was married to 8.
Gordon Cumming on March is. 1914.
Several years previous to that time,
Cumming had won her love. although
he was then q married man. He did
not secure a divorce until after he
had become acquainted with Miss Jes-
ter. who at the time was an attractive
young woman, the daughter OF fish
erman. She loved Cumming, and trust
ed him, despite the fact that she knew
that he was married.
Seeks to Shield BOY.
After he secured divorce from his
first wife, Miss Jester begged and
pleaded with him to marry her so that
her little boy, then two years old, the
son of Cumming. could have name.
After much pleading, Cumming did
marry her. but before he consented
to give her his name, he compelled
her to sign an agreement. in the pres
ence OF witnesses. whereby she was
to sue for a divorce on Any legal
ground that might arise, and in which
agreement 1t was stipulated that Cum
H1luk WAS " pay HCI ~ "CVh Aoi
the Support of herself and Cummings
little boy.
Matte Jester signed the agreement.
The marriage ceremony was perform
ed and the divorce was granted, but
not until Mrs. Cumming carried the
case to the highest court of the State.
Even after the legal speration. Cum
ming is declared to have paid atten-
ton to Mrs. Cumming. but he was
very cruel to her. according to the
womans statement. She begged him
to allow her more money to support
herself and his child. To all her
pleadings he turned a deaf ear.
&c To BED Hungry.
She declares that she and her little
boy have gone to bed many nights
with nothing to eat, and no coal in
the house to keep them warm.
Cumming a prosperous lawyer. was
a power in Hampton. He had means.
He had influence. He went Off on
long trips, spent money, lived well.
and enjoyed himself. His boy, Mrs.
Cummings charges, his own flesh and
blood. went to bed without food, while
his father enjoyed the. comforts that
money brings a prosperous man.
II could not stand IL any longer"
Mrs. Cumming sobbed in her cell, in
the Hampton jail.
TT preyed on my mind, night and
day. 1 have hoped and prayed that
some one would find a way out for
me-. That something would turn the
heart of Mr.. Cumming; that he would
see the sufferings of his own son, and
keep us from want.
Turns Down Appeals.
81 appealed to him tipe and again.
He turned from me. He threatened
me. He even threatened to take my
boy from me. He said IL 1 continued
to ask him for money to support his
boy he would have the child taken
from me. l could not bear to see
that.
Kenneth is now FIVE years old. He
has been my only comfort in life. Al
though we have suffered and strug.
gled along on barely enough to keep
a bird alive, he was always a comfort
to me. ] could not bear to have him
taken from me. knew Mr.. Cumming
was powerful and had considerable
influence. 1 knew he could have the
child taken from me, but / begged
him to let me keep him and to help
me buy clothes and food for him.
He refused. He tried to dodge me