Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-03
ME|NzER BOY
KEPT IN CELLAR
According to the Evidence
Brought Out in Chancery
Court in So. Amboy Case.
WANT CUSTODY OF CHILD
Mrs. Miriam Williams Sues
Dentist and Wife--Boy Not
Properly Cared for, Claim

Properly Cared for, Claim
By Special Correspondent.
= NEWARK, Dec. 3-Because he
had no manners at all" made an
awful noise when he ate," and was
unruIy. Edwin +. Meinzer, the IL
year-old son of DIR. Louis +. Meinzer,
dentist. of South Amboy and Asbury
Park. was kept in the cellar of the
Meinzer South Amboy home. accord
ing to evidence brought out yester-
day before Vice Chancellor Backes,
in the chancery court in the SUIT
brought by the child's grandmother,
Mrs, Miriam Williams, against his
father and Mrs. Lillian Meinzer, who
the dentist married in 1915, two
years after the death of his first wife.
Edwin's mother.
Some months ago Mrs. Williams
brought action in the Middlesex
county court under the child well
fare act, the purpose being to obtain
the custody of her grandson on the
ground that he was not properly
cared for. This action was dropped
when DR.. Meinzer's attorney ques-
toned the constitutionality of the
statute under which the action was
instituted. The chancery case was
then brought.
Says Boy was Abused
Mrs. Williams. who is represented
by Attorney John Coan, of South
Amboy, alleges that Edwin is neg
lected and abused, and that the
chronic ailment from which he suf-
fers-bronchial asthma-is not CIV
en- the medical attention 1t should
receive. Also, according to her testi-
mony, it is the habit of Mrs. Meinzer
to send her stepson to the cellar and
compel him to stay there through
fear of what will happen to him if
he doesn't.
The principal witness against the
dentist and his wife was Mrs. Luella
Morgan. Mrs. Meinzer's sister. She
told o. edwin having to eat in the
kitchen and of the dirty and unkept
room in which the boy slept. She
told of fixing the room up. as her
sister never went near 1t.
Mrs. Miriam Baldwin. sister of
the first Mrs. Meinzer, testified: THE
whole town OF South Amboy was
talking about the way the boy was
treated" She said she went to DR..
Meinzer about the matter and he
told her he knew nothing about 1t.
Starved for Love
Mrs. Mary SouthW1ck, of South
Amboy, testified: "Dr. Meinzer ask
ed me to take Edwin for visit so
that he would not be abused by his
stepmother. She told of getting
meals for Edwin on Sundays and
weekdays so that his parents might
80 motoring. Miss Celia Southwick
testified that Edwin seemed starved
fer love and companionship.
Dr. Meinzer contradicted on di-
rect testimony most of the petition
er's witnesses. Under cross-exami-
nation by Mr.. Coan, however. he
suuirmed and hesitated and contra
dicted himself. He admitted there
was no steam heat in Edwin's bed
room. Asked if he was satisfied to
have his son with the grandmother
in Manasquan, he replied affirma-
lively.
Mrs. Meinzer's demeanor on the
stand was in conspicuous contrast
to the agitation displayed by her
husband. 1t was developed by the
courts questioning that there was
considerable distinction in the wit
ness's treatment of Edwin and her
own son, Chester. four, who made
himself as much at home in court
as if he had been in his nursery.
She admitted having written Mrs.
Morgan, her sister, a postal accusing
her of causing all the trouble.
II was kept in the cellar when a
parade was passing" he continued,
but l saw it anyway from a window
in the cellar"
He testified his stepmother
thought he wouldn't get into trouble
if he remained i'll the celler when he
wasn't in school. II had to take my
baths in a washtub down in that
cellar" he testiefid. Mother
4 brought the clothing to me, and |
had to wash myself. and put it on
myself"
Everything Edwin added, "ev-
erything happens is blamed on me"
The vice chancellor suggested an
arrangement might be made where
by the grandmother could call to see
Edwin at the parental home. Mrs.
Meinzer said it would be agreeable.
On the stand Edwin declared that
his home was happy and that his
stepmother never whipped him.
Following this statement, Vice
Chancellor Backes ordered the faith
er, stepmother and grandmother
from the court room. Then Edwin
admitted he was compelled to re-
main in the cellar of his home and
was not permitted to take food from
the refrigerator as his 4-year-oid
stepbro.her did.
Mother slapped me-" Edwin said
then explained that a slapping is
with the hand and a whipping with
a stick. He said he never told sto-
ries and that he did not want to &c
to boarding school.
As to candy-he got it from a
tree. "A tree?" he was asked. Yes
he said his father put his candy or
a tree top and he would climt
for it.
Called to the stand. Mrs. Meinzer
stepmother, said her husband pu'
the candy there for Edwin so ker
little boy-she emphasized the
''her'-wouldn't get it. as she had
forbidden him to eat candy.
Mrs, Meinzer said both boys were
unruly. She declared Edwin made
an awful noise when he ate and il
was her endeavor to teach him how
tc eat quietly.
DIR. Meinzer admitted Edwin had
not been given proper care and thai
he wasn't properly nourished. bu
said he had mo manners at all"
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