The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-22
lIR DOMESTIC
TROUBLES IN
COUNTY COURT


Domestic troubles involving three
erring husbands in the net Of the
law for failure to provide prop
erly for wives and children we're
untangled by Judge N. A. Larson
In county court this morning. The
husbands were ordered to pay I'M
der penalty Of commitment to Jail.
In q fourth case, the defendant
was sent to Jail for contempt.
Otto Arndt was committed to the
county Jail for 10 days for con-
tempt.
Arndt lives In Joliet. He was
brought to Rock Island yesterday
by Sheriff John Miller on COM
plant Of a sister residing in this
city. Arndt was ordered to pay
$12 per month towards the support
OF his mother, who lives in Rock
Island. when arraigned in county
court last September.
He left the city and has not COM
piled with the court order.
Arndt pleaded that he has been
unable to pay the money because
of lack OF work. He says he has
not been employed since July and
has had sick wife to care for.
Judge Larson told him to take 10
days to think it over.
John Merry, 1903 Fifth avenue,
Moline, was ordered to pay $50 a
month for the support of his two
children. Complainant was his
wife, Mary Merry.
Mrs. Merry said her husband left
her in July. 1919, and went to live
with his mother. They were living
In East Moline at that time, and
the wife continued to reside there,
but after the first month found the
$50 was not sufficient and went to
work.
Her husband had agreed to give
that amount when he left, she said,
but upon learning that she was
working he arbitrarily reduced it
to $25.
Mrs. Merry said she was obliged
to give up her home because OF
finances and 60 to live in two fur
nished rooms at Sc per week. Her
children were left in care of a sis
ter while the mother went out to
work in a factory.
Remittarces of SIS monthly from
the husband and father became ir-
regular, she said. Merry claimed
he was sick and unable to work
during those periods, she said Re
Gently he gave her $3.50, the first
money in six weeks.
Merry admitted that when he left
his family. he agreed to pay $50 a
month to support the children, but
he said an attorney for his wife
had advised her to have it cut to
SIS when she went to work.
He said he was a machinist at
the Silvis shops. working steadily
for IS cents per hour. However,
during various illnesses he was un-
able to work, and consequently not
able to maintain his support, be
said.
Judge Larson considered that
$50 was not too much for him to
pay out OF $3.50 he receives in
wages.
Elvin Niblack. $40 Twenty first
street. was arraigned for neglect
OF his children on complaint OF
Police Matron Anna Kirkman and
Poormaster Charles Oswald. Mrs
Niblack said she didn't know any
thing about it. as her husband had
said he was sick and could not
work, and she had no reason to dis
believe him. She said her 10-year-
old son and herself we're working
and maintaining the family.
Mr.. Oswald characterized Mr.
Niblack as mo good" He said
that his investigation Of the family
revealed that Niblack had asked aid
Of every county in which he has
lived. He said physician pro
nounced the mans health good.
Mrs. Kirkman said she found
nothing in the house that could be
eaten and the children in rags.
The Judge gave Niblack three
alternatives: Get regular job. gel
get out Of town. or go to Jail.
John Bourbulas. 1924 Fifth ave
nue., said he had some trouble with
his father-in-law and decided tc
get out Of town. His wife had him
in court for non-support-
Bourbulas was frank. He said
he had quit his job yesterday and
was preparing to go to Des Moines
without his wife and child.
The court ordered him to get his
Job back and pay S. week to the
other portion of the family.