The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-10
STEP-CH|LDREN !.
Defendants IN
/ ACTION BY WIFE
Continued from First Page.)

ficer was disappointed that he had
not become the father Of son. He
referred to this frequently, says the
now, estranged wife Of the officer.
1he couple became separated, Colonel
4 butcher going to Camp DIX and later
TO Fort Hamilton. N. Y, where he
became Ill.
"He did not live up to his pleadings
to me to make him the happiest
man I'm the world by marrying him"
declared Mrs. butcher. Our separa-
ton became agreeable. He gave me
$3.50 a month for the expenses Of my
self and his child" ls
Sends For Wife.
1t was while Colonel butcher was
1, Ill at Fort Hamilton that his con-
science apparently disturbed him, ac-
cording to his young wife. He sent
4 for her to visit him. He pleaded, she
Claims, with her to forgive him-to
start life over again. g.
He assured me-" Mrs. butcher
says, that II he got well he would
be a different man-that ne would
make up. In the years to come, his
neglect and indifference to me since
his return from France. He pleaded
that remain at his bedside, COM
fort him In his illness, and relieve his
conscience stricken mind. He said he
wrongs he had done me-"
Under the circumstances. what else
was ! to do? OF course, I forgave him.
What else was l to do? believed in
his sincerity. l believed in his contri-
ton, and forgave everything.
Everything went along nicely until
November 10, 1919, when Colonel
butcher was ordered to Walter Reed
Hospital for observation and treat
inI n un
gagged an apartment on Georgia ave-
nue., near the hospital, so he could
visit me when not undergoing treat.
ment."
Colonel Flirted, Wife Asserts.
From then on the troubles of Mrs.
butcher were renewed, according 10
her petition. She says the colonel
started Irritation with "a woman
across the hall" in the apartment
house.
with this woman my husband be-
came quite intimate and they ex-
changed visits" Mrs. butcher says.
'She brought him fruit and candy, and
they on one occasion went to q the
ater."
Mrs. butcher says this woman will
be summoned as a witness at the
trial of her suit for divorce. Because
of the alleged intimacy of 1.-The woman
across the hail." Mrs. butcher in
sisted upon moving from the
apartment house to Takoma Park
in April, 1920, later again moving to
the house on Grafton street, in Chevy
Chase. 1t was here that, a second
daughter was born to Mrs. butcher.
With the return VI the two daugh-
tiers Of Colonel butcher by his first
wife to the Chevy Chase home I'm the
summer Of 1920, Mis-. butcher alleges
they influenced their father against
her and the two baby girls. She as
serts she was FREQ uently ordered to
leave the house by Catherine butcher,
the Oldest stepdaughter-that she
frequently was locked out, and that
she narrowly escaped arrest last
August when she kicked I'm q French
window of the Grafton street home
VI her husband after being locked out.
/ Finding the doors and windows
ocked, Mrs. butcher kicked in the
window, and, dashing into the house,
eeized her two daughters and some
personal belongings and made her
Escape just as Justice Of the Peace
Upton Perrell and Deputy Shertffs
Edward Caywood and Aaron Trail
came upon the scene after having
been telephoned for, she says, by Cath
brine butcher.
STuelty 10 DaDy OndrgeQ.
Pointing to reasons why she feels
Der husband detests their two children,
Mrs. butcher asserts that on one &C.
casion her daughter, Catherine. aged
then about one year, while playing in
the house in the presence Of Colonel
butcher, the father, had her hand
caught in a rat trap.
Colonel Dutcher," says Mrs. Dutch
br, stood idly by while the child was
shrieking with pain, and refused to
take the trap from the child's hand.
When 1 adinOnished him for his ap-
parent brutality, he said, She was
foolish enough to put II In the trap,
now let her get her hand out"
On another occasion, Mrs. butcher
says, the, child, while tottering after
Colonel butcher, stumbled and fell
On a concrete step cutting her head.
Mrs butcher says the father re-
fused to pick her up, and, although
q physician and surgeon, refused to
give her any aid or attention, saying:
HShe fell down, now let her get up,"
warning the mother against fondling
her on the ground that such an act
would not prevent her stumbling
again.
HE was strict disciplinarian,
hven in his own house, to me and our
On another occasion, Mrs. butcher
declares, while the family We're at
dinner oyster stew was served. Colonel
butcher is alleged to have insisted
upon the fourteen.month-old daughter
eating some of the oysters and stew.
''The child refused" says Mrs. butcher.
~My husband then became enraged.
He made the baby eat the stew and
an oyster. The little girl becarssS nau-
seated. But the father insisted the
child again eat the oyster"
Continuing, Mrs. butcher declares,
us tears welled in her eyes:
"These incidents caused differences
TO arise, and the maternal instinct of
a mother in me asserted itself to such
an extent that several unpleasant cpl
rodes occurred. I could not under
stand how a father could be so In
human to his own, or any other child,
for that matter.
eft came to me that Colonel
butcher had no further love for me