Evening star., 1952-08-15
Wife Testifies
Husband Did Not
AgreetoSteri|ity
Only She Consented,
Mrs. Williams Tells
Jury Trying Doctor
By Jock Jonos
Stor Stoff Correspondent "

DT JUN JOU0S
Star Staff Correspondent
FRONT ROYAL, Va, Aug. 15.-
1rs. Ella Williams told a Warren
county Circuit Court jury today
hat she gave her consent for an
'peration to make her sterile, but
would not have done so if she had
,nown her husband did not agree.
The 23-year-old mother of four
children took the stand today in
of her husbands claim
or $4,000 damages from DR.. Lyle
I. Hansbrough, who performed
he operation June 8. 1880 fol-
owing the birth of Mrs. Williams
,hird child.
She testified that after the op-
her husband, a 26-year-
Did electrician, lost interest in
her, in the family and in his job,
and seemed morose.
Says He Provided for Her.
Despite her filing of two nom
support warrants against her hus-
band during her married life, Mrs.
Williams said he always had pro-
vided adequately for her and the
well as he could"
She denied telling DR.. Hans
brough that her husband had
agreed to the operation. She said
she wanted the operation and ex-
planned:
"T'he reason I didn't want any
more children at that time was
because I didn't think I could
take care of the children. 1 felt
that I had had them too close
together"
Both Mrs. Williams and her
Mrs. Minnie v. Scrivener,
testified that Dr.. Hansbrough
threatened us both" to perform
another operation to make her
fertile again if her husband re-
fused to sign papers agreeing to
the operation after it had been
performed.
"Sit Still" Order Given.
At one point during Mrs. Will
Jams testimony, one of the de-
tense attorneys objected streru-
ously to what he termed Attorney
Alfred M. Hickman's signaling to
the witness by shaking his head.
Mr.. Hickman denied just as
strenuously that he had been CIV
ing any coaching to Mrs. Williams.
The judge ordered the Williams
attorney to refrain from shaking
his head while Mrs. Williams was
Nature has confounded the suit.
1t was only two weeks ago that
Mrs. Williams gave birth to her
fourth child.
Il darn near swallowed my
teeth" Mr.. Hickman said during
a brief recess in the trial yester-
day. ut was beautiful case until
CIldC pdDy came along.
Surprise to Husband, Too.
Mr.. Williams told the jury Of
seven men and two women that
the birth was quite a surprise to
him, also. He testified he didn't
know until three days before the
baby was born that it was on the
way.
The suit is being tried anyway
N an attempt to get an answer
to the legal question: Is a hus-
bands consent necessary for a
;terility operation?
After much legal wrangling,
Circuit Court Special Judge Ham
lton Haas of Warren County
'uled yesterday that only oues-
ions bearing on the serility is
,ue could be asked.
Mr.. Williams testified he first
earned of the operation when he
,alled to inquire about his wife's
release from the hospital. He
aid he was told his wife had had
an operation and could not go
home.
He said he called his private
loctor and was told to call DR..
Iansbrough.
Had Two Bottles of Beer.
II stopped at the Dinner Bell
md had two bottles of beer" Mr..
Williams said. Then called on
9r. Hansbrough. I told him
lidn't give my permission for any
operation.
He said the doctor told him:
The operations done now, and
t can't be undone. You're drunk.
| don't want you in the hospital
ike this"
The following. day, Mr.. Will
liams said, he returned to the
hospital. where his mother -in-law
pleaded with him to sign a release
giving his permission for that OPP
so the doctor wouldn't
perform another operation.
DR.. Hansbrough, Mr.. Williams
said, told him that if he didn't
;ign the release, he would per-
'orm another operation on Mrs.
Williams to make her fertile
again.
"She was my wife. and I didn't
;hink she could stand all that
,utting," Mr.. Williams testified.
I didn't want to see her treated
-like-cut again."
Refused to Sign, He Says.
Even so. he said he refused to
ign the release. Then, on June
1, he said he went back to the
hospital and took his wife home.
In his opening statement to the
ury, Mr.. Hickman, said he would
resent a birds-and-bees lesson
n the biological processes that
ring pregnancy.
He said he would show the "ar-
ogance of the defendant and his
Tanton and reckless disregard Of
he rights of the plaintiff"
There is something greater
han ollr own knowledge he said