Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 288, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1912 — WIFE DESERTER IN JAIL IN RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

WIFE DESERTER IN JAIL IN RENSSELAER

Charles Elder Arrested at Danville, DU pn Grand Jury IndictmentTrial Wednesday. Charles Elder, who left Rensselaer two years agi) last July, leaving behind a wife and three children, whom ii Is alleged he 'has totally failed to support, is now in the Rensselaer jail and will be tried tomorrow on a charge bf wife desertion. The grand jury returned an indictment when it met at the November term of court. Sheriff Hoover was given the warrant to serve and was informed that Elder was employed at Danville as a carpenter. He at once arranger for the requisition of Elder and as soon as the papers had been sighed by Governor Marshall of Indiana and Governor Deneen of Illinois he telegraphed a description of Elder to the sheriff at Danville. Saturday night he w'as informed that Elder was being held there. Sheriff Hoover left here Sunday morning on the 11:09 train but was delayed by a late Wabash train and did not reach Danville until after midnight. lie arrived here with Elder Monday morning. Elder did not seem to realize the importance of the action against him and on the way over he told Sheriff Hoover that he was anxious to get back to work and thought he would plead guilty. When he arrived here, however, and was taken into court, he was made to understand that a plea of guilty would mean a penitentiary sentence.. He then changed his mind and employed W. H. Parkinson as counsel. * _ Elder’s wife and children have been the objects of a great amount of charity. Ix>cal aid has been given them so two or three years and the township has paid out considerable money for their support. Elder is an able-bodied man and ns a carpenter makes good wages. It is understood that he will try to justify his absence by claiming that his wife is not computable, but this will not be sufficient to excuse his failure to provide for her and the children. The case will bo called before Judge Hanley tomorrow morning.