Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 290, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1912 — ELDER CONVICTED OF WIFE DESERTION [ARTICLE]

ELDER CONVICTED OF WIFE DESERTION

Court Offers Release if He Can Give Ball to Pay S2O Monthly for Support of Family. After hearing the evidence which the state introduced against Charles Elder, charged with desertion of his wife and three children, the jury Wednesday evening brought in a verdict of guilty. Only one ballot was taken and the jury was out only about ten minutes. The state was represented by Attorneys Frank Davis and Moses Leopold and it was shown that Elder left here In July, 1910, and had not provided for .his wife and children since that time. He had been living at Danville 111., since’ then, working as a carpenter Mrs. Elder claimed tbar her husband had never sent her a cent for lfer support during the two years and a half he had been away. She said that she had written to him and asked him to support herself "and children and had asked him to come home and live with them, but that he had not answered. She produced one letter he .had written which told her that if she wanted a divorce he would pay for it and would give her the three children. He stated in the letter that he would not live with her and that .he proposed to get a divorce at any cost. This letter served as a doom to his chance of release. Attorney Parkison tried to make a case justifying the absence of Elder but there was very little ground to work upon. In his testimony he said that himself and wife did not get along agreeably but he did not point to any specific act of hers that was vicious. He claimed to have received a letter after his disappearance in which .his wife had told him that she did not want any of his assistance. He said he had carried the letter a long time and then burned it up. Judge Hanley Informed him that he had destroyed his evidence. Elder claimed to have sent her $5 after he had been away about a month and that he stated it was for shoes for the children and that she used it for another purpose. He claimed to have sent her a total of sl4 at other times, through his father and sister, which they had spent for the wife and children. Mrs. Elder said she had never received a cent from him directly but that her husband’s father, David Elder, had frequently aided her. Trustee Parkison testified to having paid her house rent and to having given her other assistance. It was shown that she had been given considerable through charitable organizations. Judge Hanley prefers not isending Elder'to the penitentiary if there is any chance of him supporting his family and he has given him a chance to furnish Adequate bond that he will contribute S2O each month to the support of his family. Failure to do this would result in hlh incarceration. The arrangement had not been adjuste* yet this Thursday afternoon.