The Custody Battle of 1892

The troubles of John M. Moore and his wife were brought into the divorce court yesterday. Both parties are willing to be divorced, but the bone of contention is their 11-year-old boy, Willis. Mrs. Moore testified that her husband had drank for years, was cross, and quarrelsome, and had provided poorly for her. Last summer he went away to Los Angeles and was gone for several months, during which time she received nothing from him and was compelled to support herself and the boy. Several neighbors testified to Moore's getting drunk and raising disturbances. The boy, Willie, a bright-faced little fellow, was sworn and told the court that his mother had taken care of him, while his father had neglected him. He preferred to stay with his mother. Moore was the first witness in his own behalf. His story was that he and his wife were married thirteen years ago in Marshalltown, Iowa, and their relations were pleasant until last July, when, while working as a carpenter, he fell from a scaffold and injured his leg. He supposed then that she preferred a man with two good legs. He had gone to Los Angeles and was in the hospital for weeks. When he returned to Seattle he found his wife had formed an affection for Lieutenant Sullivan of the fire department. For the sake of his boy he tried to keep the matter quiet, and finally consented to drop out if he could have the boy. He admitted getting drunk, but said he had never taken liquor to excess until after the trouble with his wife.