The Deserted Husband's Tale of Woe

A case came up in Justice Hall’s court yesterday which attracted considerable attention. The plaintiff was a good-looking man about thirty-five years old, Henry A. Derr, who had brought a suit against another man somewhat younger, charging him with criminal intimacy with his wife. Mr. Derr, who works as superintendent of Hach’s sawmill at Snohomish, explained the circumstances: 'Last summer my boarder, Charles Weber, came to the mill. He was out of employment and I gave him a job at the mill. After work he was badly injured. I took him to my own house and cared for him until he became well. During this time, my wife decided to go east to visit her folks. I persuaded her to let Weber stay in the house while she was away. Some time later I learned that she had returned, but instead of stopping at home, she had come on to Seattle, joining the boarder. The evidence was that they left the town and are living in open and notorious adultery with my boarder. I immediately came to the city and laid my case before the authorities. I want to separate from the woman who has wronged me, and I want the custody of the children.' When Mr. Haines, the attorney for the defense, began the cross-examination, the Justice stopped the proceedings. Justice Hall found the defendant guilty and fined him for the same at $50. Neither was able to pay, and both were remanded to the custody of the sheriff.