HAS WIFE LOCKED
IN POLICE STATION.
DRUNKEN HUSBAND SAYS HE
WANTS TO REFORM HER.
Is Himself Responsible for Her Con-
dition and the Drunker of the
Two -- Won't Stop Drink-
ing, He Says.
Jsut at 9 o'clock last night a heavy-set, well dressed man, with dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes, weaved his uncertain way into police headquarters and asked where he could "get an officer right away." The man was plainly drunk.
He was referred to Lieutenant James Morris to whom, in broken sentences, he told this story: "I want my wife arrested. She drinks and I can't stop her. I want to have her locked up in here for the night and fined in police court in the morning. I will see that her fine is paid. I think it will do her good." Just then the man staggered back a few steps, hiccoughed, grinned and said: "What d'ye think of it?"
"Where is your wife?" asked Lieutenant Morris.
"In a hack outside," the man replied. "Oh, you can get her all right, all right. Y' see, I want to break her of drinking, see?"
When Patrolman Rogers was sent out to the hack to bring in the woman the husband hid in a side room, saying in an undertone, "I don't want her to know that I had anything to do with this, see?"
Rogers had to return for help and he and Jailer Phil Welsh took the woman before the sergeant's desk to be booked. She was a slender little creature, fair complexion, with wavy light brown hair which had become unfastened and hung loosely around her shoulders. She was pretty and was attired in the latest fashion. A friend of the complaining husband carried a large picture hat which had fallen off in the hack.
"Shall we place her in the matron's room for safe keeping or put her in jail with a charge against her?" asked Lieutenant Morris of the husband.
"Put a charge against her," he replied brokenly. "Y'see I want to break her. See."
The little woman told her name, giving the same name and initials as the complainant. She was then led down the long iron steps to the women's quarters. Not until the cell door was opened with a bang did she realize what was happening. Then she struggled weakly for a moment. In turning she saw her husband. Raising her hands in the attitude of prayer, she begged him, calling him by his first name, not to have her locked up. In his condition, however, the husband was obdurate. He was even stern.
"Do your duty, offishur," he said, trying to look dignified.
Lieutenant Morris booked the woman only as a "safe keeper," however.
The hack driver who took the people to the police headquarters said he got them at a cafe at Eighth and Central streets. Then the man wanted to go to a hotel, but when one was reached he changed his mind; he asked to be driven to "a good saloon." They were taken to a place on Grand avenue where both drank. After that he asked to be taken to the Memphis hotel, Tenth and McGee sterets, but when the cab reached there the man had again changed his mind and asked to be driven to police headquarters. That was done.
"They were quarreling all the way," said the hack driver. "I objected to taking the woman to the station for he was as drunk as she, but he was paying the bills and he had his way."
The name the man gave is not in the city directory, but it is said he is an insurance agent.
