"The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Tuesday, April 25, 1899 SHE PLEADED FOR HER LORD. After having her husband arrested and convicted in police court yesterday morning for theft and failure to support her, Mrs. Herman WILKE then turned to Judge BURNHAM and pleaded with him not to sentence her husband to the work- house as the judge threatened to do. The little wife stood before Judge BURNHAM, with her baby in her arms, and told how her husband abused and neglected her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she told the story, and she broke completely down before she was half through. Her father and mother both appeared and told how their daughter was mistreated and how they had WILKE arrested Sunday night for disorderly conduct. WILKE and his wife were married just after the great St. Louis cyclone. They met for the first time the night of the cyclone and the romantic manner of their meeting led to a speedy marriage. Her home was wrecked by the great storm and she was caught and held fast by some fallen timbers. He rescued her and thus began a story which rounded up in police court yesterday with all the romance knocked out of it. "Shall I send him to the workhouse a year?" the judge asked. "O, no; please don't, judge," the little woman pleaded. "I could do it with good grace, because I believe he is a wretch." "He'll do better, judge; let him go." "Well, then fix it up between yourselves if you can. I am willing." When the romance ended duty began. They went away together arm in arm, for better or for worse. ====================================================== (I have no connection with this family but I'd appreciate knowing if you found this posting helpful.) johnobrien@kc.rr.com ======================================================