The defendant was granted a decree of divorce on Aug. 16, 1922. She was also awarded custody of their 4 minor children- ages 15,14,11, and 9. The petitioner charges that the defendant has not been conducting herself properly since the divorce decree was granted. She has been guilty of both drunkenness and lewdness. She has become pregnant and has deserted the minor children, leaving them to fend for themselves. Petitioner seeks custody of the children.

Julia W. Capers at age 21 in 1865 then named Spicer married the defendant. During their marriage they had two children. The defendant after a year of marriage became a drunkard. She says that it has become intolerable to live with him since he uses profanity and language toward her that would not be fit to address a slave with. In March or April 1871 he approached her with an open knife saying "I will cut your damned throat." Her brother prevented him from doing so. This is one of many violent acts.

William married Susan Rolles in 1847. She left him several times, claiming he was committing adultery. They accused each other of trying to poison him. The night before Susan left she dropped her baby into the fireplace & it was burned on the fireplace plate. William sued for custody of the children. She accused Wm. fathering a child w/ an enslaved woman, offering her freedom if she testified. Her parents died leaving a big estate she was heir to.

Riley Gilliam is looking to get custody of his son Leon whom Ruthie Gilliam took with her when she left him and has been keeping at the home of her mother.

Plaintiff seeks to have earlier custody ruling thrown out due to a technicality, and to be awarded sole custody of the child, whose father is Defendant.

Plaintiff claims that she should have custody of the children because the defendant's behavior during the marriage was cruel.