Memorandum for Lieutenant King from Lieutenant Colonel Wigmore - July 9, 1918
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July 9, 1918. Memorandum for Lt. King from Lt. Colonel Wigmore This story should be filed away as of having considerable value for our motion film. John H. Wigmore JHW-sbm
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[Enclosure] Chicago July 9-[1918] Dear Sirs of Honor: I am taking the pleausure of writing in regard to a Wm. Frank who was in the first draft I do not know his draft number but he lives at 3434 Schubert ave Of he wrote the truth when he was filling out his questionare papers he would have been in France
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[page 2] by this time. He said he supported his wife ever since he married her, but its all a lie. He did not have a dollar she had to go to work 2 months after they were married he took her in a furnished room and she did not like it so she went to work and earned more money than he did, he was only a waiter earning about $10.00 and she was earning $14.00 and she works all the time but he made her swear to every thing he wrote in the questionare, she told me she was afraid he would
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[page 3] kill her in her sleep. She told me she is always afraid he will kill her some day because they have so many quarrels. We all met at a relation of ours last Sunday and all of us there are more or less related to each other. And when one of the men there asked him how he got in class 4 with his wife working all the time he said he would not be fool enough to put that down in the questionare. 2 years ago his wife told me he gave her a terrible scolding
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[page 4] about not having her windows clean, and she told him she can not be in the tailor shop all day and at the same time washing the windows, and then he started to break dishes, and she was going to pack her trunk and go home to her mother and then he cut up all her clothes. She was going to drink some poison lysol she had in the bath room and he stopped her.
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[page 5] He was boarding with one of his relations and I lived right near and I know what kind of a man he is. He was a regular pool room loafer and his wife met him at a dance and they were joking and he said he will not get married unless he got a wife that earns about $15.00 and she in a joke said when she gets married she would any thing for a man and that settled it
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[page 6] he would not let go of her any more they knew each other 3 weeks and got married but she was sorry ever since. I know that poor woman is very unhappy because she told me many a time she wish she could die. He is very selfish and hates to see her talk to any body. And every time he feels like staying home from
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[page 7] work he does so no matter how she begs him. He never worked much when he was single and owes me money for about 7 years and to some of his people for board also. My married brother enlisted in the army and his wife works. I know Mrs. Frank would be glad to see him get called for she has practically taken
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[page 8] care of her flat ever since she is married. The Germans in Europe have to go to war and leave wives and children behind that is why they are holding out so long. This Wm Frank is as good as single no children to care fore and the way he lied himself out of it is a shame. I do not mean to dictate to the President what men he should but some men are getting off too easy in such a peril as this Div. 64
Details
| Title | Memorandum for Lieutenant King from Lieutenant Colonel Wigmore - July 9, 1918 |
| Creator | Wigmore, John H. |
| Source | Wigmore, John H. Memorandum for Lieutenant King from Lieutenant Colonel Wigmore. 09 July 1918. Crowder, Enoch H. (1859-1932), Papers, 1884-1942. C1046. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this letter to Lieutenant King, Lieutenant Colonel John H. Wigmore enclosed a story that he believed should be kept for their motion film. In the letter, which was addressed to Sirs of Honor and signed Division 64, the author wished for William Frank to be drafted into the army because he had cheated on his questionnaire and mistreated his wife. This document is part of a collection compiled by Enoch Herbert Crowder, the Edinburg, Grundy County, Missouri native who served as Judge Advocate General devising the Selective Service Act in 1917 which drafted America's forces during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | Crowder, E. H. (Enoch Herbert), 1859-1932; Draft; World War, 1914-1918--Public opinion; World War, 1914-1918--Women |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Selective Service Act of 1917; Selective Draft Act |
| Site Accession Number | C1046 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | July 8, 1918 |
| Language | English |