In this year leading up to Arizona's centennial, Feb. 14, 2012, we'll reprint a story or excerpts each day from the Arizona Daily Star or Tucson Citizen archives.
October 24, 1912
Francisco Tapia, who is charged with deserting his wife and six children, was before Judge Cooper yesterday morning, and agreed to pay $15 a month toward their living expense if he was not put in prison. He was placed under bond of $250, which he gave, and was told that he could remain free as long as he made the payments, but when the payments stopped he would have to suffer the penalty specified in such cases. Tapia doesn't make more than $25 a month, besides board and lodging.
Thomas Pou, charged with failure to support his wife and four children, will be before the court today. It is said that Pou has made as much as $1,500 during the past year, and that he has given his wife but $100 for her support. This has not been proved in court, but it will be brought up this morning.
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It is better to put such men under bond and make them work to support their families than it is to send them to prison. When they are sent to jail or to the penitentiary, as provided by the new law, the family is then thrown on the county, and that much expense is added.
Arizona Daily Star
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