Atlanta Daily World

DAD OF 'HIS
CHILD NOT
A NEGRO

WASHINGTON, July 12—(CNS)

Charging that his wife induced him into the marriage state by fraud and deceit without his knowledge, William Edwards of 1717 N. Thirteenth Street, Northwest has filed suit for an annulment of his marriage with Lucille P. Edwards, nee Lucille Poindexter.

In his bill of particulars Edwards that he met Lucille Poindexter in 1927 and did not see her again until 1928 when he met her on several occasions at the home of her friends and at entertainments. His first intimation that she had any interest in him was when she called asking him to meet her at the Garnett Patterson school located at 10th and U Streets, Northwest. He alleges that he kept the appointment and much to his surprise she suggested marriage. He claims that he sought to discourage her and suggested that she seek elsewhere for a husband. Despite this action on his part he further claims that she persisted in calling him on the phone to arrange appointments which he kept. Each time she renewed her request that he marry her. Due to her persistency, he finally yielded to her importunities, procured a license in May 1930 but could not make up his mind to have the ceremony performed until a month later, when in response to her continual pleadings he consented.

In the bill he relates that between the date of his securing the license and the marriage his friends hinted to him that his future wife was loose and unchaste and warned against marriage. He alleges that when he confronted her with this information she indignantly denied it, asserted her innocence and protested that she had always been a virtuous woman.

Shortly after their marriage he alleges that he discovered that she was pregnant and his suspicions became aroused as to the paternity of the child, but his wife satisfied his doubts for a while.

After the birth of the child at Garfield Hospital December 14, 1930 he says that he visited her and when shown the child immediately perceived it to be white. He and his wife, both are dark skinned with typical Negroid features, whereas the child's features were decidedly caucasian and its complexion white. When questioned at a later visit he states that he was told by his wife that this condition was due to the fact that the nurse had used Johnson's Talcum powder with bleaching creme on the baby's skin and that the child would remain white as long as this preparation was used.

Questioned on her release from the hospital she testified according to his report that the father of the child was a white man, who threatened to kill her if she revealed his identity. He has learned the name of the man involved in the case and is planning to sue him for conspiracy, charging that the man suggested to Mrs. Edwards that she marry a colored man when she learned of her condition.

Edwards asks the court that his marriage be annulled.