Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-22
WHO OWN THE BABIES ?
The Sole Legal Right TO the Children
Rests in tho Father in All Except
Three OF the States.
Although Most Of tho Men DoL't Know ~,
aud " They pid wculd Not Assert Thoir
Right Hs Against the Mother


sfANl RNShN ~ hfNeNNh 0ANANF
Millions of mothers all over the United
States gather their little ones around
them, never dreaming that by the law
they have no right TO these children.
They do not know that the sole legal
right TO these children rests with the
father In all but three Of the states. Most
men do not know II. A majority OF
fathers, II hey did know it, would never
assert their right as against the mother.
But now aud then a father who ia "a bad
rs the law knows his legal rights and
assumes them,
Ndf long ago, within short ride OF
Boston by rail, lived young man aud
his wife aud their seyen-mouths.old baby
Apparently they were at peace and pros
porous, One day the husband told his
wife at noon that a certain family had
sent her an earnest Invitation to spend
| too many things TO do that day to 20 TO
"You ought 20 20 when they
send for you. will take care OF
the baby Thus urged the wife made
! ready and went AZ O'Clock she came
home, The mouse was locked, husband
and baby gone There was no letter TO
explain this sudden and unexpected alb.
senoe. The nelghbors knew nothing.
| Overwhelmed with grief and heartache
for her nursing baby, the poor mother
consulted a lawyer. BY his advice she
forced an entrance TO the house. How
empty and desolaie IL seemed. 1t was
evident that the husband had exercised
his legal rights and taken the child
where he pleased. All the neighbort
sympathized with the wife. Men sale
that "lf the wretch ever returned ht
would deserve TO be tarred and ieath
ered.h EXecratlon was loud, deep and
abundant, but one quiet woman who
knew the law said; lie Is only as bad
as the law which allows him tho sole
right to the child.n But every man said
there was no such law. II was only
after reference to the statutes they could
admit that here ln Massachusetts a
married father has q right TO rob his wife
Of her children, and that mon who were
so cruel, mean and dastardly were only
as bad as the law. There was but one
opinion OF the law and Of the man. But
that could not restore that tender, help
less babe TO It's mother, II others could
sleep or rest, there was neither sleep nor
rest for her The parents OF this
! husband lived In Canada. II was most
| likely he had taken the child 10
| them. She had been TO their home and
knew how 70 ilui IL. Making such ar
rOngemtnis as we're possible she started
| for Canada, Toe same night the hus-
baud returned. Not 1ndlng his wife, he
| surmlsed that she had gone for the child
! He had carried It 70 his parents. H.
| tclegraphtd them 20 take the child away
I - fEbtu IRA H..
| the young mother appeared at the
/ door Of the parents Of her husband
| with this measureess grief ia her
heart, his mother mot her at the door.
one would suppose hat the heart Of the
old mother would have melted In eymna-
! tby ior THIS grltf.stfi ken yuuDg one. But
| not 10. She symp8thized with hvF son
! Il cannot now be- told how II was man
| aged, but Bhe fOun tna iitlla 0ne ia hot
nttic, evidently not having been even
/ washed since II ttt home, ana she took
| IL % her own father's house, where she Is
to-dly Ia dread Of what may happen TO
/ her and 10 II.
The brother Of this cruel father took
! his child Il few years ago from iis mother
/ Her relatives paid him 500 % bring II
| back 10 IL supplsed hat this man hoped
20 make inoney by similar torture Of his
/ wtie.
| There was a gicat deal Of indignation,
| bOtn among men aud women, IN the case
quoted above. Rut what does u ayail2
1t Is evident there Is need OF women 20
help men make laws that Will protect
women aud children But the repre-
sentative frorl the town whore an ;his
/ happened voted against woman suffrage
IN the Massachusetts legislature last
winter. IL Is 70 be hoped that the voters
there win see TO IL that he does not have
the opportunity 70 do so again. Mean
time, the rsproach Of all good citizens,
men and women, should be 80 poured
out upon men who wrong mothers and
Hale children that they will Zee as other
.thieves and robbers fee before honest
people.