, 1890-03-13
LIFE OF CORA DAVIS
.An Interesting Letter From
Her Foster Father.
THE STORY OF HER ADOPTION.
There Is Still Light in the
Window, and Two Warm
Hearts to Welcome Her
WALLACE, Idaho, March o.

WALLACE, Idaho, March n.
To rHE EDtroR oF rHE REVIEW
In justice to him who has for
nine years performed the duties of
father to Cora Davis, with ~ tender
affection and watchful care as If he
had been her father In reality, |
trust you will permit me to say II
few words in reply to what you are
pleased to term "a not unpleasant
romance"
In 1851 | was living I'm Junction
City, Mont. ! had prosporcd In
business, aud 50 far rs money was
concerned, was independent. was
|. married, comfortably situated, but
childless. One day was approached
by woman who was known to all
as "Aunty," She asked me If |
didn't want pretty, bright little
girl to raise, about I year, old. She
her destitute condition; told me who
her mother WAS who lived at this
time In Miles city, Mont), and the
shame It would he for the little one
10 grow up with such SURROUNDINGS,
and as a matter of humanity some
one should take the child. Investi-
cation proved that what "Auntyh
had said was true. | took the child
To my home, give her my name and
ever since my wife ~ well ~ myself
have guarded her with as much love
ANA affection as III she had been our
natural offspring.
shortly after adopting the child |
moved Ia Maiden, Mont, where |
lived three years. ! went from
Maiden to Utica, Mont, and u little
later to Billings. In 1896 I left my
wife aud Cora at Hunters Hot
\ Springs, Mont, aud came to Murray,
Idaho. My wife and child followed
me little later and since then we
have lived In the Cour d'Alcncs.
mention these various places 80 that
anyone can refer for facts concern
ing my conduct to the child.
rs to how and why | took the
child, and the manner In which |
have cared for her, | refer to the fol-
lowing wcll-known gentlemen;
Paul Mccormick, present state scna-
tor Of Montana; Frank Whitney,
ircightcr and manager Of the North
ern Pacific warehouse, at Junction
City, Mont; Theodore Borup, post
trader at Fort Custer, Mont. Charles
Il, Fell, editor ol the Mineral Argus,
Lewiston, Fergus county, Mont.
John Beck, eN-shCriit and present
supervisor of Fergus county, Mont.
Horny w. Williams, real estate
dealer, Spokane Falls, Wash. These
gentlemen all knew me in Montana,
and, think, know how ! came by
the child.
Since coming to the Cwur
dAlcnes, as far IA the conduct oi
myself and wife to the child Is con-
'cerned | say nothing. simply re-
icrall parties Interested to :. =.
Gliddcn, manager OF the Tiger
mine ut Burke, Idaho; Dave Holz-
dealer In Spokane, Wash. Adam
Aulbach, editor of the Wallace Free
Press, and any number OF othcr-
whose names are not 80 gcncull ~
known.
II Is not my wish to say one word
that could east IL cloud upon her
young and heretofore promising
life. Consequently, in the above
narrative have reiraiucd from
going into details, aud left the actual
childhood to be surInised.
do not write this letter To ccnsure
Cora or her mother. 1t Is natural
for the girl, as she approaches
womanhOOd, to long to unuVel til,
mystery of her life. But ! do not
believe Mr.. Northcot told her tho
story of her life. Neither do / be-
liovo IL II u true aud natural ailCc.
ton OF her mother to call her back
again after 50 long u time. I know
her mother, but do not know Mns.
Griffin. Her mother was known in
Montana and this country as Monte
Verdi.
What | do censure and severely
|. condemn is the manner In which
thi- child was taken from me. The
first intimntion | had wns In the
REVIEW ot March u. | have been
sending her to school In Spokane,
for II has ever been my purpose Ia
give her the benefits of an education
When she went 10 Mr.. Crawford =
school paid her tuition and clothed
her, and was in all respects respousi.
bile. Why did not MIR Crawford
telegraph me what was being done
an,l give me q chance To be heard
before my child was taken from mc2
Does he expect parents to intrilst
their children to his care when he
allows them to be legally KIDNAPPED
without giving them notice of the nj
tempt? How did he know but I
was the natural father of Cora Dnvs2
Hadn't | performed all the duties OF
iathcr 80 iur as he was concerned
u seems To me that the court was
tooquick to grant this writ OF habcns