Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-03
ENOUGH TO PUZZLE SOLOMON,
A Queer Case of Authority Over a Child
Conflict Between Rival Protection So.
cieties-A Note That Caused the Loss of
Little Girl.

A Queer Case of Authority Over a Child
Conflict Between Rival Protection So.
cieries-A Note That Caused the Loss of
Little Girl.
Mrs. DeHaven, who is a member Of the
board OF managers of the Colored Orphan
Asylum, and corresponding secretary of
that institution, is much worried about the
taxing away of little colored CIR! who had
been in the asylum only three months. She
made complaint yesterday at the Office of
the Humane Society of the manner in which
the child had been secured, and severely
criticised the conduct of Superintendent
Dean, of the Anti Cruelty Society.
On January 80, Assistant Agent Berry
man WIS told, at the office OF Alderman
Bell, that Mrs. Lizzie Moss, a colored wo-
man living on Soho street, was abusing her
little girl. Mr.. Bergman found the little
girl, who was called Bessie Freeman,
covered with sores which had been inflicted
by piece of clothes line tied with knots.
Mrs. Moss finally admitted that she had
beaten the child with that knotted cord.
Neighbors said that Mrs. Moss had insured
the child's lite, and that she had threatened
to knock the insurance out of it. The
woman was fined $40 and costs, and the
Mrs. DeHaven, in the asylum in Allegheny.
The girl is about years old, and a bright
child.
Mrs. DeHaven yesterday told the follow
ing story to reporter for THE DISPATCH:
Last Tuesday she was visited by colored
woman who gave her name as Mrs. Brown
and said that she was the real mother OF
Bessie Freeman. She said that she had
been unable to care for the child, as she had
to work out. and had placed the little one in
Mrs. Moss care. She had now married
again, had good home and wanted to get
her daughter out OIL the asylum. Mrs. De.
Haven told the woman that ii she would get
from the Humane Society a note that she
was all right, she would give her a permit
to get her child. She directed the woman
to the Office of the Humane Society, on
Sixth avenue.
The colored woman returned in about a n
hour with note signed by NJ. j. Dean, tn e
OF the Anti-Cruelty Society.
Mr.. Dean said: "Mrs. Brown, the mother
o Bessie Freeman, wants her child, and 1
think she will take good care of her." He
recommended that the child be given to
Mrs. Brown. Mrs. DeHaven knew that
Mr.. Dean had formerly been connected
with the Humane Society and did not at the
time think that he was now with rival iu-
stltutlon. She gave the woman a permit to
take her child out OF the asylum and Mrs.
Brown lost no time in going to Allegheny
and taking Bessie Freeman away with her.
The colored woman told Mrs. DeHaven
that she and her husband worked or udge
Nathaniel Ewing at Uniontown. Mrs.
DeHaven wrote to Judge Ewing, and OIL
received from him a reply that no
such persons were employed by him or
Known to him or to any member OF his FAM
ly. Mrs. DeHaven then went out to in
7estigate, and discovered that Mr.. Dean was
,ot connected with the Humane Society. |
Moreover, she believes, she says, that Mrs. |
Brown is not the mother of the child. |
Agent O'Brien was somewhat wroth when |
lie learned of the affair yesterday, and will |
make an inquiry.
Superintendent Dean said last evening |
hat Mrs. Brown had come to him with
equest from Mrs. DeHaven that he give his |
consent to the removal OF the child. He said
lis note contained these words: "Il Mrs.
Brown is the mother Of the girl she is able
o take care OF her." His letter was written
N regularly printed letter-head sheet OF
he Allegheny County Society for the Pre-
'ention o. Cruelty to Children and Aged
Persons, and there was no intention to de-
eive.