Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-06-13
End Of Mothers Struggle for her Chlld.

End Of Mothers Struggle for her Chlld.
ARRIVAL OF MRS. CURTIS AND HEB
DAUGHTER IN STAUNTON-SOMEIN INTER
EsTING PARTICULARS OF THE ENDING
OF HER VICTORIOUS FIGHT FOR HER
CHILD.
On Friday, Judge Everett signed the
order for the release Of little Nellie from
the custody of Sheriff Mckee, and as sooI
as the mother, Mrs. Lucy E. Curtis, got
possession of the child, Mr.. Potter, one OF
her lawyers, brought a carriage, and the
whole party, under charge of the Sheriff
travelled to station nineteen miles from
Lafayette to take the train for Indianapo
lis, from which place they came here. Mrs.
Curtis and her little daughter, accompanied
by Mr.. Albert H. Hook, Mrs. C.'s brother.
arrived here Oh the B. & O. train Saturday
afternoon, and drove to the residence OF
Mi. B. A. Blakemore, where the mother
and child recuperated from the excitement
of the trial and the fatigues of their jour-
ney. They left Wednesday morning for
their home at Headwaters, Highland coun-
ty. During their stay here hundreds OF
people visited them and showed by their
sympathy how glad they were to see mother
and child reunited
In the report of the last day of the trial,
and in describing the scene in the Superior
Court when Judge Everett gave his decis-
ion which made Mrs. Lucy Curtis the
custodian of her daughter, the Lafayette
(Ind.) Morning Journal Of June 9th says:
1t was an affecting scene. For eighteen
months Mrs. Curtis has been ignorant of the
whereabouts OF her daughter. Finally she
found her here and brought proceedings to
recover her. Then followed the tedious trial
the result OF which was uncertain. In all this
time she had been in painful suspense and
when the judge told her the child was hers,
this suspense gave way and she burst into
tears of suppressed joy. Judge Everett was
visibly affected and completed his ruling with
difficulty.
W. Dewitt Wallace, one of the counsel
of Mrs. Lucy E. Curtis, wrote the follow
ing letter from which we make extracts, to
Messrs. Bumgardner and Craig, here:
LAFAYETTE, IND, June 9Th, 1890.
Messrs. BtangGrdner and CrGSg:
GENTLEMEN:-The great agony is, at last,
over. The argument closed at about o'clock
yesterday afternoon, the writer, Mr.. Wallace,
making the closing speech.
The Judge, at once, without a moments
delay, summed up the evidence. and decided
the case in our favor. lie held that by the
great crime Of Kay Curtis against his home
in deserving his wife, stealing away her child,
he had forfeited all his rights as father and
husband. He held, in view of his being con-
tradicted by many witnesses, and his other
bad conduct, he was an unfit person to have
the custody of the child.
His mother he pronounced utterly unworthy
of belief, and a woman utterly unfit to assist
her son in caring for the child.
This morning we had fierce struggle i'll
court. The other side objected to the entry
of Judgment, wanting time to make up an APP
signed the Judgment and refused to give time
to make the bond.
Nothing but the actual filing of the bond
would stay the judgment. The result was,
we had the child delivered to the mother at
once, and sent them out of the county as fast
as horses could carry them. They are now
safe on their way. The Clerk was preparing
tor her certified copy of the record, proceed
lngs, and Judgment. to take with her, and
which she must always keep for her protec-
pleted. We now send it to you, for her, by
express. 1t will reach you nearly as soon as
she will
ATTORNEYS on other side made very bitter
speeches-Davidson especially denounced
Craig but when our turn came, we ScOrched
them in return. Mrs. Lucy Curtis will tell
you about it,
The Court fixed the appeal bond at 900.
OF course Kay can never give it, but ne can
appeal aoithoalt a bond, but the appeal will not
stay the judgment. Besides, it is now too late
to stay the Judgment as it has already been
executed, by the delivery OF the child to the
mother.
The case will be appealed, and counsel on
other side are at work now preparing bill OF
exceptions, etc.
We also will prepare bills so as to take the
there. But enough, we have gained great
victory and feel that we have been doing
Gods service
The letter is signed by Rice & Potter and
Wallace & Baird.
Yesterday by express, there arrived for
Mrs Curtis from Mr.. w. De Witt Wal
lace of Lafayette, Ind, one Of her counsel,
a copy of ''Love' Ladder, ia novel of which
be is the author. In the fly leaf of the book
was written:
To Mrs. Lucy Curtis, who under the most
trying circumstances, bore herself so worthy
servers.
With the sincere regards of her friend, the
author, w. DE WITT WALLACE.
June 8, 1890.
MI. Wallace sent a copy of the same
work to Capt. James Bumgardner.