The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-29
POOR MAGGIE M'GEE.
Twelve Year-0ld Child Cause
of Bitter Contention.
MOTHER WANTS POSSESSION.
est She IL Better on st ths House OF
the Good shsphsrd-Court
News-The BIotfer.

All day yesterday the court room OF
Judge Langley st the superior court was
me scene OF a bitter legal battle for the
possession of Maggie Niece, little IL
yesr-ola girl now an inmste OF the House
Fl the Good Shepherd. The case IS before
Judge Langley on the hearing OF the writ
81 habess corpus issued on July by him
al the petision of John and Catherine
Lowell. who wish to get the child, who 10
daughter Of Mrs Lowell by q former hus-
band. out of the possession Of the institu-
tion where she is now living. Mr.. and
Mrs. Lowell aliege that the little girl 10 re-
strained OF her liberty and ill-treated by
the Sisters of Charity who manage the
House of the Good Shepherd, while in her
return 10 the writ Sister Mary of the Ma
fiyity. the mother superior, has denied
both allegations and has alleged that the
child was i'll treated and forced to beg by
her parents, "who are not suitable persons
20 have control over her." 70 use the Ian
gaage OF the answer.
The authority By which the mother su-
perior retains the child Is that Mrs. Lowell
eft the little girl at the House of the Good
Shepherd on January 10. 1880, with the
understanding that she was 70 remain an
inmate Of the institution for ten years. or
until she should become OF age. she being
syears old when given in charge OF the
sisters. In further pleadings Mr.. and Mrs.
Lowell have denied that any agreement
was made to leave Maggie with the sisters
for any definite period. And this 10 where
the whole trouble lies.
Maggie lie not q stranger TO the superior
court. as she has been the bone OF conten-
ton in two other cases of habeas corpus
proceedings between the House Of the
Good Shepherd and her mother since she
was placed in that institution nearly four
years ago. In both Of these cases the writ
was dismissed, but Mrs. Lowell is a hard
fighter, in more senses than one. Both Of
these writs were issued in the fall Of
1891. In the last case Judge Liehtenberg
made decree that the mother Of the
child. Mrs. Lowell, who was then known
- Mrs. Kate Burns, was an utterly unfit
person TO have con troll of her daughter. on
account Of her vices and bad habits. An
other daughter Of Mrs. Lowell, Annie
McGee, was also an inmate of the House
Of the Good Shepherd in 1891 and fight
between the irste Mrs. Burns, now Mrs.
Lowell, and one Of the Sisters of Charity
occurred over Annie's possession, the Sis
ter being severely beaten by club in the
hands OF the mother. A writ of habeas
corpus was then sued out for Armies pos
session by Mrs. Burns. but she was unsuc-
eessfui a. In the other cases.
When the present case was called for
trial yesterday nearly every seat was filed
BY spectators. who expected some de-
cidediy sensational testimony before the
trial should be over. The testimony of all
the witnesses for the petitioners was taken
and several witnesses for the respondent
had been examined when court adjourned
yesterday evening. No evidence of very
sensational character was introduced, but
when the case is taken up again this morn
Ing there may be some.
The frat witness to take the stand for
the petitioners was Mrs. Lowell herself.
Her testimony was listened to with close
attention by oil. but by none more closely
than by Mother Mary, the sister superior,
and the biack-robed sister who sat on the
inside OF the bar with Maggie. flaxen-
haired, blue-eyed girl. very small for her
age, sitting Between them. In her testi-
mony Mrs. Lowell confined herself TO sup
porting the allegations of tho petition and
nothing of any consequence was spoken by
her until some reference was made to the
fact that her husband WAS arrested and
fined 800 in Tacoma recently. having been
convicted OF simple assault upon q sister
OF Maggie. about Is years old. The charge
was AZ first indecent assault, but was
changed TO that of simple assault later.
At this reference Mrs Lowell nlaxed up
and made the assertion that the charge
had been trumped up against her husband
he Iris 10 ae~ kss..A
be was an English Protestant She could
not explain how IL was that he was con-
vieted, however
In appeara nee Mrs. Lowell Is a veritable
Tartar. She is stout. red-iacad, brown
haired and blne-eyed. Her complexion is
forid and her nose has the upward turn
IN the highest degree possible. say about
VI Throughout the trial she gave evil
dences OF quick temper under very poor
control.
Next came John Lowell, who testified to
about the same facts as did his wife in re-
gard to the alleged Illegal detention OF his
stepdaughter. but under the eross-exam-
nation as TO his conviction Of the assault
upon his other stepdaughter In Tacoma.
be was a much better witness for himself
than was bis wife. lie admitted that he
assaults. but he was also positive that he
bad been prosecuted by Irish Catholics.
His occupation he gave as that of long
shoremsn. His married life with his wife,
he said, had always been pleasant. Low
ell Is a tall, w-boned mau aud has yell
ios hair and blue eyes. His complexion
u dorld and his whole appearance that of
roustsbout lie was very little con-
eerned during the progress of the trial and
seemed perfectly at ease.
iAttle Maggie Was then put on the stand
ey The attorneys for the petitioners. Her
testimony Was straightforward and evil
centiy the truth. She said that she had
Teen compelled 20 beg by her parents. and
that she had not been well treated: stii
sae would like to go 20 her mother. She
vas we'll treated AZ the House Of the Good
shenherd, she said, and had plenty to eat
When asked whether she would rather
STAY there or so 10 her mothers she would
not say; she would like TO tive at both
Places If she could.
jenkins Jones. Of Tacoma. testified that
Level was In his employ and was q very
aseent sort OF man.
With this testimony the petitioners
eesed their case and the respondent her
sd. Mother Mary OF the Nativity, took
we stand, Many questions were asked
mes 10 regard to her past life. which were
oeleeted to by her attorney with great ve-
ne'nenee. Judge Langley oyerrnIing them.
tor time 10 looked as II ''scrap'' be-
tNeen attorneys would result, nut fnaliv
we obnoxious questions were ne longer
eked and the skies were serene again,