Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-28
PLEADING FOR HER BABY
Mother 0ontending with Those Who Would
Be Foster Parents.
HABEAs CORPUS PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT
Rnrc and Pathetic Scene In Judge
SCOTS Chambers Yesterday After
noon-Thc Dispute Not
Yet Decided.

a little 1-year-old tot is causing a good
deal more trouble and heart anguish Just
now In the bosoms of two women than per-
haps it will ever Gauss again.
On June 10 Of this year a woman named
Leonora McMullen was suddenly taken III
and was compelled to go to the Presbyterian
hospital for treatment. She placed her
child in the family Of M. II. Ish OF this city
and agreed to pay SO a week for its care.
She failed to pay the money, and the lsh
family therefore determined to obtain some
satisfaction for the care that they had given
the little one, especially as they had grown
attached to 1t. Ish took steps to adopt the
child without the knowledge of the mother,
but she discovered this, as she had to be
notified before Ish could be made the
guardian. when she found what was being
done all her mothers nature was aroused
and she at once took steps to regain possess
sion of her babe. She notified the county
attorney, and the latter put tho case in the
hands of J%efferis, his assistant. Habsas
corpus proceedings were at once begun and
Judge Scott yesterday granted a hearing on
the application in chambers while the at
torneys in the Hoover murder casa were
pleading for the life Of the accused man.
The mother Of the child. being confined
to bed, was not present, but she was repre-
stHtSu ny Z slSlcT, MISS Liud MCN1ulIeU.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Ish were in attendance,
and the former jealousy Rugged to her
breast the tiny girl who was causing the
strife. The little one occasionally crept
down from the jealous arms and toddled
between the wuuld-be mother and father.
Miss McMullen was also accompanied by a
man, so that the forces were even.
WHY THEY WOULD TAKE IT.
Ish gave his side Of the story. He said
that no board was paid for the child while
1t was with his wife, and they had become
attached to 1t. He stated that they were
more than willing to give 1t a homel and all
the care it required. He charged that the
real mother was not in financial condition
to properly care for the little one,
He gave the story at considerable length
and used all his persuasive powers to con-
vince Judge Scott that he was right. The
mothers sister, in response. said that IL her
sister had not the means to support the
child she would furnish them herself in order
that the little one might be returned to its
mother. She added:
DO you think that he could supply every
thing that a mothers love could?"
Ish by this time was a bit warmed up and
he charged that the Miss McMullen present
was not a fit person to care for the child.
To this charge the woman piteously replied:
Il am among strangers here and l can't
bring any one to vouch for me-. If you in
quire around my home, which Is about five
llitleS irUm hllldTu, you Will Hnu out VINO L
l have a recommendation from the
district where 1 taught for seventeen
.-
Judge Scott said he would reserve his de-
cision until today.
ALMOST SETTLED IT.
AS the entire party started to leave the
room a touching incident occurred, which
showed the depth of affection the child had
AS Ish, with the child in his arms,
passing by the man who accompanied
Miss McMulIen, the man ventured a few
words, urging the court to give the child to
it's mother at once.
'"If you want to push yourself into this
business" said Ish warmly, as he turned
toward him, pay the child's board bill and
will give it to you"
$50 1t is a question of money" sternly in |
luired Judge Scott. "In that case," he con-
tinued, turning to Jefferis, make out an
order giving this baby to its mother. This
child cannot be bartered like a piece Of mer-
When these words were uttered Miss Nc
sprang forward with trembling, out
arms toward the child. Her hand
no more than touched its garment, for Ish
'lutched the child closely to his breast and
Jumped back. pushing the woman away.
II did not mean that. your honor" he
1--WE don't care for the money.
We want the child. Wait until morning and
will bring the best lawyers here to plead
or us. l did not mean what I said"