The Forrest City times., 1895-07-12
A WOMAN WITH A WILL,

And Not Wanting. Either, a Very Decide d
Wont, Mrs Cottier Refuses to Answer the
Aii-important Question of Her Chiid's
Whereabouts and is Sentenced to six
Months in Jail-An Appeal and "A Stay.
CHICAGO, July 9.-Plucky Mrs.
Alonzo E. Cottier again fatty refused
to tell anything about her child Flor
ence yesterday, and Judge Payne en-
tered an order compelling her to stay
In Jail for six months, unless she con-
Guides to disclose the whereabouts of
the girl before that time. She will
not go to Jail just yet, however, as the
judge allowed her to have an appeal.
and, pending that appeal, granted q
stay of the order until the appellate
court shall have a chance to review
the case. Bail was fixed at $500,
which was given.
The case developed some new and
interesting features yesterday morn
ing. Judge Payne took the woman in
hand, and in every way tried to induce
her to tell something of the child. but
his words were wasted. He even init
mated that he had some inside knowl-
edge, asking If the name of the child's
guardians was not Jones, and if they
did not live near Toronto, Can. The
vigorous cross-questioningo of The court
brought out nothing that would tend
to solve the mystery. Mrs Cottier
said the child was not in this state;
that she saw it last two weeks ago
She did not know where the child was
at this time, and had no means of
communicating with its guardians.
They knew her address, but she did
not know theirs.
Did you not know when you gave
the child into the custody of these peo-
pie where they lived?" asked the court.
NO"
SIS it a man and wife who have the
childP"
Yes"
Where they friends of your youth?"
Zone of them was-the lady. Invent
to boarding school with her."
when have you received letter
from these guardians?"
About two years ago."
When did you see the child last?'
u have seen her three times since
February 6, 1888, the first time in De-
troit, and the second and third times
in New York city,"
You are not now prepared to say
whether the child is living or dead?"
Il am almost SIRE she is living, as l
would have hoard from her guardians
If she were dead"
You don't mean to say that, as
mother, you are absolutely ignorant
of the whereabouts of this child?"
Yes, that is what mean to say"
Once the guardians took the child to
Europe. This much the court elected.
But when he asked her point blank to
describe the child. she said:
II think it is my duty not to answer
that question The safety of the child
would be jeopardized if l were to give
any clue to her whereabouts. From
my knowledge of the father / think
he would take delight in molesting
her and the people who brought her
mp"
Don't you think you are imp firing
her chances to be an heiress by not
letting her father know where she
lisp"
mo. Her father has between a
quarter and half million, but have
no confidence in him providing for
her. She now passes as the child of
those people, and is happy and con-
tented. She thinks she has no other
parents"
Alonzo T. Cottier. in a suit for di-
vorce, asked for the custody of the
child. Mrs. Cottier fled a cross-bill,
and it was in the trial of these issue,
that the question of the wherea bouts
of the child. which the mother has
from the beginning refused to dis
close, came up.