The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-11
A FORTUNE FOR A WORD.
bat the Mother of the Prospective
Heiress Refuses 10 say the Word.
From the Phnadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
Chicago, Ill. July S.-AIrs. Alonzo Z. Cot
tier, the closest-mouthed. most stubborn
woman who has at her own peril held her
tongue in a Chicago court for many a
year, to-day fatty refused to tell Judge
Payne anything as to the Whereabouts OF
her child. Florence, who might become
heiress TO $4,000 by the telling. As a re
suit the practically mute mother was COM
mitted to Jail for six months. or until she
shall purge herself from contempt in her
pending proceedings for divorce from her
Mrs. Cottier will not go to jail Just yet.
however, as the judge allowed her TO take
an appeal, and pending that appeal, grant
ed stay OF the order until the appellate
court shall have chance 10 rehear the
case. Bail was fixed at 1900. which was
given.
esting features. 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. lie even inti-
mated that he had some inside knowledge.
asking II the name Of the childs guardians
was not Jones, and IL they did not live
near Toronto, Canada.
The vigorous cross questioning of the
court brought out nothing that would tend
70 solve the mystery. Mrs. Cottier said
the child was not in this state; that she
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.
pid you not know when you gave the
child into the custody OF these people,
where they lived?' asked the court.
is it a man and wife who have the
child"
yes"
Were they friends of your yeuth?'
"One of them was-the lady. / went to
boarding school with her.
when have you received a letter from
these guardians?"
About two years ago"
when did you see the child last?''
Il have seen her three times since Feb.
6. lS9S-the first time in Detroit. 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 sure she Is living, as l
would have heard from her guardians if
she were dead"
You do not mean to say that as a
mother yoo are absolutely ignorant of
the Whereabouts of this child?"
Yes, that is what l mean TO say"
once the guardians took the child to
This mucf,the court elected. But when
he ne asked her point blank to describe the
II think it is my duty not to answer
that question. The safety of the child
would be jeopRrdized If I were to give
any clue to her Whereabouts. From my
knowledge of the father l think he would
take delight in molesung her and the
people who brought her up
do not you think you are ifnpairlng
her chances to be an heiregs by not let
ting her father know where she is7
mo. Her, father. is worth between a
quarter and a half miHiuH.tbut I have no
| confidence in him proyidfng for her. She
now passes as the child Of these people,
and is happy and contented. She thinks
| she has no other parents"
Alonzo E. Cottier, in a suit for divorce,
asked for the custody OF the child. Mrs
Cottier filed a. cross-bilL andiHswas in the
trial of these issues that the Question of
| the Whereabouts of the child, which the
mother has from the beginning refused
| to disclose, came up.