The morning times., 1896-12-11
AGENT LEWIS IN ABDUCT0R
Mrs. Sturges Says He Took Her
Adopted Child.
QUEER CASE ALL AROUND
Lady Adopted Myrtle Grimsley
Three Years Ago When Its
Mother Was Ill-She Recovered
and Is Said to Have Secured Her
Child by the Board of Guardians.

The Board Of Childrens Guardians t.s
been accused of the larceny of child.
Jeannettc Griuisley, woman who lives
In Georgetown, was very SICK in Decen-
Der oi three years ago and was taken To
Columbia Hospital with little or no hope
OF recovery. Two little children were left
with every probability of becoming mother
less. The younger was five years or age.
They called her Myrtle.
Immediately on hearing OF the sad case
the Board of Children S Guardians took
charge OF the little girls and looked about
for home for them, Myrtle was taken
by Mr.. and Mrs. J. NJ. Sturges, who live
on Eleventh street northeast, near East
Capitol street.
The Sturges' had long wanted To adopt
a baby, they said, but Myrtle was
trifle too old. Still Mr.. Herbert Lewis
of the board insisted. At last Mrs. Sturgcs
went to see Myrtle and the child was taken
to her home.
AS THEIR OWN CHILD.
There were ncighbors who became in
tercsted in the tot and they tell the story
OF the Transformation. She was ragged
and dirty, very dirty they say, when Mr..
Lewis brought her to the Sturges home.
When they got her there among all the
nice, clean, tidy things, they were almost
afraid to have hertouch them. They dropped
her into tub TO fetch about the change
and the result was charming. Then Mrs.
Sturges wrapped her In an old shawl and
hurried her away down town to store
and when Myrtle came back she was an
other girl.
All this was done, the Sturgcscs say,
in the belief that they were to be allowed
to adopt the child. There was no law
in the District at that time providing for
the adoption Of children, but the foster
parents claim that they were assured
ny hr / yviS on hnii lf a rn
that Mrytle was to be as their own and
that in all probability her mother would
never live 10 claim her. Myrtle Grims-
ley's name became Mildred Sturges.
Mildred's mother did not die, but, after
long siege of Illness, fully recovered.
She then looked about her for the chill
dren who had been taken away. She
at length succeeded in locating Mildred
and applied to the board for her return.
1t was found impossible to comply with
the request, so she was told.
TAKEN AWAY FROM SCHOOL.
Mildred started to school year ago.
Before that her foster parents hired a
governess to come TO hiildred's own coy
playrOom in tile home on Eleventh street
and teach her and give her music lessons.
Upon discovering uuc whereabouts II her
child the mother is said to have waited in
the park, near the Sturges home, AS Mil
dred went to ana from school, ana 30 have
told her that she was her mother. In tIis
way, it is said, the mind OF the ;ot was
poisoned against her foster parents.
1t is said that a short time ago, while
Mildred was at school Mr.. Lewis called
ON her teacher and asked to take the
child away with him. She was permitted
| to go, and, il is said, has been restored to
her mother, though the latter could not
be found last night Neither could Mr..
Lewis be seen.
1t is understood that charges OF cruelty
have been made against Mrs. Sturges.
Every effort has been made by the latter
and her husbandto regain possession Of the
child, and superInte ndent Of Charities
Emery is said to have interested him
self in behalf OF the fosterparents.
1t is claimed by the friends OF the girl
and her benefactors that her removal from
a comfortable home was done largely
through desire tu escape annoyance on
the part of the Board of Childrcn's Guard
dians. The whole matter vii doubtless
be sifted To the bottom and an iDyestiga
ton is not improbable.