Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-20
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WA1ERViLLE.
Worse Than Being Lost.

A scene bordering on the sensational
was enacted on Main street Friday
forenoon. in which three women and a
man We're the actors.
1t appears that Mrs F. a. Rush of
Haliowell. formerly of Augusta. about
three years ago gave away to a family
in this city, her little daughter. Abbie
Lillian Rush, then nine years old. The
child was to become IA member of the
family by the name of Ward, who the
Journal is told by responsible people.
are respectable and nice folks. The
little girl was to become as an own
child Of the family For some reason
the child was sent to the home of Mrs.
Calvin Horne of this city. Here. the
child tells the Journal, she was allowed
but one hour of schooling, was obliged
TO work hard and had scant clothing
1t also appears that the little girl COM
planned Of her treatment to her half
sister. Mrs. Mary f. Moody of Vigue
avenue. this city. who is one of the
women mentioned in the beginning OF
this article. Monday Mrs. Moody went
to the Horne house and took the child
away. Friday Mrs. Moody and her
husband and the little child came into
the city and consulted Lawyer Hus-
sey who. Mrs. Moody says, advised hel
20 keep the child.
They were met on ne street after
leaving the attorneys office by the
mother, who to use Mrs. Moody's
words. made a grab Tor the child
Then began a storm of abusive Ian
.suage in which it was difficult to tell
which of the two women got the lead
OF advantage. a crowd gathered and
the man. two women and the child
went into the street railway waiting
room to wait for Fairfield ear.
All the time the mother maintained
Aer hold on the child's arm While the
half sister, Mrs. Moody, kept one arm
about her and the child herself chung
To Mrs. Moody with both arms. More
violent and unprintable language an
sued and the mother twice slapped
Mrs. Moodys face hard.
Finally the car came along and it
was nip and tuck as to which would
get on without breaking her hold on
the little girl. AT last all three got on
without a break and then as the car
sailed along more abusive language
was INDUCED, the little girl occasionally
getting in a word spitefully against
her mother.
When the car arrived at Nigue
avenue there was a hitch. the mother
intending to remain in the car and
keep the girl with her. but the older
daughter was strong and pulled the
pair along. At the door there was a
struggle when Conductor Mace inter-
ferred and said family troubles must
be settled off the car and so all three
were helped off. The party at once
proceeded to Mrs. Moody's home which
was near at hand and where the Jour
nal interviewed them. Mrs. Moody re-
lated the story of the trouble substan
TALLY as given above and said she in
tended to keep the little girl.
The child told the Journal that she
wanted to stay with her half sister,
Mrs. Moody. Mrs. Rush who, as we
have said was present at the interview,
when asked if she had anything to say
said she was the only one on earth
that had right to the child. that she
believed the child had been kindly
cared for where she had been kept.
Mrs. Rush produced copy of the de-
cree of divorce which she said she OBJ
tanned from her husband. Thereupon
Mrs. Moouy exclaimed THAT paper is
no good, why don't you have one like
| this?" and she produced the original
decree of the Somerset court by which
she was given a divorce from her first
husband. The women We're constantly
firing away" at each other. Mrs
Moody accusing her mother Of being
the cause OF her early Downfall and
using vile names that it would seem
to be impossible for child to call her
mother. Sick and dissusted at the
whole case and with all concerned. the
Journal left the house leaving the
women stiIl quarrelling.
! What the future may contain for
that little girl If left with either sister
or mother is hard to conjecture.
|
! Robert l.. Day, the senior member of