The morning times., 1897-02-14
MILDRED KINDLY TREATED
Many Witnesses Testified on Be-
half of Mrs. SturgeS.
THE CHILD IINISHED TWIC
Tie Testimony Given Yesterday in
the Case Involving the Custody
Of the Little Girl Was All
Strongly in Favor OF the Foster
Mother.
The habeas corpus case involving the

The habeas corpus case involving the
custody OF lutte Myrtle Grimsley, other
wise known as Mildred Sturges, was heard
yesterday by Judge Cole. Testimony was
taken on behalf of Mrs. Sturges, who is
tie petitioner in the suit against the
Board OF CIildren's Guardians, from whom
sire ci.,iopted Mildred. The board based their
acton in taxing the little girl from Mrs.
Sturges' care on the result of their in
vest cation of certain reports that she
had improperly treated Mildred Witnesses
at tie hearing week ago made state
nti.tS that Mrs. SturGeS had been cruel
70 Mildred, and Others asserted that she
was a woman of violent temper.
There Were numerous witnesses yester-
day to refute the charges. In fact, the
number OF those who testified that Mrs.
Stur.cs was a woman OF exceptional kind
ness and eentleness was so great that
the count instructed counsel for the petit
tioHcT that there had been sufficient tesui-
nuuy OH that point.
Among those who testified was Miss
futiug TIE charge that Mrs. Sturges was
cruel TO Mildred or that she had violent
temper.
Dr- ii. f. BOwles, an aged gentleman,
VITO SAWS he has known Mrs. Sturges for
many wears, asserted that from his obser-
walton he thought the baby received good
Treatment. Tie old gentleman was very
nervous, but when questioned about Mrs.
4 -s+l
piasiS that Mrs Sturges had independence
and some temper. L would not give a
straw for anybody who hadn't. She
has independence and temper enough to
resent any such outrage as this
In. Bowlcs detailed a circumstance OF
Mrs SturgeS' kind treatment of d dog,
which had broken its leg. The children
on the street called her the human"
society
Mrs Rachel Hatton frequently visited
Mrs. Sturges. At one time she saw her
caring fer little dog Which she had
Mapped in a blanket.
Mrs. Hannah BOYLE has known Mrs.
Sturgcs for four years and never knew
iv. e.. pciII-tempered. The child had never
exhibited any fear of Mrs Sturges.
,.l,i Hensey. the real estate
agent, took the stand just before recess
auI explained the cause of Mrs. Sturgss
waiting in the office of Robinson White,
on which occasion she was charged with
leing excited. He had often visited the
Sturges home and believed her TO be q
woman Of much kindness
Policeman Henry Ellers. who patrolled
tile beat on which the sturgeS family re-
sided. testified that Mrs. Sturges was
always Suhcitous for the welfare Of
MidTed. He did not think she was i'll.
tempered
The principal object Of the policeman {
testimony was TO refute the statements
of Lille Jones the colored girl who swore
that Mrs. SturgeS had beaten the child.
CToSs-examined. she admitted an officer
charged her with stealing certain articles
Trou woman y ho lived with Mrs. Sturges,
bat SEe denied having told the officer
that if MIS-. SturgeS said she stole them
she would state that her employer had
beaten Mildred.
Policeman Ellcrs claimed that Lille
said she would get even with Mrs. sturges.
Miss Jennie Jacobs. who has resided
with Mrs. SturgeS for two years past, said
that in that time she knew OF only two
then only lightly ON the hands. The
blood in the basin mentioned by Lille
Jones was explained by Miss Jacobs To
have resulted from MiIdred's nose bleed
ing.
Mrs Ada G NJ. StuTgeS was herself
tie ast witness to be examined yesterday,
and she told in detail her connection with
Mildred from the time she received her
from the Board of Children's Guardians.
Mrs StuFges claimed to have had several
years experience in looking after children,
and said that for five years she was
teacher nf Il primary school. in Canton, o.
She said that Myrtle was very ragged
and dirty when she received her from
A gent Lewis, and admitted that wheI
Mrs Knowles and Mrs. Fleck came from
the Hope and Help Mission to advocate
the mothers coming and seeing Myrtle
that she resented their visit as an intrusion,
and told them that rather than Mrs.
GriInsIcy should see the child she would
take il away The statement of Robinson
White, the lawyer, who claimed that Mrs.
Sturgcs had referred to client of his as a
liar. the witness explained 10y saying that
she did remark TO Mr.. White, You have
heard Of the case where one man lied and
another man swore to it
Mrs StuTges gave plausible eXplana-
ton Of the presence OF blood on the wall OF
the bathroom by saving that on one occa-
sion, when Mildrcd's nose bled, the child
had blown il vigorously and the blood be.
spattercd the wall. Mildred, it was as
serted, was sub ject to frequent attacks OF
nose bleed, and more than one physician
had attended the child for that trouble.
TIE case was not concluded at the hour
for the adjournment OF court, and it was
postponed until next Tuesday afternoon.