The evening times., 1897-01-19
A PRIEST AS A WITNESS
Father MeAtee. of st. AlOysuis,
Testified i'm the Frost Case.
"Little Goldie," Pretty Tot. Is
Sought by Two People Who
Love Her.

The question as to who shall be the Gus
! todian OF little four -year-old Goldic Marie
Frost is now before j udge Coleonits merits.
Robert NJ. Frost says he. is the chiId's
| father, aud therefore entitled to her con-
| troll.
The friends of the late Margaret A
Collins 9th erwise known as Margaret
| Frost. the mother OF the little tot. dispute
the assertion OF the petitioner in the habeas
corpus proceedings having for its purpose
the settlement of the contested possession
| OF Goldie. vino is now with Elizabeth
Fleck or the Bowen Home.
Little Goldie was in court with her
| guardian. The dying mother is said to
have bequeathed her child TO Mrs. Fleck,
| with the injunction never TO let Frost get
the baby as he is not the father. During
! her lifetime she denied his parental au-
| thority. and when tried for bigamy claimed
not To have been married to Collins, her
former h husband. Judge Cox, however,
| annulled the Frost marriage. on the ground
| that she was already married
The first witness was Rev. Francis Nc
Atee, a Catholic priest, attached to st.
Aloysius' Church.
He said IIc married Margaret A. Collins
and Robert NJ. Frost August 3, 1892, and
often visited the latter's house. Several
times the parties came TO see him Asked
as to the moral character Of the reIat0r.
| lie replied that he knew nothing against his
| character. He claimed to have baptized
tie baby under the name OF Frost.
Cross-examned by Mr.. Turner, represent
ing Mrs, Fleck, the priest was asked; did
a
mo, sir; lie did not replied the clergy
man.
II object" interposed Mr. Locke on be
half of Mr.. Frost, and Judge Cole decided
that, as the marriage had been declared
illegal by Judge Cox. IL was iInmaterial.
Mr. Turner explained that he proposed to
show tie character of Frost, who had sought
marriage without providing himself with
license For this purpose the court admitted
tie question and answer.
The priest explained: Now, by rules
OF the church we can marry without wit
nesses, IL there is good reason. These
parties were especially anxious to keep
the affair secret. and / was justified in
marrying them.''
Mr.. Turner wanted to know where the
Frosts lived when the visits were made.
The witness was uncertain. They
were living at the corner OF Eighth and"
said Father McAtee, who repeated to him
self several times, "eorner OF Eighth
and oh, a short distance above thc
church Father Ryan attends; l don't
know the name OF the rect
The clergyman was satisfied that he had
seen the baby at the Frost houSe before the
marriage.
Dr. Bowen, the physician in attendance
at Goldie's birth, gave evidence substan-
tiatng the fathers assertions.
The witness positively identified the baby
as his child.
"She certainly is my girl was his reply.
Il can properly take care of her," said
Mr.. Frost, "and desire to do so"
Cross-examined, he said he first met the
unhappy mother of the baby in 1889. They
lived in the same house. Mrs. Collins was
there with her daughter and her niece
Counsel for Mrs. Fleck insisted on draw
ing every detail from the alleged husband,
who shifted the blame for much Of their &C
tions upon the mother Of GoIdie.