The San Francisco call., 1897-03-27
E-F|NDIiG SOCIETIES
Their Responsibility Will Soon
Be Tested in the
Courts.
One of Their Wards Driftei About
Until He Finally Landed
In J. all.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL
008 Broadway March c6 (

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI
908 Broadway, March l6.
An important point has arisen regard
Ing the Jurisdiction of home-finding So
cieties in the case of Elmer Elliott, lad
nine years of age, whose custody Is now
wanted by his mother and society which
undertook some time ago 10 put the child
in home where he would have good
education. The fact that bonus is paid
by the society for each child for whom a
home is found also figures in the problem.
Little Elmer is bright lad, who is now
at the West Oakland Home. Mrs. Pres
cott, secretary of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Children. is at pres
ent legally responsible to the court for his
custody and she has just received two de-
m ands for the child. One Is from his
mother and the other is from the society
that once found it home.
The .'home' found for the lad was at
Lorin with Mrs. Brown, and his N other
was informed that the boy would be well
looked after and would be given first
class education. Instead OF these benefits
young Elliott, after the novelty OF having
him in her home wore off, found himself
accused by Mrs. Brown OF stealing half
dollar For this crime Mrs. Brown had
the boy placed in Jail, and it was made to
appear that he was the most incorrigible
lad of his age in the world.
The Judge sent him to the West Oak
land Home, where he is al present.
When the mother was informed of what
had occurred she wrote to Mrs. Prescott
"These home finding societies are an
excellent thing" said the secretary to-
dav. 'but they are not conducted on
sufficiently practlcal basis.
Nv hen we lake charge of a child for any
cause whatever, II it has no guardian le-
galIy fitted to look after it We take out
letters of guardianship, and this NOT only
gives US right to MAKE proper provision
for a child, but it makes US legally respon-
sible for the child's welfare.
'If it be waif and any one wishes to
adopt it we can act for the child, and its
parents by adoption are then legally re-
sponsible for it, and all along it is pro-
tected by law.
"In the case that has now come to our
notice, neither the Home-inding So
ciety nor Mis-. Brown have any legal re-
sponsibility, and, as events have proven,
when placed in a home he was lost sight
of. These facts should be thoroughly un-
derstood."
The case of little Elliot will probably be
taken into the courts.
Mystery of Fallen Table.
OAKLAND. CAL. March 26.-The fam
lily of J. A. Edgren are trying to discover
who upset their heavy dining-room table
and broke most of the dishes night before
last. Mr.. and Mrs. Edgren were ups airs
waiting for their son, when they heard q
loud crash in this dining-room. They
went downstairs, found The heavy table
lying on its side and most OF the dishes
smashed. Mr.. Edgren has no other ex-
planatlon to make than that burglar
got into the house and becoming fright
ened at something he crawled under the
table and later in his hurry to escape he
tipped it over.
Another Excuse for Corbett.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 26-Billy De-
laney has discovered another cause why
Corbett was defeated. He now states that
the ring at Carson was too small, and that
it was only little more than 10 feet
square instead of "a.
This naturally is big disadvantage
for Corbett. He needed all the room
allowed, and l do not know who author
lied reducing the space. With reference
to stipulation to fight at least ten rounds
on account OF the kinetoscope, I don't
know anything about it. Ii it was made
l was on the outside and not consulted"
Surprised by Lunatic.
OAKLAND, CAL. March 26.-Samuel
Speckman, who las been before the
lunacy com missionels a couple of times,
walked into the Chief of Policies office to-
day and requested to be placed OIL the
police force. He gave Clerk Gardner a
severe fright by saying that he was a
descendant of Abraham, and proceeded to
tell of his qualifications for Office. Gard
ner did not know the insane Engiishman,
and was preparing himself for a contest
when Speckman left.
Big Improvements Contemplated.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 26.-The heirs
OF the late w. E. Miller have acquired the
half interest recently held by w. D.
Heaton in the property at Tenth stree
and Broadway, and will soon puild large
block on the northeast corner. The pres
ent building will be enlargedIand probably
third story added. Another improve
ment is to be made on Tenth street on
the vacant lot next to the Enquirer
building.
Will Havesa Dog Show.
OAKLAND, Call, March 26.-The Oak
land Kennel Club has decided that it will
hold a bench show at the tabernacle for
three days in the middle of May. Cups
and medals will be given for single entri $
and cash prizes for strings and kennels.
Trained animals will be on hand each
evening and several innovations will be
| introduced.