The San Francisco call., 1897-03-28
EFEIE'S FATE IS
IN THE BAL AnCE
Judge Seawell Will Give
a Decision Next
Tuesday.
Mrs. Martin, the Mother Pro
Tempore, Tells of the Little
Ones Preference.
Showed Aversion to Mrs. D'Artenay
but Displayed Aft .ction for Mrs.
HoIStrom.

Judge Seawell has promised TO decide
the fate of little Effie Y. r. Holstrom at 2
O'Clock next Tuesday afternoon, and in
the meantime Mrs. Lucinda Holstrom,
the foster-mother, and Mrs. Sarah
d'Artenay, the actual mother of the child.
will have period of unhappy suspense.
The little girl was born out of wedlock
and was given by the mother to Mrs. Hol-
strom, with a written agreement that she
should be raised as Mrs. Hostrom's own
child.
Mrs. Mary Martin of Oakland is also de-
sirous of having decision of the case,
because she is as ANXIOUS 10 surrender Gus
tody of the baby as the others are to have
possession of il. Nearly q month ago
Mrs. Martin appeared in court and Of
fered 10 become the mother pro tempore
of the little waif pending the hearing OF
the contest between the mother and the
toster-mother. She explained that she
took this course from motives of phllan-
thropy, because she did not like TO see
an innocent child thrust into the City Jail,
near cell occupied 10y Butler, the Aus
traIian murderer.
1t was expected that the trial would not
last more than day or two, but the usual
delays of litigation made their appear
ance and Mrs. Martin has suffered for q
month because of her kind heart. She
proved so acceptable 10 both sides of the
controversy that they could not agree on
any one TO take her place.
Mrs. Martin was The first witness called
by Attorney Eugene n. Deuprey on be-
half of Mre. Holstrom Yesterday morning.
Mrs. Martin testified that when the little
one was given TO her she cried all night
e. GgNT EI1Ie ,el,a Lad
her foster mother. After that Mrs. d. Az
tenay called TO see the child and little
Effie showed aversion and would not go
near her.
II felt very sorry for the mother. OF
course" said Mrs. Martin, ''but it was not
my fault. She wept and said the others
had prejudiced the baby against her. and
l told her nobody had tried to do that IN
my presence"
Mr.. Sullivan assured Mrs. Martin that
no one had the slightest fault to find with
any OF her acts; that all are satisfied with
her conduct.
Continuing, Mrs. Martin said that when
Mrs. Holstrom called to see the child
both the foster mother and the child
eyinced great affection for each other.
The child seemed to grieve after the fos-
ter-mother and became i'll in consequence
so that it became necessary to ask the
foster-mother to desist from further visits.
Mrs. Martin said that it was necessary to
keep the child away from the windows for
the reason that every time she looked out
on the street she imagined that she saw
Officer Frank Kane. who took her from
her foster-mother, or somebody that
looked like Mr.. Kane. which so terrified
the child that it made her sick. 1t was
evident to the witness that the child pre-
ferred to go with Mrs. Holstrom, the
foster-mother.
Mrs. Mary A. Hawley. Mrs. NaiIor, Mrs.
Mary O'DeI, Mrs. Crosby and Mrs.
WyckoH testified 10 the good character
and good reputation of Mrs. Holstrom.
DIR. Thrash her was called and was asked if
he had written letter to Mr.. Holstrom
signing woman's name. He said he did
not write the letter and did not know the
woman whose name was signed to the
letter.
Mrs. Evelyn X. Benton also denied
knowledge of the letter or its con tents.
Mrs. d. Artenay. mother of tha child,
was recalled to the witness-stand and de-
MED all the stories that had been told
against her. She said: From the time
OF my vhild's birth I have lived as good a
life as any woman could. I have atoned
for my wrong as fully as it is possible for
a human being TO DO. Hester Prynne, in
the Scarlet Letter. did not suffer 8 1 have
suffered, for she was allowed to keep her
child while had TO give mine up
Mr.. Sullivan asked his client to confine
herself to answering questions. The lady
thereupon declared tnat she had never
said the child had been too much trouble
to her already and denied that she ever
said she hoped not to ever see it again.
Mr.. Deuprey drew from Mrs. d'Artenay
an admission that she had always SAID
and still reiterated that her only reason for