The San Francisco call., 1897-02-05
Mrs. HolStrom Files a For
NAL Petition for Guar
dianship.
Swears She Will Not Give Up
the Search SO Long As
She Lives.
William A. Lighthall, Father of the
Petitioner, Will Appeal to the
Courts.

Mrs. Lucinda Holstrom continues 10
supplicate the powers that be for the re-
turn of her ward, but not legally adopted
daughter, Effie R. V. Holstrom, concern
ing whom there has been SO much con-
troversy in the Superior Court. Since the
child was taken from her custody she has
exhausted every device known to her to
ascertain the child's whereabouts. No
information has yet been obtained by her,
but she swears by her hope in heaven not
10 give over the search so long as she lives.
She declares that it will be impossible
for any one to keep her from finding the
child. Through her attorney, Leonard S.
Clark, Mrs. Holstrom has filed a petition
in Judge Coffey's court to be appointed
the legal guardian of the child, hoping
thereby to obtain an order compelling
Officer Kane to disclose the little ones
hiding-plsce.
In her petition Mrs. Holstrom sets forth
that the child was born in this City
December Is, 1892, and was given to her
by the chiId's mother, an unmarried
woman, when the little one was six days
old. Mrs. Holstrom further AYERS as fol-
lows:
That ever since the 21st day of Decem-
ber 1892, and until the 1st of February,
1897, she has cared for, nurtured, clothed
and maintained the child and provided
Tor its wants in the most careful and affec-
tlonate manner, and has treated her in
every way as though she were her own
and has become attached to her as fully
as though she were her own flesh and
blood. Also that the child has never
known any other mother and has been
happy and contented In her care and has
been well and literally provided for. Mrs.
Holstrom also says she Is well able still 10
care for and to provide for and maintain
and educate Ellie in a manner appropriate
10 the child's necessities and condition."
No letters OF guardianship have ever
been issued to Mrs. Holstrom, nor has she
ever legally adopted Effie, not believing
that her custody OF the little girl would
ever be questioned.
On the 1st day of February, 1897, one
Frank J. Kane, she further AYERS, without
any right or authority, and with force and
arms, and with great violence, and with
threats and menaces, seized and carried
Eftie away with him and put Mrs. Hol-
surom in great fright and terror. and de-
prived Efie Of the tender and affectionate
care which Mrs. Holstrom has always ex-
tended to her. Since then Mr.. Kane has
had Ellie within his possession and con-
troll, without any right or authority there
for.
Then Mrs. Holstrom says that Effie is in
need of a proper custodian, who will care
for her as q mother should; that Effie re-
sisted and protested with all her power
against being removed, but that in spite of
her cries and screams and remonstrances
she was forcibly seized and carried away
by Kane, to her great fear and trepidation,
grief and agony, and to the sorrow and
anguish of the petitioner.
Mrs. HoIstrom additionally says she is
the only person capable of taking care of
lie cd har
wants and necessities, predictions and
tendencies, and is the only person who is
q MT or proper guardian of her.
She also says that the mother, Sally
Mcclure, is not fit nor proper person
to have the care or custody of Efffe, and
AYERS that the mother OF Effie does not
reside in San Francisco.
William A. Lightnall, father of Mrs
Holstrom, is much attached to the little
girl and seems determined to get her
back.
''She was my little pIayfellow, and
treated her and looked on her as my own
granddaughter" said Mr.. Lighthall.
I'VE all fairly worship her, and if there is
anything the matter it has been hat we
have petted her too much. Some people
might think SO. but 1 can tagree on that"
Like any one closely touched by mat
ter of this kind, Mr.. Lighthall reasons
sharply concerning Officer Kane's conduct
in taking away the child. If Mr.. Kane
had right to take our baby he would
have an equal right to take any yDody's
baby, and then if an effort were made To
get back the child he could answer that he
gave 1t 10 person who said she wa,
the child's mother; and according to this
view there is no law to stop him. He
swears that he doesn't know the woman's
name. How, then, does he know that she
is the chlld's mother? How does Mr. Kane
know that my daughter is not the child's
mother? We had the child in our CUSTODY
and he entered our house by force, with
out warrant OF law or order of court. and
on his own authority took the child. If
he had right to do that, then it is no
longer true that mans home is his castle
There has been no hearing in court to
decide between us. but / hope there may
be. He said my daughter was accused of
being bad woman; say that is not true
She lives at home with her mother and
me, and is as good woman as there is in
the world.
alt is easy enough to speak SANDERS of
any woman, but Is a police officer war
cused woman on his own responsibility :?
If so what is the use of the courts?
If Mr.. Kane had right 10 take away
my daughter little one on the mere sayso
OF outside and interested parties and then
sneer In our faces when we ask for the
laws protection what are we to do? What
can we do? We may have 10 submit. for
we are not rich: but l will not rest under
such oppression without protest shall
cry out Tor justice for my daughter and her
little one until some righteous Judge shall
hear me-"
The case will be called for hearing in
Judge Coffey's court next Tuesday morn
ing. the 9th inst.