The Topeka state journal., 1897-06-26
MOTHERS PLEAD HARD
But the Law is InexOrable and
Must Be Obeyed.
Heartrending Scenes Witness
ed at the Police Station.

yesterday afternoon.
Five mothers, who had tasted the
bitterest dregs of shame and disgrace,
nourned piteously for their babies. who
had been taken from their very bosoms
by the strong right arm of the law 1t
was an act of Christianity, done at the
instance of the Home for the Friend
less. and various charitable organiza-
tions in the city, the officials of which
decided to rescue all the unfortunate
children in Atlanta who were being
reared in sinful surroundings and un-
wholesome Influences.
There has been a law in force for
some time to the effect that all chill
dren in diSOrderly houses should be ia
ken charge of by the police or other
public officials, and reared in some
charitable institution where they could
he educated and trained in the proper
and the officials of the Home for the
bright youngsters who were born under
such a dark cloud and who were being
rocked in the cradle of vice in this city,
and the officials of the home for the
Fr1endleS5 have been taking steps Tor
the last few weeks to secure charge of
she children as a blessing not only to
themselves but to their mothers.
Last week, therefore, the officials of
these Institutions conferred with Mr..
Linton c. Hopkins, the well known
young attorney, who set about at once
TO secure charge of the unfortunate
children. He consulted with Chief of
Police Connolly, who decided he would
take immediate steps toward having
AnE youngsters placed ia L1lGSG inherent
institutions.
Yesterday morning the chief detailed
three city detectives to visit the tender
loin districts and take charge of every
child they could find
They started out on their mission
about O'clock. and when they returned
two hours later. had six bright little
girls and boys in charge with anxious
pale-faced mothers following closely
behind. The officers had trouble in
some cases. the mothers positively re
bit of official tongue wagging proved to
them that kicking would be useless.and
they We're forced to submit to what
seemed to them unjust and cruel.
The little tots were all assembled in
the consulting rooms of the detectives
offices, where the big-heaPted officers
tried to amuse them with red candy
and funny stories. There was one lit
tie kind only one year old. teething and
unNeaned. another chubby little bOy
who looked as if he had been born for
a prize fighter; a girl about six years
old, whose mother had deserted her and
suddenly departed for fields unknown:
two other girls nicely dressed in white,
ana another boy who seemed to be
highly elated over what was happening
as he industriously diminished an all
day sucker"
The names of the children are: Fan
nle Dlckey. Myrtle EdmOnsOn, Harry
Stewart, Annie Sharp, Mary Law, and
Paul Golden. All were accompanied by
Ihelr nurses and mothers, who, not
Withstanding their hard station in life
had not lost the mOtherly instinct, and
spent the morning weeping and en-
bracing their Offsprings, and begging
the officers to allow them to return
nome Their appeals met deaf ears, for
The 1ate6 had mapped out better
course in life for the little unfortu-
One of the girls was daughter of
Marie Law. who is now in Macon
Some one wired her of the disposition
about TO be made of her child, and she
likewise wired Colonel w T. Movers to
save her baby If possible. Colonel Moy-
Srs, therefore, took out a writ of ha-
beaS corpus, which Judge Calhoun was
Obliged to respect, and which kept the
child from being taken to the home
she was not turned over to her mother
however, but taken in charge by DeD-
uty Sheriff Jones who will keen her
until the hearing comes up before judge
Reid on the oath
AT O'Clock yesterday afternoon all
the children, with their mothers and
nurses. were brought into police court
before Judge Calhoun. Colonel Nov
ers was present and asked that the
nearing be postponed until several of
the mothers had time to prepare their
cases Mr.. Hopkins objected to this.
however, and the judge ruled in his
favor.
ernlng the case, providing that the chill
dren should be first committed to some
charitable institution, the parents be-
ing allowed ten days to show whv the
until they are of age. The detectives
who secured the children testified as to
the characters of the mothers. and
Judge Calhoun ruled that the children
would nave to go to the home for the
present This brought a flood of tears
10 the cheeks of the unfortunate wo-
Iten' ana one, Mrs Golden, was espe-
clally vehement in her objections
Il have always expected to get NV
!ittel Doy IN a home said she in court
I Dul cannot stand to have him taken
mere ana not be able to get him back
When want him. have always kept
MN away from evil influences and he is
an IN the world I have to live for-aH
my joy, my happiness
Wen, you are raising him in a
mighty bad way" broke in Judge
Andy.
Judge" continued she. .ft was i'm
possible for me to help it. I was thrown
on the world alone, with out a single
means or sustenance. I tried to get
work, bat could not. If YOU take my
Dapy from me it win kill me-"
Ana she gathered the little fellow in
her arms and hugged him tenderly
Judge Calhoun announced his fina1
decision and the officers led the chill
Qren, mothers and nurses back TO the
detective offices to await a cab to trans
port them to the Home for the Friend
less II was a pathetic scene when the
unIortunate women took leave of their
baples Some of them walled piteOuslv.
even declaring they would commit s77i-
eide if they were not allowed to I;1-e
with their children. and others express
ing their opinions of the authorities in
unmistakable terms
Nettie Mckinley, the mother of the
smallest babe. was allowed to accom-
pany her child to the home The others
wanted TO go, but were not permitted
me. I ne cnlIdren cried, too, as they We're
pelns put into the carriage, and the
naothers Wept Historically on the stone
steps Of the station house
as the carriage drove hastily away