The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12
SHE WENT AFTER HER CHILD.
LITTLE GIRL TAKEN FROM COLUM-
Bus IN BOYS CLOTHES.

Little AmOret Moody Taken From
the Custody of Her Legal Guardian
by Her Mother, Mrs. ". ID. Vanden-
berg of Savannah-The Child
Wanted to Return to Her Mother,
and She Went for It-Guardian
Now Wants TO Prosecute Mr. and
Mrs. Vnndcnberg for kidnapping.
Savannah and Columbus are just now in
terested in a case which is likely to get
into the courts at an early day, and
which will no doubt prove an interesting
one. 1t is a case that involves the right
of a mother to the custody of her own
child, as against a guardian, a guardian
with whom the child refused to stay.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. D. Vandenberg of this
city were in Columbus Thursday, where
Mrs. Vandenberg went for the purpose of
securing her child, Amoret Moody, who
is II years old Mr.. Vandenberg accom-
panied his wife to afford her protection,
but had no part in the taking of the child.
According to a dispatch from Columbus
last night little Amoret Moody was sent
up town Thursday on an errand, and has
not been seen there since. The reason for
that is that she Is in Savannah with her
mother. The dispatch stated that
her guardian. c. b. Moody of
that city, charges that the child
was kidnapped by its mother, who is now
Mrs. w. D. Vandenberg of Savannah, as
sisted by Mr. Vandenberg. The guardian
states that the child was dressed in boys
.N1o nd fa1r
outline, a few miles from Columbus, where
she and her mother took the train for
Savannah. Mrs. Vandenberg was former
ly Mrs. James Moody, but, says the dis
patch, had separated from her husband.
Mr.. Vandenberg is the well-known chief
clerk of the Pulaski house. He was shown
the Columbus dispatch last night and
stated that the information it contained
was correct. with the exception of the
charge of kidnapping.
There was no kidnapping" Mr.. Van
denberg said. THE mother had the right
to the possession of her own child, and
acting under the advice of an attorney
she took her. That is all there is to it.
Some time ago the child was left in
charge Of a party named Gray in Ameri-
Gus. During the mothers absence, C. B.
Moody, the childs uncle, went there and
took her away from him. My wife
made every effort to get her daughter, and
when she did so Moody took out letters of
guardianship, or something of that kind,
and through that process of law withheld
her. Since that time my wife and have
done everything in our power to get the
child. have written Moody letters for
several months past, and have telegraph
ed him several times, but he has paid no
mi aat ions
Having done everything possible with
the exception of taking the child. we
consulted Judge II. d. D. Twiggs of this
city and explained the situation to him
fully. 1t was under his advice that we
acted. Under the circumstances he stated
that the mother had right to go and take
her child, and as she could not get her
We went to Columbus, as
your telegram states, but 1 myself took
no part in the affair. Mrs. Vandenberg
met the child, who accompanied her to
the little station where we took. the train,
and we came back to Savannah together.
Amoret wanted to return to her mother,
and her mother wanted her. There was
no other way TO get her here, so, acting on
Judge Twiggs' advice, her mother went
and took her. ] accompanied my wife
onlyN for her protection, and what was
done was done as we were advised to do"
According to the dispatch from Column
bus, Moody intends to prosecute both Mr..
and Mrs. Vandenberg for Kidnapping
This, Mr.. Vandenberg stated, he did not
fear. Mrs. Yandenberg wanted her child.
and the child wanted to return to its
mother, so, acting under the attorneys
advice, the mother took the child. Under
these circumstances, Mr.. Vandenberg
states he is ready to meet any action that
Moody may take. 1t would appear, from
what the guardian says, that the matter
viii be taken into the courts, and there be
decided whether under such circumstances
the mother or the childs uncle Is entitled
to its custody.