The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-27
Little Irene Eckis, a Pupil at Row.
land Hall.
SHE WON A SCHOLARSHIP
MOTHER AND SCHOOL AUTHOR
Titles CONTEND FOR HER.
Mrs. Stevenson, After an Absence of
Three Years, Arrived From Chi
cago On Friday to Get Her Daugh-
ter-Habeas Corpus Proceedings
Expected to Begin This Morning.

The Salt Lake public is familiar with
little Irene Ecl1is, the talented child
who frequently has appeared in public
in the role of an elocutionist, and won
considerable distinction by her gifts in
that direction. It now appears that
Irene is to gain notoriety in another
Way, as she is the subject of habeas
corpus proceedings which are threat
ened to be brought in the district court
this morning by her mother, Mrs.
Stevenson, who arrived here from Chi
cago on Friday morning for the special
purpose Of getting her child.
AIRS. Stevenson, who is a comedy and
ladylike person, took apartments at the
Miller hotel, and although she has been
here four days has not yet succeeded
in obtaining possession of her daugh-
ter, who she claims is being wrongfuily
held by Miss Colburne, principal of
Rowland hall. Mrs. Stevenson says
that three years ago Irene, then only
II years of age, by her ability as an
elocutionist, won a scholarship at Row
land hall, which school she had been
attending. About that time it became
necessary for Mrs. Stevenson to go to
Chicago, where she expected to remain
for only a short time, and at the re-
quest of Miss Colburne and in conform
,dty with Irene's wishes, she left the
child to take advantage of the scholar
ship she had gained. Circumstances
arose which prevented the mother re-
turning at the time she expected, but
she says she from time to time sent
clothing and what money she could
spare to her daughter, with whom she
correspondent at intervals. About ten
days ago she received a letter from
Irene, couched in very bitter terms,
and accusing her mother of having de-
serted her. Mrs Stevenson game on to
Salt Lake without any loss of time and
went directly to Rowland hall. When
they met Irene demeaned herself very
coldly towards her mother, and was
not at all pleased to see her. Several
interviews followed, in which it ap-
peared that the child thought her
mother to be insane. She after per
suasion, consented to go with her
mother but afterwards refused, and
Mrs. Stevenson claims that Miss Col
burne is wrOngfully Withholding her
and prejUdicing Irene against her Mrs.
Stevenson applied TO Bishop Leonard
and. according to her story, the bishop
promised that she should have her
daughter, and appointed yesterday as
the time for her TO take her. On appli-
cation at Rowland hall she found that
Irene had gone to stay with Mrs. NJ. l..
Ritchie, and the latter lady refused to
deliver her up. Mrs. Stevenson had
previously consulted Attorney John NJ
Zane, who, on her behalf, will proba-
bly, institute habeas corpus proceedings
today.
Mrs. Stevenson says she is the natu-
raj and legal guardian of her child.
Four years ago she obtained divorce
from Mr.. Eckis, Irene's father, and by
the terms of the decree was given alb
solute control of the child until she be-
comes of age She is IA years old now,
and the mother contends she is en-
titled to have the custody of her
daughter.
- On the other hand. Miss Colburne
thinks it would be the ruination of lit
tie Irene to be given to her mother,
who. she claims. is not a fit and proper
person to have the charge of her. and
further that it would be contrary to
the child's desires to go with her
Mrs. Stevenson is employed in a
lady's tailoring establishment in Chi
cago. After the divorce from Eclis she
married a man named Stevenson. but
is not at present living with him.