The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-10
her MOTHER WINS
MRS, BASHFoRD GIVEN CHARGE
OF DOROTHY CREEDE
NATURES TIE THE STRONGEST
The Court Considers No Other Appll'
cations for Guardianship-Child
will Go to San Francisco

0na nhasa Of the struggle for the pos
session of Edith Dorothy Creole and her
estate is ended. The court yesterday de-
cided that the ties of motherhood are
stronger than any legal or other atificiai
bonds, and without permitting contest
in the matter, awarded the custody OF the
child to the woman who brought her into
the world. Mrs. Bashford.
In stating the case TO the court. Judge
Chapman, representing Mrs. Bashroro'
gave a short history of the case, about as
follows:
..Youh honor, my client filed petition
for the guardianship of Edith Dorothy
Creole in July, 1897. She Is the mother OF
the child, and as such Is undoubtedly EMU
tied to the appoin tment she asks above all
Others. Mrs. Bashford was divorced from
her first husband, and as the court 1ouno
chat the FATHER was not a fit person to care
for the little one the decree also INCLUDED
the custody Of the child. Mic Creede SUD-
seouently adopted 1t, and at his death
man named Phifer, Creede's nephew, was
named as the administrator OF the estate.
Mrs. Bashford thereupon filed petitlon
for appointment as guardian OF the chiid
and her claims were contested by the ao-
Yntndstrator In the meantime, he has DIED
and his son, Sherman Phifer, and three
others have become applicants for the
guardianship"
The representatives of the other petition
ers, w T. S. Hammond, cashier OF the
First National Bank, who urges his petit
ton on the ground of friendship for Creede
and Miss Maggie Kearney, the servant girl
of the Creole household, then made their
statements Judge Chapman admitted
their claims, but stated desire to intro
duce testimony showing that the mother
was the proper person to have charge OF
the little heiress.
"As yet" said the court, Il do not see
any reason for introducing evidence. The
ties which bound the child to Creede were
altogether legal and artificial, and since
his death are severed. The mother now
undoubtedly is the most Interested in the
welfare of her own offspring, and unless
strong reason be presented against such
action the court will make her the guar
dian"
Attorney Jones, administrator of the
Creole estate, and Sherman Phifer's repre-
senjta tive, asked to have Mrs Bashford put
on the stand, however, and the court &C
ouiesced. In answer to the questions put
nv the attorneys, the child's mother told
the following story in a quiet and impress
sive manner:
my former name was Walker, to whom
1 was married at San Raphael In 1884. l
was at one time a professional singer, be-
ing employed both on the operate stage
and as member of various church choirs.
/ am now living with my second husband
on Turk street. in San Francisco. and have
two small children there. Mr.. Bashford Is
the superintendent of the outside depart
ment Of the California Gas Fixture com
pany. and is employed at salary OF $50 per
month. We live in ground floor fiat with
a large yard for the children to play in
and keep a nurse girl, although as yet we
have no cook. My husband Is Wiling TO
provide for little Dorothy and Is anxious
for me to have her. do not know that we
will always live where we are now located
but believe that many other children have