The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-08
OPPOSED 70 HER MOTHER.
LITTLE Oracle JOHNSON TESTIFIEs
N JUSTICE AUsTlN's COURT.
Nctber of the Child who Asked the
Police 10 Give Her q Guardian
Arrested for Cruelty. but the Evil
a~pre Against Her Is Not strong.

Mrs. = W. Powers, mother o. little
Gracie johnson. who asked Captain OF
Police willard 20 give her a guardian, was
or trial in Judge Austin's court yesterday
afternoon en- the charge OF cruelty. Al
the close OF the case the judge told the
Iittle one that he wanted her ~ 90 home
win her mother The child commenced
% sob bitterly and chung closer 10 The
Judge. as il alarmed at the very idea.
Finally the judge said: II VIII reserve
nv decision IN this case until tomorrow
morning. and in the meantime Police
VI iron Taylor may take charge VI the
Clild."
Il do rot want 70 so back TO my
mamma" said little Oracle 10 a Post-iu-
teiligencer reporter There is no doubt
thar the mother. under the law. j. entitled
TO possession and the outcome Of the case
VIZ he watched with interest. Police
Matron Taylor says that there are several
ladies Who are willing 10 give the child a
good home ana she may have a consulta-
tioa with Mrs. Powers TO see il some ar
rlugement satisfactory 10 all parties in
viewed cannot be reached.
Oracle Johnson il Mrs. Powers daugh-
ter by former husband from whom SHE.
endeavored 10 bring the child up to look
irln her second husband. f. w Powers.
as her father. because she wanted her
10 forget that her real father was Il
dTunkard and gambler. Mrs Powers SAYS,
mat she was married TO Mr. Powers at
AarysVile. Cal. December s. 1895. She
met him first at Chico Cal. They came
10 Seattle last Move mber with the nten-
ton Of going 10 the kl0ndike. The more
L; y looked into the question Of going the
more unsettled they became about what
w3s best 10 do.
Six or seven weeks a go she decided 20 try
10 get work IN Seattle and advertised in
the Posi-Intelligencer for a person to take
care Of Oracle. Mrs Anna Humes who
has bean keeping a fat in the Olympic
block. answered the advertisement ana an
agreement was made under which she was
to take the child TO live with her at s. 4
week. Mrs. Powers claimed that when she
handed Oracle over into the care OF Mrs
Humes She WAS warmly dressed and had
plenty OF plain clothes. She took Oracle
back when Mrs. Tlumss decided to leave
Seattle. Nrs- Powers said that she had
never whipped the child in her life ana
that her husband had whipped her only
twice. and then only when she needed IT,
She denied having gone out nights and left
her alone. When she did go out the child
WAS left In charge Of Mr.. Powers.
The child dil not indicate In her tes;i-
mony That her parents made a practice OF
whipping her.
Mrs.. liumes testified that when Oracle
came 10 her her clothes were shabby ana
very dirty. notwithstanding Mrs. Powers
had agreed TO dress her properly. Mrs
Powers stili owed her about s..
Mr. Powers testified that Oracle was well
cared for and said tina, she had plenty OF
plain clothes and good food. lie had
spanked her twice for ''s1ssing her moth
err. He thought Mrs. Powers had always
allowed Oracle TO have her own way too
much. Harry Norton a longshoreman,
who has known Mr.. and Mrs Powers for
several years said that he bad seen their
marriage certificate