Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-08-08
A PECULIAR CASE.
Ed Ellis Takes Son from Ken
nebec Valley Home
Where It Had Been Placed by Mother,
Who Paid Its Board.
Mrs. Ellis will Sue for Divorce 10 Obtain Local
Possession Of Child.

The police We're asked to Interfere
last night, in the alleged abduction of
the 6-weeks-old child Of Mrs. Ed Ellis.
aged Is, from the Kennebec Valley
Home, yesterday afternoon. Owing 10
the circumstances the police were pow
erless to act.
About three weeks ago, Mrs. Ellis
called at the kennebec Valley Home.
having her child, a boy with her. she
told pitiful story and asked that the
child be given a place of shelter. From
the story she tells she was married +,
Ellis about year ago. She says.
further, that after the child was born
she was cruelty treated by her hus-
band and as soon as she was able TO
get up she left her husband and did
housework for a living. Being unable
to care for the child while she was at
work she placed the baby in the Home,
and paid its board in advance that II
might be sure of proper treatment.
She apparently thought a great deal
OF the child, for she frequently calIeI
at the Home and did everything for
the child's comfort. Her last call was
made, Sunday.
Ellis and a woman called at tho
Home, yesterday. and began to look at
the children. After petting the chill
dren in the house and showing them
much attention, they asked If there
We're not ether babies, and asked to sec
the Ellis child.
When the Ellis child was broughr
they paid the little boy every attention
and the father took il in his arms. In
Few moments it began to cry. one Of
the attendants then stepped along and
started t. take the child from Ellis
arms 10 Dlcify il.
Don't you touch that child" said
the woman who was with Ellis.
On surprise being expressed at such
command. the woman explained t.
the attendant that Ellis was the
father of the child and proposed to
take the baby along with him.
You shall not do that" said the at
tehdant, for the mother placed the
child here and l shall not let the child
go until the mother comes"
That is all right replied Ellis
companion. We have seen Lawyer
and he says that it is ali
right for US To take the child
But the child shall not go out Of the
house without your giving me a line
from MIR. if that is the
case" said the attendant. THE ma
tron is away and I am left in charge
| shall not let the child go unless 1
have some other authority"
Before the words were fairly out Of
the attendants mouth Ellis and his
,ompanion started on the run out of the
house and down the street. The child
then had nothing on but cotton wrap
per. That it might be better protected
they went to house nearby and bor-
rowed shawl and started off
Mrs. Ellis was made acquainted with
the facts of the case and she at once
applied for assistance from City Mar
shall Breen. He referred to Judge An
irews for legal advice on the matter.
Judge Andrews gave his opinion that
nasmuch as the husband and wife had
never been divorced and the child had
been weaned and was placed in an in
stitution to be cared for, the father
had as much right to the child as the
mother and the police had no right to
interfere. Accordingly the child re-
mained, last night, in the possession of
the father.
Mrs Ellis stated last night. that she
should AT once begin legal proceedings
to secure a divorce that she might be
free from her husband and gain posses
sion of her son through the action of
the court.
The board of the child had been paid
for a week in advance at the Home by
the mother and those interested are
wondering if that will have any effect
on the possession of the child by the
father.