Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-20
lows suprsms Court Decides the
Famous Hadlsy Forrest Child
Casa +
,Custody q the Child, Lillian Had.
10y. Given Ars Forrest, Of
Clinton.
neither Of the Child Il Actress
Known q Nay nel.
bourne
pecial to Times Republican.

J. : ',Ilt
OF this state has just rendered q decis-
lon reversing onefof the most interest
Ing cases that has been tried ii the
courts of this state. The principal in
this great drama wassa mother, with
love for her offspring. lighting plead
ing. for her child. then in the custody
lof another who had learned to love
lbright-eyed and beautiful little Lillian
dadley, 5 years old. with = love akin
to that OF mother.
The story is a most romantic one and
attracts especial attention on account
OF the prominence OF those involved.
The mother of the child IL Mrs. May
Hadley. noted actress, whose stage
name is May Melbourne. With some OF
the principal theatrical companies she
made tours thru the United States,
4 Vancouver islands and British Colum-
bia. In 1895 Mrs. Mollie Forrest, Of
this city, while at Ocean Grove, N. j.,
made the acquaintance OF Mrs. Hadley
and her little daughter Lillian. Mrs.
Forrest took 9 fancy to the child and
asked permission Of the mother to ale
low her to take It to Clinton with her:
after some time the mother consented to
this. on the condition that the child be
restored to her, the mother, when Mrs.
Forrest went east the following season.
This arrangement was carried out In
1897. when Mrs. Forrest was ready to
return home from Ocean Grove, she
again secured the mothers consent to
bring the child back with her Mrs.
+ ofoir
March, 1899. when the mother instituted
habeas corpus proceedings in the dis
trict court and was awarded the GUS
tody OF the child by Judge Wolfe, sit
ting on the bench. The understanding
between Mrs. Forrest and Mrs. Hadley.
when the former took the child In 1897.
WAS that 1t should be returned to the
mother whenever she demanded it. In
the meantime, in March, 1898, John w.
Hadley, husband Of Mrs. Hadley and
the father Of the child, secured di-
lvorce on the grounds Of adultery and
made out papers conveying the child to
Mrs. Forrest. which was the basis Of
her claim for the child.
When Mrs Hadley came here in
March, 1899. after her child. Mrs. For
rest refused to give it up. Mrs. Had
\ ley instituted habeas corpus proceed
ings. at the conclusion Of which the
mother was given the custody OF the
Child. The trial brought out some very
sensational evidence. The attorneys
for the defense, Hayes & Schuyler and
Chase e Seaman, introduced In evil
idence photographs. letters. kilograms
land newspaper clippings to show that
Mrs. Haley was an immoral woman
land not At person 10 raise the child.
One of the newspaper clippings, taken
from the New York World, OF the date
Of June 8. 1898, had the following large
headlines: May Melbourne still in
Bellevue hospital: doctor who took her
there missing: patient in the alcohol
ward quiet, but very nerovus: where is
DIR. Walton 2" The article stated that
May AIelbourn was one of the most
mysterious persons ever admitted to
Bellevue hospital: that she did not pre-
sent the appearance of one addicted to
hard drinking: that she was taken to
the hospital by DR.. Alfred Walton late
at night, In his private ambulance: that
The had called at the hospital in the
forenoon and made arrangements for
her admission: that his name did not
Iappear on,sthe admission slip, but that
/ OF a reputable physician did. The arti-
5lcle stated that May. Melbourn was q
beautiful girl and that her family was
4 prostrated al her commitment for alco-
lholism and that her sister was in g
nervous collapse. caused by the dis
grace to the family.
Other evidence was introduced that
showed that DR.. Walton was a promi-
lnent physician OF New York. Later on
Mrs. Walton sued for divorce from
her husband, DR.. Walton, and made
charges not clearly defined in the rec
lords. but obviously Of q scandalous ma
lture, connecting Mrs. Hadley With her
4 husband. She even went to Mrs. Had
Iley,s boarding house on one occasion
and caused a scene.eAfrs. Hadley Ade-
4 MED any wrong doings with DR.. Wal
ton, but she is forced to admit that the
intimacy continued after these charges
were made and she also admitted hav-
ing carried on a correspondence with
/! DR.. Walton after mel. marriage.
Mrs. Hadley claimed that there was
no real ground for a divorce. but that
Ishe agreed to form collision in order
Ito have the marriage VOWS set aside.
At the conclusion Of the trial, when
Judge Wolfe said he saw no reason
why the mother should be deprived OF
her child. and gave her the custody OF
her little daughter, the scene was an
|anectiEg one. Many sympathized with
the mother and were happy to see her
4 press to her bosom her little daughter
4 Yet none could dispute the fact that
with Mrs Forrest the child was In bet
tier hands than with It's mother. as Mrs
\ Forrest is one Of the most highly re-