The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-28
APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.
Marguerite Bowman Explains Her
SORROWS in Letter TO the Globe.

Marguerite Bowman Explains Her
SORROWS in u Letter to the Globe.
I reluctantly break the silence 1 have
heretofore kept. AS long as my sorrow
and trouble was a mere personal affair
L have not thought it proper that l should
speak of it to strangers. l have appealed
to the courts to Vindicate my rights, but
without success. The theft of my little
child has now, 1t seems, been approved
and justified by religious, prominent and
respectable people, and 1 have nowhere
to turn in my distress except to the pub
lie. l have nothing to do with any reli-
gious quarrel that people may engage In
over my affairs. l and my child have
rights superior to all theologies or
churches. If It is not right TO kill or tor
ture people for religious belief why
should / be tortured and worse than kill
ed and my little Ida May be deprived Of
the rights that the most unfortunate
child Is given? The fact Is that from the
time little Ida was three hours old until
my brothers. death, last month. / was
her mother In all that a mother can be;
she never slept a night out of my arms
l loved her all the more because her real
mother was dead and / had no child of
my own. In this way, 1t seems we were
more isolated and were all in all to each
other.
Up 10 my DIOlItT u6dlH we were d
happy and united household He was an
ardent. warm-hearted man. who won all
with whom he came in contact. His dy-
ing wish was that We should all stay to-
gether. and I know my assurance that
the children would always have my care
soethed bis last hours. He was hardly
buried when from every Side las 1t now
appears) came strangers who had never
shown any interest in him or the children
to break up what was left Of our home;
to lure the boys away from their home
and the place where they were born, and
worst of all. to steal away my little girl,
who knew no other love than mine.
Those strangers who take such an in
terest in nay affairs now say that | am
a Catholic; but have not Catholics at
least as much right as animals are given
in the care and love of those toward
whom they occupy a parental relation?
They also say that 1 have neither home
nor means. My answer is that since I
came to st. Paul have clothed Ida May
and during the last year have helped to
clothe and support the boys as well If
my brother had not perfect confidence in
my ability to care for the children he
would not on his death bed have com
mitted them to my care. 1t was my in
tention to carry out my brothers wishes
and to keep the home which these stran-
gers have have succeeded in breaking up
Since Ida May disappeared / have used
every means in my power to find her, but
without success. Whether she is living
or dead. I cannot tell, nor where or with
whom she is. I have not means to en-
pIoy detectives in the different states
where she may be, and my purpose In
writing this letter is to ask all the men,
women and even children who may read
1t to help me find my child. She cannot
be kept hidden IL only people will tell me
what they know. All 1 ask Is the help Of
their information. My lawyer tells me
that If I can find where she is the courts
will get her for me. If only women
mothers-who are engaged in this cruel
persecution of me would make the case
their own for one of the sad weeks 1
have borne 1t. they would surely desist
Marguerite Bowman,
40S Ashland avenue ST Paul, MINI.