Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-07
A Case in Court That Recalls Sad
Memories.
THE DEFENDANT RETAINS HER CHILD
After Years Of Desertion Father At
tempts to Reclaim His Boy
He Is Rich, the Mother Is Poor
The Story.
From Wednesdays Daily.

1t would do no good to mention their
names, yet many Ottumwa people
would have recognized them had they
seen the couple as the January sun
looked coldly into the court room win
dows and the white glare fell around
the forms of woman in thin, shabby
garments, and little boy who stood
leaning heavily against her knee. She
was bent and worn, but the little chap
had laid his hands in hers caressingly.
and there was madonna look in her
attitude and expression that even the
|unsentimental officers dimlv recogniz-
ed as they glanced at her from time to
time, and the Judge gazed at her as
he heard the case on the docket lust
preceding hers.
Over by the window, warm in his
fur-lined coat. a man waited for the
case to be called. He was well-dress-
led and white fingered. hut when he
turned his ewes toward the woman
land child they huddled closer toeeth-
er and the boy looked into her face
|entreatingly.
The case was called. and the two.
with their respective LAWYERS, took
their places before the bar. The man
desired the custody of the how. his
son. upon the grounds that the woman
was not fit person to have the charge
|of him.
What specific charges do vol, make
against her9' questioned the indge
The man glanced about Significant
Ily.
81 could make a great manv" he re.
piled. "brt nv honor as gentleman
prevents. only wish 10 saw that she
lis not in position to bring the child
|up PROPERLY. To educate him as nv
son should be educated. You can see
for yourself he is not we'll clothed
now. allowed her to keen him dur.
ling his babyhood because felt sorry
for her. But I want him now"
The LAWYER for the defense stepned
forward, but she laid her hand on his
arm s'I,et me- sneak, she said and
the Judge nodded his head and waited.
"Your honor.-her voice was low
and clear-"this little child is mine
Bought and paid for by NV pain and
tears. / have worked for him from
morning until night every day and
found the most mental task sweet and
now that he is sturdy and strong and
beautiful there is talk of taking him
away from me, What does father.
hood mean to a man who never feels
his baby's little fingers on his face ,,
Who never watches b Wits side thru
long nights of fever or hears it's first
broken words? Who has never made
a sacrifice or lost a moments sleep. ON
account of the little one? This man
deserted us. his little child and me.
left us to starve or, live as it might
happen, and now-now-
"tYour honor. he spoke of me slight
Iingly a moment ago But women who
have little baby hands to hold on to,
who have little, tender cheeks to press
against their bosoms. do not go wrong.
/ am poor, and it is with difficulty that
| earn enough to live on. But we do
live. and live honestly and If Won will
look you will see that my boy is warm.
lly clad"
She stopped, and the nudge looked
grave as he deliberated. She took
alarm at his silence. and catching the
II boy in her arms started for the door,
He called her back sternly. but she
turned around as one at bay, and with
face uplifted said: