The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-01
Subject of Big Legal Battle Re-
turns From New York.
VIII Make His Home with His
Aunt, Mrs. Billiard.
WAS NOT SATISFIED
Says He Was Mistreated by His
Father.
Hid in a Depot Until He Got
Money From Topeka.

Another chapter is reached I'm the
story of the little Laurent children.
custody Of whom was given to their
father by the courts here not quite
three years ago. Marcel Laurent. the
boy, ran away from the home of his
father in New York city two weeks ago
and IS now back here. He is living
again with his aunt. Mrs. J. 3. Billiard.
at whose home on North Quincy street
he has been since last Monday.
The case is well remembered. Marcel
Laurent was born in South An erica
His sister Anita was born in Paris.
Their mother died in Paris. and the
children We're brought to Topeka by
their father. The boy was reared by
his aunt Mrs. Billiard and the little
girl by her grandmother, Mrs. l.. q.
Laurent, and another aunt. In the
summer Of 1898 the father having mar
ried again, came to take the children
away. Mrs. Billiard gave the boy up.
but the grandmother refused Probate
Judge Dolman awarded the custody OF
his daughter to Klincksiecx. the father
The attorneys for the Laurents tried to
take the case to the supremei court but
the supreme court refused to hear It. as
the law allows no appeal from the pro-
bate to the supreme court.
Before the probate court David
Overmyer, attorney for the Laurents.
made this prediction:
Those children will come back That
boy will be here again inside of four
The prophesy is fulfilled. 1t win be
three years in August, and the boy IS
here.
The boy told his story to a state Jour
nal reporter at the Billiard home this
N morning. He says he Was mistreated.
beaten and made to do the work OF a
servant "A letter that was written to
TrOUtman & Stone. his fathers at
torneys. in September, 1899. ne says.
was written a. the dictatiOn of his
father and under compulsion. This let
ter was to the effect that the children
were most happy in their new home.
that they We're better dressed and had
many pretty things given them. They
had been in New York just year then
Il did not know what I was writing
Marcel said. MY father stood over me
and dictated. I did not know the mean
ing of many of the words
How did you come to run away"
Tt was all about some clothespins.
this time"
How"
L had been hanging some clothes on
the line and ] had some clothespins left
over. I laid them on the gasoline stove.
Then I would know where to find them
when I wanted them again
When my stepmother found them.
she said: Marcel. did you lay these
clothespins on the stove?'
Yes I said. lf
Yes what2
g Yes, I did
'Then she whipped me. That night
my father started to whip me for it.
We were all down in the garden. He
ran after me, and / jumped over the
fence and ran away. went back.
crawled in cellar window and slept in
the cellar that night / saw my sister
in the morning. 'T'n come back home if
father won't whip me- ] told her. She
said he would whip me. and so j went
off down to the railroad station at 13Sth
street."
Marcel was kept at the Mott Haven
~@F 4-.J
road for six days by a kindhearted JAM
itor that sympathized with the young
ster in his trouble. and hid him in the
station cellar The boy waited there till
he got a ticket telegraphed to him by
his aunt, and then came on here.
They made Anita and me do all the
houseworlC." is another of the boys
grievances MY stepmother would go
off all day and make us do the work.
Il had to wear Overalls all the time
Marcel looked down at the floor at the
next confession. Sometimes they
made me wear an apron"
Didn't you ever have any fun2"
Sometimes. he admitted. reluct-
antly. Anita got a bicycle. but
didn't. ! could ride hers, but I wanted
one of my own"
Marcel is now being sent to school
here. and is studying shorthand. He
is large for his age Of fourteen and a
half years, chubby and strong. He
takes his aunt's name now. Henceforth
he is going to be Marcel Billiard.
My father goes by the name Of I4au-
rent now. His right name is Klinck-
sleek He is ashamed Of his own name.
I guess"
My father won't come after me any
more. do you think?" he asked the re-
porter eagerly.
He might"
Il don't want to go back to New York
any more I'm strong now. and I'll
work.
Marcel carries himself like a manly
little chap His eyes glisten. He is boy
all over and New York boy at that.
He speaks three guages-French,
German and English. His English has
the genuine metropolitan infection.
LIZ II l,rI,ln Ii 90, rl,nann