The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-30
HELD FOR HEARING
Horrible Case Brought TO
Judge Wilson's Notice
BY A HUMANE OFFICER
Mother and Children Are Now
in Jail.

There was a sad case in the probate
court yesterday and the result Of it was
that three little girls were locked up in
the county jail on the charge that they
were being used for immoral purposes.
This viii be test case to see whether
under the law passed by the last legis-
lature. z. L. Stratton, agent for the
Kansas Children nome Society. can take
little children from their parents with
out their consent when it can be shown
that they are being abused. There is
only one thing that can nearly equal the
awfulness of the charge in this case and
that would be the taking Of little chill
dren away from their natural protectors
on a mistaken charge. The name Of the
three girls are: Mile Ferguson. Is years
old Irene Ferguson, 13 and Myrtle Fer
guson, 10 years. They reside with their
mother at s15 East Douglas avenue.
Three or four days ago, f. L. STRAIT
ton, the agent for the Kansas Chndren's
Home society went 10 Probate Judge
Wilson and told him that these little girls
were being shamefully abused with con-
sent oftheir mother and that he wanted
to take the children from her and find
them homes. he also said that there
were some grown men connected with
this affair that ought to be sent to the
penitentiary Mr. Stratton said his So
ciety was for the purpose Of protecting
neglected children and he considered il
the duty Of his society TO look after these
little girls. Mr.. Strarton said the law
4
probate courts to turn children over to
his society, and that parents could do
the same thing, but whether he coulG
take them when the parents objected was
the one question which he was unable to
answer satisfactorily to himself.
Judge Wilson said the charges were
horrible and if AIR. Stratton would file
his complaint he would investigate the
matter and he would send the children TO
the reformatory if they could not be
turned over to the home He fled the
charges above stated and Mr.. Stratton
and Police Officer Mercer went out and
at about half past four O. clock last even
ing brought ths moth r and the two
younger girls before Judge Wilson. They
reported that the older child Mile could
not be found.
They were a queer looking crowd and
while the records in the case were being
fixed. the mother told a reporter for the
Eagle, the girls names ard gave their
ages. She did not understand the na-
ture Of the charges ana seemed to think
that an effort was being made to take tie
children away from her because she was
too poor TO provide for them She said
she got a divorce from her husband about
six year ago and that she had dropped
his name Of Ferguson and taken her for
mer name of Wood 'ShC explained that
she and the children looked hard because
the officers had come and arrested them
and would not give them time to wash
their faces and put on some clean clothes.
Irene Ferguson with her little short
calico dress seemed to be younger than
thirteen years but evidently imagined
that something depended on appearance.
She got hair pin from her mother and
twisting her hair in a coil on the top of
her head, she fastened it and made an
effort to look like little woman. Myrtle
was a mere babe in appearance. She
wort little soiled pink dress and straw
hat profusely trimmed with paper flow
ers.
was the cause of N1yrtles peculiar walk
when the mother explained that she had
a spell cf fever some time ago and her
hair came out and now her short hair
gave her baby appearance She admit
ted that her oldest girl. Mile was a lit
tie Wild and that she could not keep her
IN of the steets. but the other two were
good. Mrs. Ferguson. or rather Mrs
Wood. said she had not seen Mile for
two days and she could not tell where
she was
Judge Wilson told the mother Of the
girls that Ae had no charge against her
that could be tried IN mis- court. but he
intended to hold the girls IN the county
jail until he could investigate this case
and # she desired TO 90 with them he
promised there would be no objection .
She said she would 90 and they were
all sent over TO the fail.
An hour later a reporter met Mr.. STRAIT 4
ton on Main street with a young girl go /
ing toward the court house. When the 4
reporter asked him II he had found HIS
other girl he replied in the Affirmative
and added that this was Mile Ferguson (
who was goin gto see her mother. Mr..
Stratt0n winked and this was taken 10
mean that Mile did not know that Judge .
Wilson hsd given the order 20 lock her Up .
in the county jail. The girl explained .
that she could not imagine what her .
mother could want with her because she I
had driven her from home two davs
before out onto the street and she had 4
gone 70 n fruit stand on East Douglas .
avenue and worked for something 10 eat /
and 9 place 70 sleep
She went into the jan % talk 70 her
mother and appeared surprised when the 4
loci, was turned in the big iron door and j
she found herself a prisoner.
Judge Wilson said this was the most
horrible case that had ever come 20 MS
attention. He said IL seemed almost fra-
possible that the charge against these
PEOPLE could be true. He said the
8 cungest girl was mere baby and #
would be n horrible thinE 20 conten-
plate II little one Ike this Rad no pro
lection from such an outrage The
probate Judge was not only moved O.
pity. but he was indignant and re said
some % the police officers would be given
p chance 10 tell what they knew about
this case
a Terrible Explosion.
"0f s gasoline stove burned e isdv
here frightfully.' writes y. j.. Palmer