The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-23
RESORTS
TO HABEAS
CORPUS
American Aunt Seeks Control
Of Child, and Case Becomes
an International Matter.

Washington. Dec. "a Possession OF
ten-y old Joe Preston Ames, heir to
great estate in Uruguay, has become
an international matter in which the state
department and the republic OF Uruguay
are interested
The childs mother was a beautiful
Spanish woman, the wife OF DR. Preston
Ames, an American doctor. who lived for
many years in Uruguay. The father died
shortly after the childs birth while com
ing to the United States DIR. Ames left
a valuable estate consisting OF hundreds
OF acres Of land extending along the Uru-
quay river I'm the fertile province of Salto.
The mother. Mrs Octavia III. Ames.
lived In Uruguay. but spent the winters
I'm Washington, where she was well
known socially. Because OF her great
wealth the Uruguayan legation took
deep interest in her welfare and that OF
her son.
Early this winter Mrs. Ames, ac-
companied by her son and her niece and
nephew. Pepita and Eduardo IArroque.
came to Washington They went 10 their
home here and had planned TO entertain
lavishly during the social season. Mrs.
Ames was taken suddenly Ill and died
Dec. s.
BEGAN HABEAs CORPUS SUIT.
Mrs. Helen sparhawk. sister of the
ch,ld's father, who lives in Brookland,
suburb OF Washington attempted to OBJ
tain possession OF her nephew after the
death Of his mother. She Instituted he
beas corpus proceedings. and notice was
served on Preston Adams Ames. of Wash
ington, a granduncle OF the child and
on Pepita and Eduardo Larroaue. to pro-
duce the child in court on Dec. 9. At
that time Preston Adams Ames appear
ed and said the child was not In his pos
session and that he had no knowledge as
TO his whereabouts.
Justice Barnard OF the district supreme
court. postponed the hearing. and Ed
uardo and Pepita Larroaue later were
brought into court. They speak only
Spanish and an interpreter was necessary.
Eduardo Larroque and his sister. Miss
Pepita. testified that just before the
mother died she requested that the child
be sent to her brother-in-law, John BcnJ-
amin I.arroque. in Uruguay.
Immediately after the mothers burial
the child was sent TO the Uruguayan le-
CATION here and placed in charge OF the
minister. Two days later the child was
sent TO New York In care OF special
messenger of the legation and placed IN
charge Of the Uruguayan consul general.
to await the sailing OF a steamer. The
boy sailed on the Soldier Prince for Uru-
quay on Dec. IL.
APPEALED TO STATE DEPARTMENT.
The contention OF the chlds grand
uncle and OF Eduardo and Pepita Larro-
qua is that the child was not In their
possession when they We're served with
tho papers In the habeas corpus proceed
ings. but had passed TO the control OF the
rruguayan minister as a minor citizen
OF that republic. Mr.. Ames and Eduardo
Larrouue testified that the Uruguayan
minister maintains jurisdiction over the
minor child OF deceased citizen OF his
country.
Justice Barnard ordered that the state
department he requested 10 ask the Url-
guayan legation to furnish n transcript
OF It's record regarding the departure OF
the child II Il can be shown by the Uru-
guayan legation that :he child was in It's
possession and had ttarted for New York
previous to the beginning OF the habeas
corpus proceedings, Mrs Sparhawk will
have no redress
few days after the death of the child :
mother Mrs Sparhawk had herself ap-
pointed his guardian by the district
court. The iTruguayan legation will not
discuss the matter pending the applica-
ton OF the state department for tram
script OF its record.