Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-22

! WI I'll W. t. NoFcfOSS, Charles III
Page, Mrs. Nellie Page. Guy E
Healey. Miss Gertie Luce, Emily Ellis
all of Winthrop, and Deputy Sheriff
Henry L. Morse of Augusta. These
witnesses We're sworn. The defense
wished to swear the girl and have her
testimony presented first, but counsel
for plaintiff objected, as he desired II
deferred until the witnesses had testi
fled. The court allowed the objection
| and Zahrnie was not sworn
f. Burton Clifford was then called
and testified: Live on the farm known
as the Sturdevant farm in Winthrop.
about two miles from the village. NV
father and myself own the farm To-
gether and are in partnership under
the name of A. T. Clifford & Son. The
house is large, built of brick and there
are Il or IA rooms. Farm contains about
800 acres About five years ago Zahr-
ME came to my brothers house-E. r.
Clifford-he and his wife having taken
her from Rev. NJ. H. Hitchcock. When
she came there she could speak only a
few words of English. My wife and
saw her and We wanted her to come
live with us. Finally my brother con-
scented and the girl came to our house.
and she has been there ever since. Was
in my brothers house less than Il
month. / have supported. clothed, fed
and educated her since that time
Never had any arrangement about her
staying five years. The understanding
was that she was to stay indefinitely
She has been used as a daughter of
mine would be. My wife has taught
her to cook, sew, sweep, make beds and
the like. and she has gone to school
almost regularly. She is now in Win
throp High school, where she has been
for a year past.
Il first saw Mrs. Geyikian about year
after the girl came to live with us. This
was in Haverhil, Mass, where the family
then lived. She then said she was glad
Zahrnie had so good a home. Talked to
mother through her son, who has since
died.
At this juncture court adjourned until
afternoon. At 215 court came in and Mr.
Clifford resumed:
The interior of the house in Haver-
hill was in a filthy condition. Nothing
was said at that time about taking the
girl back. In 1900 there was some CORE
spondence with her brother Arthur about
her going home to her mother, but she
did not so.
When Mrs. Geyikian and her brother
came to see us | was in the field hoeing
corn Zahrnie came down crying and told
me they had come to take her away. |
asked her if she wanted to go and she
said she didn't. Saw mother and uncle
at Lawyer Fosters office. Tried to make
Mrs. Geyikian look at it as | did; that 1t
would be better for the child to remain
where she was than go back with her.
Told her | would pay her fare to Win
throp and return once each year if she
would consent to let the girl stay as long
as she cared to Stay. Wanted her to
come to my house and see what kind of
a home Zahrnie had; but she wouldn't
Under cross-eXamination Mr. Clifford
stated it was year after the girl came
to his home that he saw her people about
the girl staying with him, and his under
standing was that her mother consented.
Later saw DR.. Hitchcock and he said
there was no limit placed upon the time
the Siri was to stay.
Eben True Clifford, brother of the pre-
ceding witness, was then called and re-
lated the circumstances of transferring
home in substantially the same manner.
Mrs. Eva May Clifford, wife of f. Bur
ton, also testified in the same strain. as
did Mr.. A. T. Clifford. the father of L.
Burton and his wife, Mrs. Flora Clifford.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles II. Page, neigh
bors, testified to the high standing of the
Cliffords in the community. as did Tax
Collector NJ. F. Norcross, Selectman e.
W. Wentworth, Mrs. Emily Ellis and DR..
c. W. Taggart Miss Gertie Luce, for
mer school teacher, and Guy E. Healey,
the principal of the Winthrop High
school, testified to the girls ability as a
scholar and her splendid disposition.
Deputy Sheriff Morse testified to a con-
versation he had had with DR.. Gaidza
to try and get the girl. and said that the
doctor stated the mother desired the girl
to come home and help support the fam
ily'
Several letters that figured in the case
were put in evidence. Then the girl her
self was sworn and took the stand.
She began by telling of her coming to
America with her mother, three sisters
and two brothers and of living in Haver-
hill from January to July, 1897, when she
came to Winthrop.
read or write in my own language, nor
did I know English at all. Ny home here
is pleasant and | do not want to so back
to my mother. They want me to go and
from what we do. They have their Arme-
Man customs. | like the way | have been
brought up and | have an affection for
Mr.. and Mrs. Clifford. Was at home
Haverhil two years ago, but | did not
like. My mother lived in a large tene-
ment house with many families. | slept
with mother then and she did not take off
her clothes. She went to bed just as she
was 1 want to stay here and get an ed
ucation and be happy with my friends
here.
During the daughters testimony the
mother with many SobS rushed to the
witness box and casped the child about
the neck. but could not speak to her as
neither knew the others language. 1t
was touching scene.
Mr.. Leigh submitted the case of the de-
fence without argument. Mr. Sheldon
spoke some three-quarters Of an hour,
summing up the evidence in detail.
At the conclusion Justice Whitehouse
remanded the girl to the custody of L.
Burton Clifford.