The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-18
CHILD TAKEN FROM HER
Sad Separation, by the Court of Little
BERTHE Willis from Her Mother.

~
The cruel hand of Justice yesterday
morning in the Police Court. separated
little nine-year- BERTHE Willis from her
mother, Mrs. Annie Willis, whose char
acter was proven unfit for association
with the little girl. The child was placed
in the care Of the Children's Home So
ciety,. of Virginia: The mother, in the
meantime, has made an appeal to the
Hastings Court. for the custody of the
child, the case to be heard on the 22d
of September.
The case is a pitiful enc and excited
the sympathy of many Of those who
witnessed the proceedings before Squire
Graves. The mother is an attractive onking
little woman and despite evidence of her
bad character and her #harshness to Ter.
child. the latter seemed attached to her
and hung upon the swoman's arm. When
Mrs. Willis went upon the stand the little
girl went with her and sat by her side.
Throughout she manifested every indica-
ton of love for the parent from whom
she was separa ted.
On behalf Of the society the Rev. w. J.
Naybee appeared with a sta tement Of the
history Of the5child and the courses which
leI up to the present case. He said that
he had received information through Po-
lice Officer Wyatt that Mrs. Willis had
been living for. some time on Fifth Street
in a house of ill-fame, and that the girl
was being brought up in surroundings ILL
fitted to the education and moral train
irg Of a child. He at once interes, ed HIM.
set in the matter and finding that the
woman had moved to the Ballard House
vert there and demanded the little one.
Mrs. Willis refused to give her up, but
a writ from a police justice was secured
and she was forced to do Sc.
Little BERTHE was takc1l to the Belle
Bryan Nursery whittier Mrs. Willis went
q short time after and asked to have her
.ol,ld restored TO her. The matron of the
place refused. saying that it was neces-
Sc rys to have an order from Mr.. Maybe.
Thai evening Mrs Willis returned with an
OF der which Mr.. Maybee says he didn t
write. Still the woman got the girl and
went with her to Petersburg where both
we're arrested and brought back.
"A. number of witnesses. among others
Officer Wyatt, Mr.: Cosby, Mr.. Emmett
Taylor, and !. Mr.. Crull were introduced
and testified to the charact of the wo-
man, which they said was bad. ~ Mrs.
Willis, #it4was stated. had been heard to
curse the child and the child her. She
was evidently unfit to take care zcf her
daughter. During the testimony the wo-.
man frequently interrupted the Court,
and at one time her attorney. Mr..
Roscher. took his hat and threatened to-
leave unless she kept quiet.
When Mrs. Willis herself went upon.
the stand little BERTHE followed herSthere
and sat at her feet. She denied the
charges made against her and said she
was perfectly able to AXE care OF the
child She would, if the Court allowed,
place the / girl in charge Of her aunt
Mrs. stegall, who lives on Park Ave-
nue., and who, having means, would sup
port them both. She pleaded that she
nighttime he separated from her daugh-
er, whom she loved and to whom she
had never been harsh or cruel. SheScor-
srected her freauently as every mother
should, but had not abused her &. unneces-
sarily as the witnesses sal
The decision of the Court wa s. to the
effect that BertieS should go back to the
Belle Bryan II ursery and stay there un-
der the care of the Child en's5sH ONE So
sciety. The mot III Ter wa S regarded aas an
unfit person to rear and educate her.
daughter sss'
AS Mrs Wills at once too kan appeal and