Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
Davenport Woman Says Mary L.
Schrock Hypnotized Her.
BROUGHT CHILDREN TO O1IUMWA
Mrs. schrock Is Secretary of the
American Home Finding Associa-
tion of This city-It Is Thought
Davenport Woman is Unbalanced.

Mrs. Mary L. Schrock, of Ottumwa,
secretary of the American Home Find
ing association, the head Office of
which organization is in this city, is
accused by Davenport woman, Mrs.
l.. Wyman, of hypnotizing her and
thus obtaining her consent to take her
two children away from her and bring
them to Ottumwa for the purpose of
finding homes for them. Mrs. .Schrock.
and people in Davenport who knew
of the negotiations for the children
deny the truth of Mrs Wymans story,
and it is thought that the woman has
become mentally unbalanced on ac-
count of the taking away of her chill
dren. The Davenport Leader has the
following to say of the affair:
A strange story comes from Cedar
street in which the American Home
Finding Association. Mrs. Mary
Schrock, secretary of that organiza-
ton, Mrs. l.. Wyman and her two chill
dren figure as the principals.
The American Home Finding asso-
citation is precisely what its name
would seem to indicate and its mis-
sion is to go into homes where condi-
| tions are such that the mental, moral
and physical state of the children is
| not what it should be, owing either to
poverty or immortality, and taking
them out to good homes where they
can be raised as they should be.
| Mrs. Mary Schrock is the state sec
retary of the association for Iowa and
| the woman who organized the Daven-
port branch whose officers and mem
bers are recruited from the best cir.
cles of the city.
Mrs. L. Wyman lives at 624 Cedar
street and sets up claim which
seems absolutely Incredible when the
character and standing of Mrs
Schrock and the Davenport members
of the association are taken into ac
count.
MrsWyman says that Mrs. Schrocl
hypnotized her, took her children, Car
old, and sent them away to Ottumwa
1 where home had been found 70,
them.
i Another Side to the Story.
i On the other hand, Mrs. Schrock
whose reputation in every other re
spect is absolutely unimpeachable
says that the full consent of the mo
ther was given her. that they two talk
ed the matter over nationally and thu
mother agreed that she was unable
to do what was right by the children
and thought that they would be bette
off in some family and home wher'
= they could have better opportunitie
and where they would have chance
J to gain the training and education
she was unable to bestow upon them
Mrs. Schrock was unwilling to TAX
her word for it alone, but togethe
they went down to Mayor Decker's OF
fee and talked the matter over witt
!. him and here again the mother eN
pressed herself as satisfied and t.
mayor told her that it would be bes
: and with Mrs. Schrock further e1
planned the advantages both to hel
!. self and to the children.
J AS matter of fact, the childre
were suggested to Mrs. Schrock b
Mayor Becker himself He told he
that the children were much in need c
another home and advised her to Sc
what might be done in the case.
/, Mrs. Schrock accordingly wen
down to the house Friday morning an
talked the matter over with the mt
r ther for an hour or two. Her full col
C sent was given in every way. Nc
e only had the suggestion been made b
J.. the mayor, but County Physician Bow
!. man and the chairman of the boar
t further advised that the step be takel
as they were all fully cognizant of th
state of affairs.
At noon Mrs. Schrock, Mrs. Wyma
and the children came down town an
had dinner and then went to the ma
L or's Office, where the necessary paper
were made out.
e Yesterday the woman began to a,
e strangely and was seen by the neig
v. bors to be packing up her things ar
If when questioned said that she We
! about to move to Ottumwa, as she he
to be where her children were. HI
actions were such as to suggest q
unsettlement of the mental organis
in more or less acute form.