Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-28
FIGHT FOR A CHILD
Notable Contest for Possession of 10.
sephine caporale- Defts-case is Of
Great Interest at WaterIoo-History
of the Child.

| Waterloo, dec. 2S.-L. r. Mantell
the New York playwright, and Mrs
Rosa Caporaln are still working IN
their attempt to gain possession OF
Josephine Capnrale- Delfs.
Saturday they sent a petition to Gov
ernor CumminE, asking that the girl he
returned to he. mother and the action
of the court be set aside. Mrs Caporale.
who is now LII the city with Mantei..
claims a waif who was adopted from
an eastern institution by Carl Delfs,
Benton county farmer. The case OF
habeas corpus was transferred 70 TINS
county. and Judge Plat ruled that the
child should remain with the foster
parents.
She is now beautiful young lady
of Is, does not speak Italian and does
not want to return to her mother.
Mantell and Mrs Caporale state they
will stay a.sti .s.ssst Cor tie gil TIL the
end. regardless OF the expense.
They claim only love as the motive
for the fight they are making for the
child
Since the trial of the case before
Judge Platt it would seem that the only
manner in which Mantell could secure
possession of the girl would be to kid
nap her. There is considerable feeling
regarding the interference of the Ital-
ian playwright in the question OF tins
rights of the foster parents and 1t
is said by we'll known resident of that
section where the Delfs fIe that Il
would not be well for him De caught
in the neighbol'hood.
The sympathies of all would be with
the mother If there was any assurance
that she wanted her daughter simply
because she La her daughter. to love
and cherish al, a mother would, but
there Is question in the minds OF
most people familiar with the case as
to the reason for seeking possession
of the girl.
1t is noticeable fact that the moth :.
err allowed both daughters to remain in
orphan asylums and other institutions
for seven years. with no thought OF
their welfare. III has also been remark
ed that Mrs. Caporale and Nantell arr
not seeking Ia secure the younger
daughter. Amelia, who is living with
the family of MIR. Leversee, near Ceda:
Falls
The mother Is part owner and works
in sweat shop" on Blocker street,
New York City, and there Is a suspicion
that Josephine is wanted to work in
this establishment. In fact Attorney
Whipple of Vinton said that Manteil
told him they wanted to put the girl
to work In the shop. Mantel denied
this during his examination, but M
Whipple asserts that he made the
statement clear enough before tbs
trial.
No action has been taken to gain
possession OF Amelia, the other dauga
ter. and despite the alleged love for
her children. Mrs. Caporale has no.
taken the trouble TO visit her younger
daughter. Their effort has been who'll
" for the possession of Josephine who
is now of an age to be useful to
them.
The mother bases her claim on the
fact that she did not understand thu
contract which was being signed at the
time the girls were brought out west
and placed in fine homes. But this
claim was not Sufficient to set aside the
contract and Josephine was left with
her foster parents.
Mantell might secure sufficient ma
terial to enable him to write new
romantic play from the case of Joseph
inc Caporale. In which he has figur ed
so prominently and thereby remuner-
ate himself for his trip from New
York to Iowa