Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-11
SUIT OVER A CHILD
AFTER YEARS OF EsTRANeE.
MENT THREE GENERATIONS
ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER.
Herman Luers, Prosperous Farmer of
keokuk County, Brought to Recon.
ciIlation With His son-in.Law, o. c.
6akehouse, BY Common Sense Ac,
tlon--A Romance in Real Life.

sigourney, Oct. Especial. lin
one of the most affecting scenes known
to the court history of Keokuk county
the Luers- Bakehouse case, which at
one time threatened to develop into a
veritable feud, was brought to a salts
factory close and the warning factions
We're reunited after an angry separa-
tion of several years. The case, which
was started by the abduction by D. G..
Bakehouse of his own little daughter
from the protection of her dead moth.
er's parents, who had kept her from
infancy at their home.
Parties Are Well Known.
Herman Luers is one of the we'll
known and substantial farmers of Ger.
man township. He has lived in Keo
kuk county for several years and has
amassed a considerable fortune He
has, in the last few years, practically
retired from the active life Of farming
and his sons look after the major part
OF the work. One daughter, several
years ago. married D. G. Bakehouse, q
young farmer, and together they lived
on farm short distance from the
Luers homestead. Both families were
happy until death removed Mrs. Bake.
house, few days after the birth of a
little daughter.
! The child, whose name is Margaret.
was taken to the home of her grand.
parents and Mr. and Mrs. Luers cared
for her tenderly. Her father made
frequent visits to the Luers farm and
contributed to the support Of the child
but not until about three years ago
when he quarreled with his father-in.
law, did he demand the little girl. By
that time her grandparents had grown
to love eher as they had their own
daughter and they wished to keep her
with them. Finally the father gave in
but from that time there has always
been GOODNESS between the two fanni,
lies and the little girl almost forget
her father. Now she is 8 years aid
and has been & nding school near
the Luers home for two years.
father Ahducts Child,
ri two weeks ago when Marga
ret; with several other little girls
OF her own age. was on her way home
from school she was stopped, carried
TO buggy and driven hastily to her
iathers nome, Though she did not
then know, her abductor was
her own father, who, tired OF
anger against his wife's relatives
living alone and nursing his
anger against his wife's relatives
had determined to take his little girl
from them against their wishes.
The little girls playmates FASTENED
TO the Luers farm and told Margaret's
grandparents of the affair and iInmed
lately Mr.. Luers and his sons started
for che Bakehouse farm. After argu
ment and threat availed nothing the,
returned home and then came to Si
courtney to file case against Bake
house. Yesterday it came to trial ano
late in the afternoon, after witnesses
had testified and attorneys had argued
Judge Scott assumed the role of peac,
maker. Taking the case out of the
legal bounds and exercising common
sense rules he called Mr.. and Mrs
Luers and Mr.. Bakehouse to his desl
and talked long and earnestly witt
them. The arguments he used do no
appear in the court record and though
the spectators, of which there were
/ scores, strained their ears to hear hin
Ioud6S oSolt C1iACu III L1G people al
4 rectly affected and for them only
Finally Mr.. Luers extended his HAND
to Bakehouse, who grasped it warmly
He shook hands with Mrs. Luers AM
with her sons and after a short tall
the reunited family walked out of tn,
court room with little Margaret il
their midst.
The Settlement.
The records of the case show tina
Judge Scott ordered that the child re
main with her grandparents, wher,
she will receive good care and wher
the father is at liberty to visit her
Two days each year the little girl ma,
be taken to her fathers home for
visit but at other times she shall re
gard the Luers farm as her home. MI
Luers will meet all expenses of lit
tie Margaret's keeping and shall trea
Mr.. Bakehouse as a son.
4 In the opinion of the spectators an
the people in general, no better way O
4 settling the case could have been cor
| coived Tho Ittla oir1 ;e h.~zu IL