The San Francisco call., 1904-02-12
NEW ALASKAN STEAMSHIP NUSHAGAK II
LAUNCHED FROM SHORE OF ESTUARY
WANTS TO KEEP
MASSIE BABY
Foster Father Says That for
Nine Years He Has Cared
Lovingly for His Charge
DENIES STORY OF CRUELTY
Boy Kisses the Mother Who
Deserted Him. but Says He
Does Not Remember Her
Oakland Office San Francisco Can.


Ills Broadway, Feb. II.
Bereft of his father. who was killed
by bullet, and deserted by his moth
er while yet in his baby clothes. Will
liam Massie. a bright lad of years. is
the center of a legal struggle. in which
the Society for the Prevention of Cru
city to Children is ranged on one side
and John A. Massie, the boys cousin,
and his wife on the other. Report is
that Massie has been cruel and the So
ciety has taken action.
The case first came up last Saturday.
when John Massie appeared in court to
answer to a summons and stated that
the child was on a ranch some dis
tance from Portland, Or. Yesterday
morning Mrs. Massie and the lad were
located by the Sheriff's Office at An
tioch, in Contra Costa County, and the
lad was seized there by a deputy sheriff
as he and Mrs. Massie were about to
take the train. The boy was brought
into court in the afternoon and Judge
Hall made an order that he be taken
out of the possession of the Massies
and placed in charge of Miss c. Anita
Whitney for safe keeping.
the boys mother appeared in court.
represented by an attorney, and asked
that the child be given back to them
pending the hearing OF the case next
Saturday They finally gained their
point, as Attorney w. H. O'Brien prom
ised the court that they would produce
the child at that time. Judge Hall init
mated that he had been purpOsely mis-
led and said:
MIR. O'Brien, last Saturday I was
told that this child was in Oregon and
out of the Jurisdiction of this court. 1t
was found yesterday in the next cOun-
ty. where 1 firmly believe il has been
all the time. do not propose TO take
any chances that this lad win not be
present at the hearing of the case.
1t was, however, represented to Judge
Hall that the child was hOmesick. and
at his own request. coupled with the
guarantee of the attorney, the Judge
revoked his order of yesterday and al
lowed the child TO return 10 the home Of
his foster parents, who live at 1Ol5
Linden street, Oakland.
In the background there is a rumOr
that mysterious rich uncle and aunt
of the boy would like to get him. and
ii is to their door that Massie lays the
charges that have been made against
him. He now says he will adopt the
BILE with the society. and to this end
has found the lads mother. who he
says will aid him in his fight for the
child. She was in court this morning,
and though the boy kissed her when
told TO do so, he knows little about her.
and looks upon Massie and his wife as
his parents.
Though Mrs. John Massie was found
TO be in Antioch with the child, she de-
clares that she has been in Portland.
and that while she was there her hus-
band was called upon to surrender the
child 10 the Oakland society Mrs. Mas
sic admits, however. that she was only
in Portland one day and that she had
not informed her, husband of her plans.
The boys father was killed by bull
let fired from a revolver in the hands
of his mother. In a dying statement
made by the wounded man he exon
Grated her from all blame and said that
the shooting was accidental The baby
was hardly a year old when it was
taken by the boys cousin, who has had
it for the last nine years.
Massie's friends declare that he idol
ICES the child and has given the boy
the best of care for years