Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-04-26
FIGHT FOR LITTLE GRACE.
DIVIDED INTERESTS WANT
POSSESSION OF CHILD.
Intereeting Habsas Corpus Proceed
ings In The Circuit Court
Yesterday And
Today.

Probably the greatest interest which
has been as vet taken during this tern
of any case which has come up fol
trial is that of Mrs. Ray against Mrs.
Birdelle Tracy. The suit is a hebeas
corpus proceedings TO settle the pos.
session of the three year old Grace
Hawkins, who is the orphaned child
of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Hawkins, for.
merly of the Fifth district.
All yesterday afternoon and this
morning the court room was crowded
with friends and relatives of the little
girl, who sat upright in a stiff,
straight backed chair and gazed in 81.
lent wonderment att all that was trans
piring about her. She is a pretty
child and the interest taken in her
disposition has attracted to the court
a large number of spect ctators
The evidence which was adduced
at the hearing of the case seemed to
be of a very direct and convincing
nature on either side, but the wit
nesses for both sides were handled in
such careful manner that very little
of the troubles which has existed be-
tween-two branches of a family was
left untold. The story of the proceed
ings is one of estrangement, which has
separated friends and caused factions
which, it is thought, will never be
paciiied.
Little Grace, demure and wide.e eyed
drinking in the many sights to which
her young eyes are unaccustomed,
seems to be the least interested in the
outcome of the case, although il was
suggested in many quarters that should
the matter be decided adverse to the
defendant she will be heard in the
matter.
Some years ago the mother of little
Grace died and her father permitted
her to remain for some time with her
maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ray.
Shortly before his death, however, an
estrangement between him and his
wife's family caused him to express
the wish that Mrs. Tracy take posses
sion of the child. This was done and
for the little one.
1t was claimed by the witnesses who
were examined yesterday afternoon
that Mr.. Hawkins had frequently ex-
pressed himself as opposed to the
child's grandmother taking the little
one. Six months ago or more Hawkins
was found dead in his buggy on his
way from Baltimore TO his home. at
that time the child was in the pos
session of Mrs. Tracy.
The present suit was brought by
Mrs. Ray, the cnild's grandmother. to
secure possession of the little one.
Fully thirty of the female relatives OF
the girl attended the trial and every
step of the proceedings were anxiously
watched by the spectators. Many side
were made end great surprise
was expressed by each side to the con
tcoversy by the statements which were
made by the other side.
The case was argued at great length
after all of the evidence had been
heard and the pyrotechnics of counsel
for both sides were listened to with
the greatest interest by the large mum
ber of spectators. The court was but
a short time in arriving at decision,
which was to the effect that the child
should be retained by the woman in
whose possession it had been placed
by its father.
Mrs. Tracy left the court room sur
rounded by her group of friends with
the little child clinging ito her The
was very much disap-
pointed, as she expected an entirely
different verdict.