Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-01-21
THEY GOT THE CHILDREN
But il Required Ten Stalwart
Officers To 20 the Work.
PATHETIC STORY IS INVOLVED
Dying Mother Appeals to Neighbors
to Guard and Protect Her
Helpless Little Ones.

4
Helpless Little Ones.
Something of a sensation was
created in North Martins nrg Thus
day evening when a force of denufy
sheriffs, policemen aud constables,
under command of Sheriff Gardner.
descended IN tody upon the residence
of Mrs Mollie Palmer to take away
from the care of that woman the two
pretty little daughters of the late Mrs
David Unger. who died few davsI
ago under distressing circums tanes,
leaving her two little ones homeless
and friendless and dependent npon the
charity of strangers.
There was much in the proceedings
that was amusine-even ridiculous
yet the affair has an aspect that is
pathetic and touching in tine extreme
$50 much so that the action of ten
stalwart men going in BODY TO take
the children away from their Temporal
ry home was influenced by just this
element, and back of the officers was
tremendously strong array of judge.
court. ministers. svmpathetic friends
and an overwhelming public senti-
ment.
| The two little ones are aged about
and 10 years, bright, pretty and
interesting. the older one making
every effort to help her invalid mother
and the latter. deserted bv the father
Of the children, and working with the
canker of despair in her heart Co pro-
vide for them, fighting against death
from consumption with all the courage
anda tenacity of a mother burdened |
With the thought OF the future fate
II her offspring-a truly pathetic spec-
tacle that aroused the whole northern
portion of the city into sympathetic
revolt.
Mrs Ungev, deserted by her husband
and dying by inches from consump-
ton, had been helped In her unequal
struggle by kind people in. every part
of town, and when she realized that
the end could no longer he POSTPONED,
she called manv of her neiRhbors to
her 5sdside and asked that the helpless
little ones be provided with good
homes. calling npon each to pledge
that every effort should be MADE to
keep them from the control of Mrs.
Mollie Palmer. q relative of her hus-
band, insisting that she was not q
proper person to bring them T ,. Soon
, after Mrs. Unger died. the husband
who had left his wife in such cruel
circumstances. and the Palmer woman
removed the children to the home of
the latter. Then the law was appealed
to by the neighbors. and the matter
was placed in the hands of States
Attorney Noll, acting in connection
with a COMMITTEES of ministers Of the
CITY. Mr. Neil and Rev Mr. DOUGLAS
visited the home of Mrs Palmer yes
terday evening to secure possession of
the children IN a peaceable manner,
put were detied by the Palmer woman.
who swore they should not leave. her
custody.
Mr. Noll then instructed Sheriff
Gardner to get the children bs process
of law. and he ana .oue or two depu-
ties made another effort. This also
resulted in failure, there being much
commotion and loud protests from the
woman. Then the aid of tie police
was Invoked. and they 10 turn secured
the servioes of two constables. In
body four sheriffs, four policemen
and two constabies went to the house,
and hundreds of sympathetic persons
stood about and discussed the.unfortu-
nate affair as the officers took the chill
dren aud placed them in the custody
of the sheriff. where they will be
properly cared for until Judge Faux
ner hears all parties involved in the
case and determines the fate of the
little ones
The officers saw that neither the
father nor the Palmer woman is a
proper person to have the care of the
children; both the man and woman
swear before high heaven that they
are. There is no uncertainty about
what the people of North Martinsbnrg
think. In the meantime there have
been several applications from reputa-
BILE families who offer to provide good
homes for the little ones, and IL is
probable that some action in this
direction may be- taken. Judge Faux
ner will determine the matter later