The Princeton union., 1907-01-31
WINANS CASE HEARD
Witnesses Testify Before Judge of
Probate Van AlStein as to
Condition of Children,
Case Adjourned for Sixty Days and
Children Returned to the Gus
tody of Their Father.

Monday afternoon, and, after listen
ing to the testimony of witnesses, the
Judge decided to adjourn the matter
for sixty days, subject to be retaken
up, however, at any prior time upon
two days notice being given. This
disposition of the case was made in
order that the father of the children
might have an opportunity of show
ing that he is able to properly care
for the little ones. It is, as it were, a
probationary adjournment.
This case has attracted considera-
bic attention, especially in Milaca.
The investigation was brought about
upon petition of G. E. Erickson and
L. S. Libby, county commissioners,
to determine whether the Winans chill
dren were in the state of destitution
and filth alleged and whether the
father, E. A. Winans: was a fit and
proper person to have the custody of
such children, also, whether it would
not be to the children's interest to
send them to the state public school
at Owatonna. County Attorney Ross
and Attorney Mcmillan conducted the
proceedings.
c. E. Erickson was the first witness
called at the hearing. He testified,
among other things, that last fall,
while the father of the children was
away from home, the county gave
them aid, but that when Winans re-
turned he reimbursed the county for
the amount expended. Mr.. Erickson S
attention was called particularly to
the condition of the children on Jan
uary 20. He made an investigation
and found that they we're suffering for
the necessaries of life. There was
nothing but green wood in the house
for them to burn, the room upstairs IN
which they slept five in a bed was
provided with no stove, the bed cover
ing was scanty, and all he saw about
the place for the little ones to eat
we're two hard, black biscuits. One
OF the boys fingers was frozen and
naught but a scene of poverty pre-
Sented itself to his view. It was not
Mr.. EricksOn's aim, he said, to perse-
cute the father or endeavor to have
the children taken away from him, but
in the interest Of humanity he felt
justified in bringing the matter to the
attention of the probate court.
Winapc aclxoS Nv o,,o,
ton or two and denied that there was
insufficient bed covering.
Albert Anderson testified that he
visited the Winans house in the after
noon of the Sunday named and found
food there which had been left by
County Commissioner Erickson. He
discovered two beds upstairs and
moved them down. He also repaired
a window in which the glass had been
smashed. Mr.. Anderson visited the
house again the next day and carried,
with other men, some dry wood and
provisions to the place. He found the
children cold and suffering. They
asked to be taken to a hotel.
Rev. Olin, the next witness, said
that his attention was called to the
condition of the family by Albert
Anderson. On January 2l he visited
the house and found state of general
restitution prevailing. At that time
there was a fire in the stove. He asked
the children whether they had any,
thing to eat and they answered that
Mr.. Erickson had brought them vic
tuals. Later he and Mr.. Erickson
took the children soup from the res
taurant. Mr.. Olin found an insuAici-
ency of bed clothing and described the
scene as heartrending.
Sheriff Shockley testified that he
had, upon the order of the county
commissioners taken the children
IRON their home in Milaca and
brought them to Princeton to await
the decision of the probate court. He
found them in filthy condition and
employed a woman to cleanse them
and care for them. The children we're
now at his home. To a question put
by the father of the children the sheriff
answered that they were lousy.
Mrs. Shockley, the sheriff's wife.
said that the children we're at her
house, that they were dressed fairlv
warm but that their stockings we're
worn out. Their underclothes were
dirty and they had lice. One bows
head was covered with sores when she
lrst saw him, but she had applied
remedies and his condition was now
much improved.
p. A. Winans, the father of the
children, examined by Attorney Nc