The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-04
PETITIONS FOR HABEAS CORPUS To Rescue White ChI- dren from Negroes. STATE LAW IN SUCH CASES Capt. 0dom of Salvation Army
 Takes Legal Steps. Asks for writs For Possession of Eight Chiidren--Five Against One Negro
 woman--Petition Says Condi-
 tions Are Alarming.
STATE LAW IN SUCH CASES

As the result of an extensive in- yestigation regarding negro women keeping and raising white children and white children being reared in houses of i'll repute, Captain l.. A. Odom or the Salvation Army yesterday filed an Application for writs of 7fabeas cor pus in eight cases. Five were against Susan Phillips, a negro woman living at 6i0 High Street, one against Madge Howard of 21S 5mythe Street, one against Mrs. Dickerson, of 727 Pollard street, and the last against Bessie Ellis, of 42 Dorsey street. Papers were served on all of the women late yes terday and the hearing has been set before Judge Sayre at 10 o'clock Mon- day morning.
 The action of Captain odom. through his attorney, was taken after Captain odom had done all in his power to get charge of the children mentioned and place them in first class white homes or place them in the Salvation Army home in New York. He started the work several weeks ago and after he searched the city for these cases he ap- piled to local attorney to find what coui1 be done in the matter according to law. He was informed that it would be impossible to interfere and the matter was dropped for the time.
 Captain Odom was so thoroughly as- tonished at conditions that he stated that he would take the matter up as soon as possible again.
 Law Against The Practice.
 Other lawyers were consulted and 1t was found that there is state law prohibiting children being raised in improper houses or by negro persons in negro homes. Thinking that per- hhps some of the children had been taken from the places where he had found them some weeks ago Captain Odom made another search. When he found the children he inquired for their names and of their parents, but he had long since been spotted by the women and they refused to give the desired information. Failing to get this in- formation, only parts of the names of some of the children and no name at all for others, appear in the petition for the writ of habeas corpus.
 The names of the children and where they are being kept are Georgia Owens, a three-year-old girl. by Bes- sic Ellis; Ruby Brown, a four-year- r-old girl, by Mrs. Dickerson, at 727 Pollard; Howard, a boy three years old by Madge Howard. and the following are at Susan Phillips to alleges Captain Odom; Vonceil Barnes, one-year-old girl and her sister six years old a three-year-old boy named Howard. and two unknown, Q boy about four years old and girl about three years old.
 
 right into the subject and does not mince words. One statement is That said Susan Phillips is an entirely un- suitable and unfit person to have cus- tody of of said children" and another That said Susan Phillips Is improper ly restraining and illegally holding said children" It is stated that Cap tain Odom is able and willing to take charge of the children himself, or If that does not suit the judge. he will have them placed in the Salvation Army Home in New York.
 This matter has been the subject of considerable comment since 1t was learned that the Salvation Army was taking steps in that direction. Specu- lation has been rife as to the outcome of the work that was being done but as there were so many cases like that in Montgomery many people express ed themselves as wanting to see the matter settled either one way or an- other
 "COnditl0ns Apalling.e
 s'Conditions here are appalling and 1t would require but a short time, if any one who would but condescend to make an investigation, to see for them selves" said Captain Odom last night. We have gone into this affair and will see 1t to the bottom: The state law plainly states that white children shall not be reared by negroes in negro homes nor shall they be raised in houses of ill-repute It Is on this that We base our petition for writ of habeas corpus, and as 1t is so plainly brought out in the statues think that we will win.
 "Should the writs be granted, I will immediately take charge of the children and afterwards do as directed. or as I see fit. I know that I can place every one of those children in good substantial homes where they will be raised properly, but If 1 do not do that can place them in the Salva. tion Army Home in New York. That home Is recognized as being one of the best founding institutions in the world and the little folks will be raised right I not only have the law on my side, but I feel that every true Chris tain person in Montgomery will re- Joice at hearing that these mere babies most of them girls, had been removed from such degrading environments"