Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-04
GRAIN THIEVINC BLOCKED
Dealer Promises Court to Help Break
it Up.
BOYS GIVE THE JUDGE THE TIP
Among other Grave Problems for the
Juvenile COart n an Intricate
Ono In Domestic
science.

G. A. Peterson OF the Omaha Hay and
Grain compan told Judge Estelle in Juven-
lie court Saturday morning that he did not
know the grain he had bought from small
boys was stolen. Judge Estelle and the
probation officers scoffed at the assertion
and told Peterson that IF this is kept up,
well put you out Of business
Peterson finally promised that he would
help the court put an end to grain thefts
Of the kind and the court took his promise
rs sincere.
Three small boys were in court on the
same matter, Thomas Dwyer, Edward
Gross and Bonnie Sellers. All were
paroled. The Gross boy, who is colored,
furnished some excitement however, and
his father, a porter in a bank does not
yet realize how near he himself came to
going to Jail for contempt OF court. The
boy was paroIed to the custody of his
mother. Mrs. Jennie Ward. divorced from
her husband and remarked. The Judge
told Gross to leave the boy alone but in
reaching the ground floor OF The Bee
building after leaving the court the boy
started on ahead and Gross after him.
At Sixteenth street the father caught the
boy who struggled. According to the lads
testimony later the father had one foot on
ho hSdu ant Il hlte y ~ HAs blOfIldCn- n
crowd gathered. a policeman seized Gross
and rang for the wagon
Word had reached Judge Estelle that
Gross was trying to ''kidnap the boy" and
Probation officer Carver was sent after
him. Carver arrived just as Gross was
being put in the wagon, where a razor
was later discovered on the floor.
Hailed back into court. Gross denied
effort to get away with the boy and the
court let him off with a lecture. Gross
was profuse in talk of how much he cared
for the lad, an affection which the boy
does not reciprocate.
Domestic Economy Problem.
Next before the court was a proposition
In domestic science, upon which he
frowned. William Lund wishes to go to
housekeeping with his daughter. an n-year-
old girl, as the housekeeper. The girl is
by the way not large for her age nor Of
robust health.
Lund's wife is a resident Of the hospital
for the insane at Lincoln. Her sister,
Mrs. Ed Coggons, some time ago agreed to
take care OF Lund's four children, the
youngest a grill of 4 years. Lund promised
20 pay her SIS a month. He appeared in
county court and had her appointed
guardian. But Lund has defaulted on his
payments and the Coggons, going to a
justice of the peace, secured a judgment
for SIS on which. however, they are un-
able to realize.
Now. Coggons, though a hard working
man at the Cudahy packing plant. earns
hut SO a week and is unable to care for
Che children without aid. He and his
wife asked the court to make Lund come
across. but this Judge Estelle is not en-
powered to do. Lund. who is angry at his
sister-in-law, asked the children returned
to him.. Asked by the court what home
he proposed for them, Lund declared:
The Oldest girl is big enough to scrub
floors and wash dishes and we could get
along that way"
Finding that the court was not enthus-
iastic. Lund offered ito hire a girl"
The three older children. II, Q and Z
years OF age, have been sent to the Deten-
tion Home for the time being. Lund Is TO
go ahead and make a showing as to fur
nishing a home and getting help and then
will come into court again with his plea.
The littlest girl will remain with her aunt.
The baby-replevin case OF Justice Cald-
well Of South Omaha was finally disposed
II In juvenile court Saturday morning.
Caldwell Issued the writ to the child's
mother and the latter got the +year-old
boy away from a Mrs. Burrows, with
whom the court had placed him. The
child will now go to its grandmother, Mrs.
Ford. OF Bonner Springs, Kan.