The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
BLIND Man KEEPS.
GIRL FROM MOTHER
Woman Snrrenders Child at
Birth and Attempts Abduc-
ton Five Years Later
Foster Father Accused of Com
Quoting Baby Farm and Liv-
ing on Proceeds

A girl of six years was the object
of an extraordinary dispute in Judge
child's mother and an aged blind man.
The little girl, known as Sadie Alvers,
has for more than five years been with
August A. Weinman. who has lost
his sight The mother Mrs. Anne
Nathan, now wants her child back. She
admits that, being In straitened cir
cumstances because of her husbands
death, she surrendered the baby short
ly after her birth to the care of the
Eureka benevolent society, and that the
child has never been in her care since.
Weinman, who was given the child by
NJ Levy. secretary of the society, FIVE
years ago, says 1t would break his
heart and kill his wife IL they had
to give up the little girl now.
BABY FARMING SUGGESTED
Weinman lives at 406 Diamond
street and keeps a boarding house for
the children of parents who are not
able to care for their own offspring.
There are, he admits now 10 children
under his care. Judge Graham said
he would require testimony as to Vein
mans methods and ordered him to
produce the child in court this morn
ing.
Jerome H. Karn, attorney for Mrs.
Nathan, says that Weinman conducts a
baby farm, and lives upon what he is
paid for caring for children.
The matter came UP yesterday on an
application by Weinman to be appoint
ed guardian. The petition of the mother
TO obtain the child by writ of habeas
corpus is now pending before Judge
Cabaniss.
KIDNAPPING WAS ATTEMPTED
When we got the child" weinman
testified lit was in such a bad condi-
ton that at first my wife. would have
nothing to do with ii. Mrs NathalP
had just placed it in the Eureka home.
physician to whom we took ii said:
What sort of a mother would neglect
her child like that? I have treated
the child well. sent it to school and
clothed IT. / love this little one. We
raised her from a baby and 1 love her
as much as 1 do my own children. I
don't want any money. My wife is de-
voted to the little girl, and will die
If she is taken away. She is now in
bad health
Weinman told of an attempt the
mother made to kidnap the little girl,
which was frustrated by the teacher of
the school, The child is alleged to have
said to other children, There goes the
gypsy woman, there goes the kidnaper,"
referring to her mother.
MOTHER MARRIED TWICE
Mrs. Nathan, who is a handsome
woman, was in court with her second
husband, L. Nathan, and five young and
well kept children.
Mrs. Nathan seems well able to care
for her child now" observed Judge
Graham.
so are we, so are We responded the
blind man in alarm. I'VE can educate
her and keep her in comfort
Judge Graham has a theory that the
little girl, being very attractive, is used
by Weinman as kind of advertisement
of the way he treats inmates of his
house.
Wants His Little Girl
Harry v. Colder, an insurance agent
with headquarters in Chicago, has come
to San Francisco for the right to take
back his 10 year old daughter, Oleita.
Gelder was divorced from Helen Gelder
some years ago, and although custody
of the child was awarded him he was
not permitted to remove her from the
state.
Cruel and inhuman treatment is al
legged in a suit for divorce filed yester-
day by Amy G. Waters against Joseph
r. Waters. 1t Is specified among other
things that Waters threw a knife, a
hairbrush and a glass of water at his
wife
Divorces were granted as follows yes
terday:
BY Judge Cabaniss: Margaret L. sui
Ivan from George e. Sullivan, wilIful
neglect; Mary ]. OConnor from John
O'Connor, cruelty: Blanca Battistessa
from Giuseppe Battistessa, cruelty: G.
w. F'ieger from Edna Fieger, desertion.
BY Judge Hunt: Frances Brien from
James A. Brien cruelty.
Suits for divorce were filed yester-
day by:
Pearl Lowell against Clark, Lowell,
cruelty.
Dora Sell against George Sell. deser-
ton.
Hattie B. Williamson against Will
liam E. Williamson, cruelty.
Gun Nakamara against Masashi
Nakamara, willful neglect.
ofr,r w.