The Washington herald., 1909-06-18
WOULDRETAIN CHILD
Foster Parents Seek Legal
Possession of Baby.
BEGIN AN ACTION IN COURT
Left at Rockville Home by Strange
WomaD-Feared She VIII Return
For It-LRwyer Consulted, with
View Of Defeating Efforts OF the
Mother 10 Get Possession.

Hamilton Scott Bradley and Mary Ger.
trude Bradley. OF Bethesda. through theiI
attorney. John A. Garrett. fled in the
Circuit Court at Rockville yesterday
petition which has attracted z
great deal Of attention. II IS the first
case OF its kind that has ever been fled
in this court. so far as the records Of the
Office reveal
According to the petition, Mr. and Mrs.
Bradley have been married for twenty
seven years. After the second year OF
their married life baby was born. which
died, leaving the young couple childless.
! Until December OF last year they were
living alone at their home. Then a girl,
apparently seventeen years old, called at
the Bradley home with a baby In her
arms. She unfOlded a story 10 Mr.. and
Mrs. Bradley that awakened their sym
pathies. It seemed. according to the
girls story, that she had run away from
home and was married against the wishes
OF her parents and had kept her where
abouts a secret. She said after the baby
was born her husband had left her and
she was unable 70 provide for herself and
the child, and was anxious OF getting II a
good home until she could seek her par
ents' forgiveness and ask their aid.
Made Coed Impression.
BY her manner. dress. and apparent
education she made an impression upon
Mr.. and Mrs. Bradley. She said she had
never worked 10 her life. She promised
Mrs Bradley II she would only care FOR
her little one for few months that she
would return and get the baby and paw
her Tor her trouble. as she expected 10 20
nome and fix Up matters so she could
take her little one home with her. She
said her name was Elizabeth Smith. and
that she lived az Martinsburg " "a
and showed her several letters from
prominent people at that place 10 es-
tablish her identity. Mr.. Bradley strenu-
ously objected 10 the proposition. and
would not listen 10 il for a moment
saying that he did not want any "brats"
around the house The Bradlevs we're
nneiiy prevailed upon 10 take the child.
Seven months have passed since then.
and the baoy Is fOurteen-months-oId. well
and happy. and is the pride OF the Brad
ley home. Il is a remarkably pretty child
with golden hair and large pretty. blue
eyes
The folks In the nelghbOrhoOd told 1ir
Bradley thai the baby wes soon going 20
be taken away from him by its mother
This was sad news 70 Mr and Mrs. Brad
ley. and they came 20 Rockville TO con-
suit their attorney. Mr.. Garrett.
Filled LOng-feIt Want.
Mr. Bradley told hts lawyer that the
little one had filed long felt want in
his home. and that TO separate It from
him now would cause him great sorrow
and pain and home would not be home
without e.
The petition was drawn by his counsel
and submitted 70 the court, and Bradley
and his wife anxiOusly await the outcome.
Bradley says that he will fight anv one
that attempts 10 interfere with his pos
session OF the child. He has In vain en- |
deaVored TO locate the young mother. |
The people she gave as reference never
heard Of her, and the letters that Brad /
ley wrote 10 her az the address she had
given him were returned TO him unopened. /
he says he wants the court 10 give the
child 70 hims for keeps