Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-16
MOTHER FIGHTS
FOR Her CHILD
DIVORCED PARENTS STRUGGLE
FOR POSSESSION
WOMAN TWICE TRIES TO TAKE
SON FROM FATHER
After Matter Is Thrashed Out in the
Police Station, She Makes
Another Effort to
Get Boy

The fight for the possession of u
7-year-old son, which began in Massa-
chusetts and has extended across the
continent, was temporarily ended last
night by Chief of Police Dishman,
when he placed the boy in the deten-
tion home to await the proper adjudi-
cation of the case in the courts.
An exciting drama lasting for sew
eral hours was enacted last night
when the father, Austin p. Young,
wealthy fish dealer of Gloucester
Mass, drove to Watts in an automobile
and forcibly seized his son, Lincoln,
and took him away from his divorced
wife, who came to Los Angeles six
months ago in vain endeavor to keep
the whereabouts of the boy secret.
The mother, not to be outwitted, fol-
lowed to Los Angeles and saw father
and son walking on the street. She
grabbed the boy and a struggle en-
sued in which the son was roughly
used as neither would agree to let go
of the boy.
All Taken to Station
The struggle attracted a crowd and
all parties We're taken to police head
quarters, where the matter was argued
before Lieut.. Kriege, resulting in
Kriege giving the child to the father,
despite the hysterical efforts Of Mrs.
, Young.
At police headquarters the tugging
and pulling was resumed, neither par
ent being willing for a moment to let
go of the boy.
Mammals best to me-" sobbed the
little boy as he was led from the sta
ton by the irate father. Mrs. Young
broke down entirely and implored
Lieut.. Kriege to place the boy where
he would be safe until the courts had
acted on the matter.
| Mr.. Young fiourished some papers
which he stated were issued by the
divorce court in Salem, Mass, giving
him right to the boy and it was on
the strength of these that Lieut..
Kriege made his decision.
Mother Weeps Bitterly
For a few minutes after Young had
left with the boy Mrs. Young wept
bitterly and cried out that it was the
first time the boy had ever been away
from her a single night. The scene
was pathetic and the mother had the
sympathy of those who witnessed the
impromptu trial.
Finally drying her eyes, she left the
station with an air of determination
and with a woman's intuition hurried
to the Santa Fe railroad station, just
| before the train arrived which Mr.
| Young intended to board with his son
! for the trip back to the Bay state.
The little boy recognized his mother
and ran to her and again followed d
contest.
Mrs. Young refused to leave go of
her son, Mr. Young was just as firm,
the result being another trip to the
police station, where Chief of Police
Dishman listened to the story.
Mr.. Young was bitter in his talk,
fourished his papers and declared that
despite the police he would keep the
child.
Sent to Detention Home
Mrs. Young only begged that the
child be held until the case was prop
erly settled and readily agreed to have
the boy sent to the detention home to
await court action today.
The father stormed and fumed, but
| to no avail and Chief Dishman per-
| sonally took the lad to the detention
home, leaving orders that he should be
held there pending the decision OF the
court.
The mother was happy, the father
scowled and declared that he would
fight to the last. He left the station
in an angry and threatening mood, but
was gently reminded that others had
rights as we'll as he.
The story as told by Mrs. Young is
that over a year ago her husband
brought action for divorce and she
agreed not to contest the case on con
dition that she would have the CUSTODY
of the child.
! She stated that her husband agreed
to the proposition and the divorce was
granted. Soon after she left for can
fornia, fearing treachery on the part
of her erstwhile husband.
She went to Watts, where she mas
been living for the last six months,
being supported by money sent by her
folks in the east.
In the meantime it is claimed that
Young obtained a court order for the
custody of the child and at once en-
ployed detectives to trail the boy.