Evening star., 1909-06-27
WRANGLE OVER CHILD
Mrs. Thompson 0utwits Claim
ants for Anna Pearl Witt.
SECURES MOTHERS AID
Adopted Girl While Others Were
Fighting for Possession.
ISSUE OF BATTLE IN COURTS
Little One Was Given by Widowed
Mother to Uncle, Who Gave
Her to His Niece.
Special Disnatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MINNEAPOLIS. Mimi, June 26-With
the raising of the veil of mystery which
has surrounded the birth and early life
of Mrs. Edith May Thompson Woodill
there comes to light an unusual story of
tragic childhood.
Mrs. Woodill was the daughter of Mat
thew and Zettella WITT, her name during
the first three years Of her life being
Anna Pearl Witt. October Is, 1890, after
a long legal contest, in which several
we'll known Minneapolis families were in
volved. she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs.
Charles II. Thompson.
That the secret of her parentage might
be, kept from her. the girl was taken
from the city. Her name was changed
to Edith May Thompson.
The girls father, Matthew Witz, was
murdered at Couz Creek, in 1887. when
Pearl was less than a year old. The
murder grew out of quarrel in min
ing camp.
Shortly after the murder Mrs. Witz
moved to Annapolis. She was soon mar
ried to Albert Knight Of Elk River, MINI.
Unable properly to care for the child,
Mrs. knight gave her to her uncle, DIR.
William r. Rcup of Kansas City, Kan.
He in turn gave her to a niece, a Mrs.
Green of Minneapolis, who brought here
here.
Struggle for Possession of Child.
Mrs. Green lived on the East Side, near
Mr.. and Mrs. Delos Matteson. Mrs. Mat
teson was struck with the child's beauty
at first sight and formed a warm attach
ment for her. Accordingly, Pearl then
three years old, often stayed for days at
the Matteson home.
One day the Mattesons refused to give
up the child. This refusal brought Pearl
into court. From there the fame Of her
beauty was spread over the city until
fort to get possession of her.
Henry M. Farnham, Frank Davis and
former Judge William A. Kerr were at
torneys in the legal battle in which
who is now in Go!dfield. New. teie-
graphed today, telling of the habeas
corpus fight and the adoption.
When Mrs. Thompson told me she
search for Pearls mother, who had
moved from the city. l found her on
farm near Zimmerman station. and
as preliminary obtained her consent
to have Mrs. Thompson made guardian
and later her foster mother.
Il don't remember much about the
details. but 1 know it attracted con-
siderable attention"
The Greens. learning that the Matte
sons were preparing to adopt Pearl,
sought by writ of habeas corpus to
gain possession of her. The case was
called, before Judge Hooker, was con-
sinued and set aside and retired at
different times for q month.
Mrs. Thompson Takes a Hand.
The child's beauty attracted hundreds
to the courtroom, among them Mrs.
Charles NJ. Thompson, prominent
worker in the Associated Charities.
Il must have that child. 1t is shame
for her to be buffeted about from place
to place." Mrs. Thompson said, when she
caught sight of Pearl in the arms of
Mrs. Matteson.
From that moment Mrs. Thompson was
added to the list OF those captivated by
the beautiful child. She Immediately set
out to gain possession Of her.
In her fight for the child Mrs. Thomp-
son had qualifications that enabled her to
distance the others in the courts. She
was we'll known because of her charitable
work and besides she had means.
Mr.. Thompson was at that time man.
ager Of the Thompson Harness Company
In Minneapolis. The Thompsons had
many friends and all these assets were
used in the battle.
D.
Thompson went to Elk River while the
habeas corpus fight between the Greens
and the Mattesons was pending. She was
there made legal guardian by the probate
court OF SheFburne county. This was done
with the full consent of PEARLS mother.
Consequently, when the case was again
called there was new party to the fight.
Judge Hicks decided that DR.. Roup and
his nieces had not shown a proper regard
for the girl, and said Pearl should stay
with the MatteSOnS
Then Mrs Thompson put in her claim.
While Mrs. Matteson was carrying Pearl
away triumphantly in her arms attorneys
for Mrs. Thompson were preparing a new
writ Of habeas corpus claiming Pearl
through the guardianship papers issued In
Elk River.
Child Given to Mrs. Thompson.
Mrs. Matteson was watched as she left
the courthouse. When Judge Hicks issued
William A. Kerr.
Fearing Mrs. Matteson would leave the
city with the prize so dearly Won, Sheriff
tions with deputies while he served the
writ In the Office of Mr. Kerr.
The office was the scene of confusion
immediately. Mrs. Matteson. with Pearl
into the hail. When Sheriff Ege fol-
lowed, friends 1nterfered to stop him.
Spectators who ran from the other Of
fees took hand, some to help the
sheriff and others to help Mrs Mattesop.
whom they deemed woman in distress.
The sheriff finally won, and the opposing
parties returned to the courthouse.
The case was continued until the next
day To make sure that Pearl would be
there for the final struggle, Judge Hicks
ordered the sheriff to take her to his
home
Al the trial were Mrs. John S. Pills
bury, wife of former Gov. Pillsbury: Mrs
r. A. Mendenhall, DIR. Martha Ripley,
now superintendent of the Maternity Hos
pital, and many others were there to back
Mrs. Thompson.
The guardianship papers were honored
and the case settled for all time. Mrs
Thompson took Pearl to the sheriff's Of
fee at the command of the court.
Sheriff Ege said today that Wash Dem
Clouds Away" was favorite baby song
of little Anna Witz. She sang it to the
delight of the Jail officers and prisoners
alike during her three weeks stay at the
county Jail in Minneapolis.
END OF TIE TWINFEST.