The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-01
MOTHER FIGHTS FOR CHILD.
Strange Story Told in Court at Brattle.
boro Trial.


Brattleboro, April Ian unusual in
stance Of domestic irfelicity came to the
attention of Superior Judge F. NJ. But.
Ter of Rutland here Tuesday at hear.
ing on writ Of habeas corpus for the
release Of Helen Sparrow Of Avalon,
Penn, who was in the custody Of Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Sparrow Of Bellows
Falls, by whom she was adopted a few
days ago. The girl is I years old and
| is daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. Allen T.
Sparrow of Avalon.
A short time ago her father, who is a
brother Of Henry Sparrow, left home
with the girl without telling his wife
Of whom, it Is alleged, he was jealous
where he was going, and he took her To
Bellows Falls, whore she was adopted
The mother, who Is seeking TO gain pos.
session Of the girl on habeas corpus pro-
ceedings, says the child is deprived Of
her liberty without due process of law
IL was admitted that the mother was
not notified, but H. D. Ryder, counsel
for the husband, oontended that the
adoption was strictly in accordance with
the statute, which provides that where
minor Is adopted the document must
be signed by one Of the parents.
4. w. Gibson, counsel for Mrs. Spar
row, eontended that II was not constitu.
tiontal, that It gave the husband the
right to sign away the wife's right and
interest in her child. Judge Butler said
that in his opinion the husbands rights
were not paramount to those OF the
wife, and that If they were on an equal.
ity the husband could not sign away the
wife's right without her consent. He
adjourned the hearing TO April 10 TO
satisfy himself on those points, as APP
parentIy this is the first case Of its kind
that has come up in this state.
Judge Butler gave Mrs. Sparrow the
custody Of the child, Mrs Sparrow fur
nishng bond for $1,000 to keep her in
the state and produce her in court when
SO ordered.
The statements Of counsel showed
that previous 10 this year Mr.. and Mrs.
Allan F. Sparrow and their daughter,
Helen. lived in Avalon, near Pittsburg.
Harvey +. Ames, who is now in New
fame jail in this county, went to their
home to board and Mr.. Sparrow became
jealous of him. An arrangement was
made whereby MRS. Sparrow was to 20
10 the home Of her father, Lorin Taylor,
in Winchester. NJ Fl, to remain a few
months. Shortly before the time for her
departure her husband took the child out
Of the house on the pretext that he was
going to buy pair Of shoes for her. He
did not return that day or the next. and
the furniture was taken from the house
BY virtue of mortgage.
Mrs. Sparrow had no money, but she
borrowed some Of Mr., Ames in order
search for her daughter among relatives.
Ames accompanied her TO South Vernon
where she was met by her brother, f. Fl.
Taylor Of West Brattleboro. Mrs Spar
row searched among relatives in Spring
field, VT and In Bellows Falls, and at
the latter place she found that the child
had been adopted BY her husbands
brother and his wife, Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
ny Sparrow.
Meanwhile the husband brought suit
against Ames on the charge of alena-
tion Of affections So great was Mrs
Sparrow's desire to obtain possession of
her child that she agreed to lure Ames
into Vermont 90 that he could be ar
rested If only her child could be restor-
ed to her. She wrote letter to Ames
asking him to come TO Brattleboro,
which he did, and Immediately upon his
arrival he was arrested by Chief of Po-
lice James II. Evans and delivered to
Bellows Falls officers, who took him to
Bellows Falls. Ames was held under
$1,000 bonds, and as he was unable to