Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-01-26
COURT TO SOLVE
BABY MYSTERY
Woman Declared TO Be in Critical
Condition as Result of Report
That She Is Not Mother
of Four

In biblical times it required the mas
ter mind of Solomon himself to deter
mine the rightful possession of a single
infant as between two women claiming
to be the mother. However, it re-
manned for Judge Curtis d. Wilbur of
the Los Angeles juvenile court TO sit in
judgment on the matter of bankruptcies.
The Judge will have that distin-
guished honor tomorrow, when he will
be called upon to determine whether
Mrs. w. w. Wilson is the mother of
four babies claimed to have been born
Friday at the home, 2019 Magnolia ave-
nue.. All principals in the case which
has held the attention of the public for
the past four days have been sum-
moned to appear at 10 a. m. and tes-
tify Humane officer Reynolds served
the summons.
Those who probably will take the
stand are: w. w. Wilson, the alleged
father; DIR. c. Iona Marsters. mother
of Mrs. Wilson; DIR. A. C. Pratt, who
was called in the case; Mrs. Lena
Hayes, the nurse; Mrs. Catherine
Smith, who has involved the contro-
versy by her assertions, and DR.. Paul
Bresee. the family physician. Mrs.
Wilson can be represented only by af-
fidavit. as she is confined to her bed.
MTSs WllSOH SiiiICailJ W
The report that the children were not
born to Mrs. Wilson has brought about
a strange situation. According to pub
lished statements, Mrs. Catherine
Smith, who has failed to secure official
permit to conduct a maternity home
at III Sunset boulevard, gathered the
four infants at various places at Mrs.
Wilson'S request and now is seeking to
recover them. DR.. A. C. Pratt, who did
not arrive at the house until after the
alleged BIRTH asserts that Mrs. Wilson
is not the mother.
Mrs. Hayes, the nurse and adopted
daughter of Mrs. Smith, declares in a
signed statement given The Herald
that the infants were not brought in,
but were born to Mrs. Wilson in her
presence. Mr.. Wilson and DR.. Marsters
went before a notary yesterday and
made sworn affidavit not only setting
forth their unequivocable belief of the
birth at the home, but citing evidences
which are convincing.
Dr. Pratt's assertion that he secured
Mrs. Wilson's confession" at the time
he was called not only was denied in
every particular by DR.. Marsters, the
patients mother, but the latter de-
clared she would testify to that effect
before any court, land prove it," I
incidentally Mr.. Wilson and DR.. Mar
sters are very bitter regarding a morn
ing paper which they claim has been
responsible for the trouble and Mrs.
wilson's serious condition.
To add to the complication Mr.. Will
son and DR.. Marsters stated that Mrs.
Smith denied to each of them, at diff
ferent times and places that she knew
anything of the matter published as
her direct statements regarding the
gathering up" of the babies but was
forced to take action of some sort by
q reporter
The entering of the Wilson home by
a reporter, accompanied by a man
purporting to be an officer, also is in
volved. and the case, when reviewed
in Judge Wilbur's court, promises to
be a succession of rather sensational
stories and denials.
However, the only affidavits made to
date in the case are those OF the VIII
son family.
Nurse Makes Statement
Whether Mrs. Smith and her adopted
daughter, Mrs. Ha IS, will appear in
court cannot be stated as neither could
be found yesterday. Mrs. Hayes, the
nurse. was asked by her mother several
times Monday to leave the Wilson
home, and finally went away, saying
she would return. Later she sent
messenger 1Or neF eIIecLS.
Her statement, voluntarily dictated
to a. Herald representative and duly
signed previous to her departure, de-
clares the children We're born to Mrs.
Wilson.
In support of this declaration, Mrs.
Marsters, M. D., made affidavit. She
graduated as an allopathic and homeo-
pathic physician in the SOS and prac-
ticed regularly for about twenty years
and until she entered Christian Science.
She is registered in four states.
In the affidavit DR. Marsters recited
evidences to justify her assertion.
Mr.. Wilson, husband in the case, fol-
lowed with an affidavit in which he
substantiated the nurses statement
that he arrived a few minutes after the
births.
As in the case of DR.. Marsters, Mr..
Wilson also recites a number OF evil
dences in support of his BELIEF.
Mrs Marsters declares that the APP
pearance of a reporter, deputy sheriff
and Mrs. Smith at the home had caused
a relapse on the part of Mrs. Wilson.