Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-15
RICH WOMAN IN
COURT FIGHT FOR
ADOPTED ORPHAN
Four-Year-0ld Boy Is Now
Wanted by Asylum That
Gave Him Away.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND
MORALITY COUNTER CHARGES
Mnrrays Declare They Can Pro-
vide a Good Home and Love
the Child.


Declaring that she would fight to
the last cent of her fortune to keep
4-year-old Kenneth Williams, whom
she calls David Murray. Mrs. William
r. Murray of 90 Warrington place,
East Orange, upon whom a writ OF
habeas corpus was served by agents
of st. Mary's Orphan Asylum, of Provi-
dence, r. l., appeared with the child
before Vice Chancellor Howell today.
Her husband, a writer and lecturer and
cofounder with his wife of the Church
of the Healing Christ at l42 West Eigh
tieth street, New York, appeared
with her in court The case was post
poned until April 29.
According to the wording of the
petition of the Orphan Asylum, pre-
sented to the court by Henry w.
Stiner. an attorney. "the said Mrs.
Murray is not proper person to be
entrusted with the care of said child;
that her reputation is not good; that
charges have been made against her
morality"
Mrs. Murray and her husband de-
clare that the effort 10 take the child
which was given 10 them by the asy
lum on six months probation is part
Of the persecution of the Christian
Science Church, which has followed
them since they-who were prominent
Christian Science practioners-re-
nounced the church and began to at
tack it in books and from the lecture
platform They hold Miss Amy Stone,
agent of the orphan asylum, whom they
say Is Christian Scientist. as the
medium through which this persecution
is being directed against them Mrs.
Murray is the author of two anti
Christian Science books, Personal
Opinion VS.. Christian Science and
Flesh and Matter and is at work
Upon a novel in which she attacks the
heads II the organization. She says
it will be easy to recognize the prn-
opal characters. The MaIrrays are
represented by Attorney Alexander
Simpson, of Jersey CITY.
Court Summons Awaits.
When they returned from the theatre
last night Mr. and Mrs. Murray found
the court summons tackled on the door.
They have three other adopted chill
dren, according to Mrs. Murray, but
neighbors assert that there are many
more in the house.
II came into possession of David
through an advertisement in the Out
look" said Mrs. Murray, in discussing
her troubles with a reporter from the
EVENING STAR today. 1T stated
that the child had no parents and might
be adopted. l am a lover of children
and as four of my own died thought
1 could pay no finer tribute to their
memory than by adopting and giving
moral and spiritual advantage to chill
dren who have no parents. I became
deeply attached TO Kenneth and he to
me. He seemed more like my own
child than the others He had been told
that his mother had gone away and
would return some day. They told him
then that was his mother.
Miss Amy Stone, agent of the orphan
asylum, came to my house and spent
several days. She expressed herself as
delighted with the home little Kenneth
was to have. She was taken i'll when
she was at my house, and despite the
fact that she is Christian Scientist, l
had a physician in to attend her.
have the doctors certificate to prove
it. 1 will fight this action to the very
last. If my money goes will take in
washing rather than give the child up."
Mr.. Murray. who, with his wife, is
interested in the Church of the Healing
Christ, which they founded. corrobo
rated everything she said. He is a lee
turer and organizer. The church now
boasts sixty members. The meetings
were formerly held in Carnegie Hall.
Miss L. T. c. Hotchkiss, sister Of a
well-known writer, who lives at 2es
West Twenty-third street, Manhattan,
and who was given by Mrs. Murray as
reference. said:
Highly Recommended.
81 have known the Murrays four
years and they are the finest people
it would De possible to find. They were
the best known and most popular Chris
tian Science practitioners in California.
They had sanatorium there. Mr.. Muir
ray gave up a lucrative business to
engage in the practise of Christian
Science. He came to see Mrs. Eddy
and was most graciously received, /
understand; so well, indeed, that he
incurred the enmity and jealousy OF
others prominent in the faith. This op-
position became so formidable that the
Murrays left the church. Mrs. Murray
loves little children and. she is giving
her life to them without thought Of
recompense."
A short time ago the Murrays were
drawn into the public eye when they
declared that one of their adopted chill
dren had been kidnapped According
to their version of the affair, this boy,
who was attending the Ashland School,
was accosted on his way home by a
woman who asked If he lived in War
rington place. When the boy answered
in the affirmative be was taken on the
car by the woman. who promised candy
as a reward. She asked him il his
name was Kenneth Williams, and
when he replied 1t was not. abruptly
left the car. The boy finally reached
Orange where he was picked up by
the police and later restored to the
Murray home.
Mr. and Mrs. Murray saw they have