Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-03-13
Foster Children of Rev. E.
J. Harper to Be Basis
of Suit for Custody
PARENTALLOVEWINS
Woman Tolls Long in
Hope of Recovering
Tots from Relatives

Nv hardest K1Du OF ldDoi III piNS'
" to obtain money enough to bring
her family from Nashville. Tenn, to
Los Angeles. where her two children
had been sent by their father pendihg
his efforts to obtain a divorce, MIS-
Susie A. Roberts arrived here yester-
day morning and tomorrow VIII insu-
tute proceedings, she says. to obtain
her little ones, who are now at the
home of Rev. and Mrs. 70. j. Harper
S22 Wilton place.
The story told by Mrs. Roberts yes
terday reveals a triumph OF motner
love over hardships well calculated TO
daunt the hardest. Domestic troubles,
In which an unsuccessful attempt az
divorce was made by her husband,
were followed by the taking away OF
her boy and girl by Mrs. Harper at
his instigation, she declares, and month
after month the plucky woman was ue-
prived of their society.
Mrs. Roberts is the slster-in-law or
tho wife of Rev. E. ]. Harper, VINO
was until recently city forester and Is
a brother of former Mayor a. Z.
Harper. Two years ago Mrs. Harper,
so says Mrs. Roberts, visited her
brother in Nashville, and shortly arter
the children disappeared.
Mrs. Roberts and her husband were
not living together at that time. as the
former was seeking a divorce. For
weeks, Mrs. Roberts says, she thought
her children were with their tather.
and not until some time had elapsed
was she informed of their absence. She
was not told with whom the little ones
were living. and was kept in complete
ignorance OF their whereabouts.
Tolls In Laundry
After his unsuccessful efforts to OBJ
tain a divorce Mr.. Roberts was reJoined
by his wife, but even then the children
were not returned to Nashville. With
out the knowledge Of her husband, Mrs.
Roberts went to work I'm a laundry,
and month after month she toiled TO
save money enough to purchase
ticket TO Los Angeles, where she be-
lIeved her children to be.
Mrs. Roberts arrived here yesterday
morning. and Immediately sought the
Harper residence, where she felt sure
some trace of her children could be
obtained. Because OF being misdirected
she walked fifty-two blocks before
learning her mistake. and at this point
was advised TO seek an attorney and
lay her case before him. The pathos
in her story appealed to Attorney
George w. Pearson, and he is prepar-
ing to bring whatever legal action is
necessary to secure the children for
their mother.
Tired from her long walk on the hard
pavements and worn out because of the
tedious journey from Nashville to Los
Angeles, Mrs. Roberts told her story
yesterday. Her youth, for she is but
"a years old, has helped her materially
to bear her burdens, and despite the
fatigue resultant on the last few days,
she was willing to talk of her children.
II know they are here" she declared.
FOR nearly two years | have missed
them every day and every night, and
now that they are so close feel ] can
hardly wait to clasp them in my arms
But my lawyer advises waiting until
legal action can be brought to secure
them, and / suppose l must do with
out them until Monday.
Learns They Are Here
1.-THE children were spirited away
while I was estranged from their faith
er, and for four months 1 supposed
they were with him. Then ] learned
they were gone and knew my only
salvation was to wait. One day in.
tercepted a letter to Mr. Roberts, anC
from that I learned they were in Los
Angeles with the Harpers, who appar.
emily desired to keep them.
ut was then 1 started to work in 6
laundry, for l knew Mr.. Roberts woulC
not give me money to come to Lo:
Angeles. Day after day l toiled away
without his knowledge, until finally
had enough to purchase a round triI
ticket. l arrived here with but littlt
in my pocket, and felt l needed wha
1 had, so tried to walk in search O
my babies.
NOW that am here will stay unit
they give me back my children.
have worked before and can do 81
again. / want my children and 1 viii
support them. I fear they have beer
told they had no other parents thar
those with whom they are living here
for they were so small when takei
away they could not know the differ
enee. But they will know their mothe
once they see her-nature will teacl
them that much"
Mrs Roberts stated the children wer
taken from her when they were 8 ant
years old. respectively. The boy
Richard Samuel, is now years old
and his sister, Myrtle Annie, is tw,
years his Junior. Mr.. Roberts is mucl
older than his wife.
Charge False, Says Mr.. Harper
Rev. e. ]. Harper said last nigh
that Mrs. Roberts accusations were en-
tirely without foundation my wifi
did not aid in illegally taking Myrtl
and Richard" he said. "They wer
placed In the custody of their fathe
bv the law and he gave them to Mrs
Harper two years ago. at the time o
his separation from his wife, to brinl
up as her own. They know that thei
narents are living, but call us mother
and father and are perfectly happ
and contented in our home. IN
raothers accusations are untrue. Fur
ther than this ] have nothing to say.
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