The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-07-21
Editor Of the Express !:

Dear Sir: note your editorial Of a
few days ago relative to the Crouch
Orphan Home. and it being a matter
in which the general public is inter.
ested. and as view the situation. /
think Il better for me to give a brief
history of the Investigation and the
developments as It occurs 10 me.
In 1906 the Crouch Orphan Home
was duly incorporated under the laws
Of Oklahoma. and the articles are
rather general in their character, with
Mr.. and Mrs. Crouch and Mr.. Haekor.
the Congregational minister at this
place at that time as directors
BY deeds OF conveyance properly
made and recorded. the Crouchs'
about this time. 1906, conveyed to the
home the quarter section Of land upon
which they now reside. worth possibly
$4,000 and lands in Iowa worth at
least twice this amount, and personal
property. notes and bonds amounting
to several thousand dollars. The en-
downment, under a conservative esti-
mate. would amount to about 100000
Some four years ago, the Crouchs'
began the erection OF the present
home which / am informed is not now
more than half completed. The loca-
ton. to my notion is an ideal one,
and prospective design Of the build
ing seems very good.
Some three weeks ago Mrs. Crouch
was in Altus and got in touch with a
Mrs. H, who was to undergo a
very serious operation, and she, by a
written instrument, gave to the
Crouches'. the care and custody Of
her children. Afterwards Mrs. B.
also Of Altus, hearing Of the disposi-
tion Of the children got in com
munication with the Crouches, and
about week ago. arrived in town.
coming with the purpose Of having
her two boys placed in the home
It seems 50 be the policy OF the
Ctouches to only take those children
that they will be permitted to adopt.
AS they expressed It in substance.
they would not like to take child and
hooor,a affoo1od - - 81 ~to.4 --s41.
this education, and then have it taken
from them. 1t appears that Mrs. B.
did not expect an adoption. or if so.
she understood very imperfectly the
results of the same. After consider
able conference. suggested that Mrs.
B--go out with the Crouches and
spend the night, see the home, and
get better acquainted and return on
the morrow.
This was done and when on
the next day. took up the matter, /
found Mrs. B--very reluctant about
proceeding, and she had something to
say about what she would do if her
children were not properly treated,
etc had prepared the adoption pa.
pers as per request. and the first diff
ference to arise was the unreasonable
contention Of Mrs. B. that ii her
condition in life should change. or Il
tickle fate should have something
good in store for her, she would want
her children back; this point the
Crouches could not concede.
The next difficulty arose when the
Crouches insisted upon changing the
name from B." to C" and then
small fine voice was heard, and that
fellow who had something to say
about changing the name Of ArkaD,
sas." was only a little deuce in the
deck compared to this child boy from
Altus. He wanted to fight the
Crouches md whip the court. and the
sheriff was small potatoes to him.
Mrs. B. seemed to be OF halt
ing disposition and stood pen in hand
and everything was at a standstsll. tt
be frank. should state that I never
intended to make my decree Of adop
ton at that time, even though ths
papers had been promptly signed: bu
suggedted that Mrs. B. sign the
consent to adoption, and I would no
make my decree for 30 days. and il
the meantime both parties could con
slider the natter This was entirely
unsatisfactory to Mrs Crouch. an.
she announced that the adoption wa
to be done then. if al all. I tried t.
reason.
In their way. think the crouehe
are perfectly sincere in their under
taking: it is their fitness that I an
considering. Rare indeed is a trla
court Justified in criticlzing the yer
dict Of the iiry shall not do 81
on this occasion. Suffice II to say