Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-09-15
fiouH.Pittman Controversy Aired in
Juvenile Court Last
Saturday
CHILD IN SHERIFF'S CARE
Judge Cowan Postponed Final Deci-
sion TIL Further Evidence
is Secured

Inc case of Rev. and Mrs, Pittman
OF the M. E. church at Starkweather.
against Mrs Houff, for the custody of
the little 4-year-old daughter of Mrs.
Houff, who has been in the care of the
Pittmans rested on Saturday for a fort
night. During this time both sides of
the case will be busted in getting some
new evidence affidavits, etc. The case
Is pitiful sordid one from all stand
points. The testimony against the
mother of the baby so far, has seemed
mostly hearsay and developed from the
old story of May and December. The
mother, married the father of the child
when she was fifteen years of age and
he was 3d. Judging from testimony of
witnesses every time a rupture of any
kind came in the family circle the
neighborhood men were advised of
the unchastity of the young wife. This
kept up until final separation came
and the custody of the little one was
granted the father in the courts at
Stanton, Va. He brought her to North
Dakota and gave her into the custody
OF Rev. and Mrs. Pittman at Stark
weather, with the Injunction she was
not to be given into the custody of anv
one else without his orders and that he
would return for her in two weeks
Later the da te was changed to Thanks
giving, but the father never came RI
take the child. During this time the
P1ttmans have become greatly attach
ed to the little one and have expressed
a desire to legally adopt her. The
mother worked in Chicago some time
then came to Devils Lake, where since
July she has been employed in the
Athens cafe. A few weeks ago she
went to Starkweather in company with
the sheriff to gain possession of her
child. The Pittmans refused to give
her up without more evidence from
the father that an order purported to
be from him was genuine The case
finally ended in all parties coming back
to Devils Lake and suit being brought
by Mr.. and Mrs. Pittman for the DOS !:
session Of the little one, on the ground
of the parents unftness to care prop
erly for her
The case is being tried before Judge
Cowan with Fred Traynor represent
ing the Pittmans and F. T. Cuthbert
acting for Mrs. Houff. On Saturday,
just before court adjourned Judge
Cowan ordered the child given into
the possession of Sheriff and Mrs. Nc
Lain until the case could be decided.
He gave as reason for this action, that
in all such cases before in the history
of his court the final decision of the
Judge was heartbreaking to someone
and an emotional scene usually follow
ed. To avert anything of this sort he:
believed it to be for the best inter
est of all to give the little one into the
custody of absolutely uninterested par
ties, but that during the interim If
court in the case, both the mother aud
the Pittmans were to be allowed to
see her at such times as was conven-s
lent to the sheriff and his family. .s.s
The strangest part of of the case
seems to be the attitude OF the, young
wife. She is only q years Of age
now, but, says she has become recon
ciled to Mr.. Houff and expects TO res
turn to live with him. n .2s i. ls2 .s.zs