The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-09-14
BACK TO MOTHER.
Heartbroken Letter DecidesFate
of Annalee McKinstry.
She Will Be Taken to Waiting
Parent in Denver.
SOBS IN COURT ROOM.
Affecting Scene When Decision
Is Made.
Scarcely a Dry Eye as Child
Begs to Stay.
SOBS IN COURT ROOM

| 1t was the story of q mothers love
that brought tears to the eyes of court
attendants today and sent Annalee Nc
Kinstry back to her former home in
Denver. The pretty 4-year-old tot was
given to the custody of R. W. Conn.
the stepfather, when he told how
physicians declared that the return of
the baby was the only hopes of saw
ing the mothers mind and perhaps her
life
The story of Annalee McKinstry' ;
short existence is filled with expert
ences that contrasted the mothers ef-
forts to care for her babe. On three
occasions an aunt. Mrs. Anna Chance
of 1855 Lincoln street, has taken the
child at the mothers request Then
somehow the mother regained foot
ing in life and the baby was taken
back to the home of it's birth. When
Mrs. McKinstry remarked last spring
the little girl was at the Chance home.
They hesitated to return it to the
mother and contested the habeas cor
pus proceedings in Judge Schoch's
On the witness stand Conn told of
his wife's critical condition and the
urgent necessity of the return Of the
girl to it's mother. He said the physi-
clan had advised him that the baby's
return was the only hopes Of saving
the mothers mind, perhaps her life.
Conn's salary is a modest one. But
Sunday he came to Topeka He said
he pleaded with Mrs. Chance to return
the child and that she refused.
II didn't have the money to pay for
her board" said the stepfather, land
I told Mrs. Chance I would pawn my
suit of clothes and get a cheaper suit
in order to make a first payne t.
offered to waiver a garnishment of my
wages in Denver to secure the balance,
ANYTHING to take the child back to its
mother"
Then E. w. Chance, a travelling
salesman and his wife told their side
OF the story. They told of the trip to
Denver at the mothers request to get
the child. They told of the apparent
condition of poverty in which she was
found, of her matted hair and soiled
clothes and the fact that the mother
board. Annalee was brought to To-
peka and given a good home She
has been here more than a year and
was happy.
It was here that a package of letters
crept into the proceedings that decid-
ed the custody of the baby. From
Salt Lake city the mother had writ
ten her sister begging her to take the
little girl, who was then in Denver,
and give her a home.
ct will never see her again. wrote
the heart broken mother, "but know
she loves you and that you love her.
I can't take care of her as / should
and can not earn enough money to
even buy my own clothes. Sister,
give you all in Gods world that
love. I hope you will take good care
of her and keep her as long as you
live"
When Judge Schoch gave his opin-
ion in the case, his voice ehoked and !
among the score of witnesses and Wis |
itors in the court room, there were |
tear timmed eyes. The court went |
right to the bottom of the controversy |
He saw no reason to criticise the |
mother, scores of mothers would do the |
same thing under like circumstances
he said. Driven almost to despera- |
ton, she had given away her child. |
Now her conditions had changed. She |
wanted the little girl back home again. |