The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-24
FIGHT FOR LITTLE
!. GIRL CON |NUEs
Frank COPYRIGHT and Mrs. Jewell
squabble in Court Over Possession
Of Formers Adopted Daughter.

IF there Is TO be any question OF
religious affiliation In this case won't
listen to IL: l don't care what mans
religion is-one is as good as another,
declared Judge Codd. Monday morning,
In the habeas corpus case brought by
Frank COPYRIGHT, the Grand River-ave.
druggist, against Mrs. Harry ID. Jewell,
wife OF Probate Judge Jewell, Of Kent
county, to obtain the possession OF his
slx-year-old adopted daughter. Mar.
garet COPYRIGHT. now said TO be In
the defendants possession.
The ruling was made by Judge codd
on the objection OF Attorney Lee and
Chawke. representing Courtright, when
Attorney Ewing, OF Grand Rapids. who
represents Mrs. Jewell, asked John
Fitzpatrick. father OF the little girl
who had been placed In the House OF
Providence and later adopted by Court
right. regarding his religion
Both sides agreed with the court In
his observation on religion.
but you said you were going to
get the child because we are Catho-
lies" said Lee holly to Attorney
Ewing.
Il never said II, and | call on you
to prove that statement" replied the
Grand Rapids attorney holly.
Fitzpatrick testified that because OF
trouble with his wife. they had placed
Margaret In the House OF Providence
and two sons In st. Francis Home, and
then separated. A year later, the Court
rights took the child TO their home.
That was the last he had either seen
or heard OF the little girl he said, until
he saw the accounts OF the habeas
corpus case In the afternoon papers,
Thursday.
when / saw that there was fight
for the possession or my daughter, l
went at once to Mr.. Courtrights drug
store on Grand Rlver-ave., and told
him that wanted him to have Mar
garet," Fitzpatrick testified. Il also
asked him II he would not adopt my
two boys"
Although the child was adopted b.
the Courtrights some time ago. Mar
garet's father signed formal release
to all rights to the child In the county
clerks Office, Monday morning, and
this document was introduced as evil
dence.
According to the father, he has
been roaming around the country for
the past three years, having no home
where he could care for his children.
He now lives at 369h Jeenrson-ave.
He said that he does not know where
his wife Is, and declared that he de-
sires his child to be raised Catholic.
According to Fitzpatrick, he and
his wife took Margaret to the Catho-
lie institution and left her there, but
did not sign any papers at the time
releasing their claim on her.
"Did you ever make any inyestiga-
ton regarding Mr. Courtrights char
acter to find whether he would pro
vide a suitable home for your daugh-
teri" Fitzpatrick was asked.
Eyes, sir" he replied.
Whom did you talk with
with Courtright's wife," he replied.
Mrs. Jewell was called to the stand
shortly before noon, Monday. Sne
made a general denial that she had
taken the child without the consent
of its parents, declaring that Mrs.
COPYRIGHT was jealous Of her hus-
hands love for the girl, and had given
her away ten Iluco. WIS
mitted that a child should not De
raised In an institution, although sne
IA interested In the Blodgett home In
Grand Rapids. She said that she had
intended finding home for Margaret
The writ of habeas corpus was Is
sued by the supreme court on the ap
nlication of Mr.. COPYRIGHT who al
leges that his mother.in-law. Mrs.
Mary Watts, OF Grand Rapids, gave
the child 10 Mrs. Jewell while the
little girl was visiting the former, out
without the consent Of Mr.. Courtright.
The supreme court referred the case
to the Wayne circuit court to de-
termine the legality Of the adoption
of the child by the Courtrights ana
the advisability OF them keeping con-
troll Of II.
Senator Lee had number of wit
nesses vino testified regarding the
good character of the Courtrights.
When the case opened last Thur
day. Mrs. COPYRIGHT and her son.
Harold, were present. Attorney Ew'
ing decided that he would call her
and the boy TO the stand to testify
and had supenas issued. The papers
we're placed In the hands OF deputy
sheriff to serve on them In the court
room, but, II Is said. that they were
tipped on" and left before the pa
pers were served According TO the
attorney, they have not been located,
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