The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1911-01-06
Fight Over the Gray Children.


The action of the Orphans Court of
this county in ordering the guardians
of the five children of the late Mason
J. and Mary L. Gray, who were killed
on Saturday night, October 10Th, last,
by freight train on the Pennsylvania
Railroad, near their home in Tuxedo,
to turn them over to the society for
the care of children. in Baltimore, does
not meet the approval of Mr.. Robert
w. Wells, who had been acting as sole
guardian Of the orphans until Tuesday
of last week, when Rev. Francis A.
Schwallenberg, of Seat Pleasant, quail
flied as co-guardian with Mr.. Wells.
Mr.. Wells declares that he will in
woke the aid of the courts to prevent
the order of the Orphans Court from
becoming effective. He denies the jur-
isdiction of the Orphans Court to dis
pose of the children, as the latter are
neither INDECENT nor charge upon the
community. The court, according to
Mr.. Wells, has jurisdiction over the es-
tate of decedants, but has absolutely
nothing to do with the disposition of
the children of deceased persons. The
children are now with relatives in
Washington, who declare that they
will not return to Maryland if the order
the Orphans Court is insisted upon.
At the hearing on Tuesday of last
week all of the five children were pres
ent, and are said to have given evidence
of their desire to remain at THEN
Tuxedo home under the care Of an
aunt, Mrs. Bette ncKeown, who, with
her husband, has been taking care Of
the orphans and to whom the children
have become much attached. Those of
the children able to com prehend the
situation, declared, it is stated that
they did not wish to be taken from
their home, and it was upon their state
ment that they were hurried to Wash
ington.
Shortly after the accident which de-
prived the children of mother and
father, public sympathy was aroused
and fund of about $1,000 was raised
to lift the mortgage on the Gray home,
at Tuxedo, and to keep the children in
comfort. The mortgage was $500.
AS soon as news of the death of Mr..
and Mrs. Gray reached Mrs. Bette
Keown, a fayorite sister of the dead
mother, she and her husband took VI
their home with the orphans. The
young ones at once rallied about Their
aunt, and during the Christmas season
the home was said to be exceptionally
bright and cheerful.
In the Orphans Court the matter OF
the disposition of the children was dis
cussed for a second time, and all of the
children were present pleading, it is,
said, TO be left in their Tuxedo home
Each child declared that this was his
or her choice, and the evidence showed
that they were well and happy and al
attending school. An agent for the Balti
more society second time, asking to hav.
the children given to the society, bu
the m 1rning session Of the court con
clude1 with the understanding, Mr.
Wells claims, that all of the children
would be left at the Tuxedo home, witt
the exception of Louise, who had con
sented, after much persuasion, to try
home with Nr. and Mrs. Samuel Shoe.
maker, in Washington. After recess
and in the absence of Mr.. Wells, a
order was prepared awarding the othe
four children to the Baltimore institu
ton. and to this order Mr.. Wells enter
ed a vigorous and emphatic objection
Ho declared he would never consent t
the dismemberment of the home unit
a fair and full trail had been giver
that he considered the order an attac
upon the right of the children, and h
would resist to the limit of the law
He said the court had neither juri:
diction to pass such an order nor an
facts warranting the course it ha
taken.
At more recent meeting on Tues
day, January 3rd, 1911, the Orphans
Court suspended it's order of Decembe
9th, last, until furthe1hearing in tt
matter, a protest having filed by M
Robt. Wells.