The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-01
MOTHER SECURES
HELP.OF MILLIONS
Money VIII Be Used i'll Fight
Tor Possession of Chill
drcn.
BATTLES HERolCALLY
She Had Been Separated From
Youngsters and Put in
Asylum.

Los Angeles, Cal, December 3l.---
Placing his millions et the command Of
mother In her battle to regain pos
session OF her five beautiful children;
taken from her by the courts for adop-
ton by strangers, Asa NJ. Simpson the
octogenarian lumber king. OF San Fran
cisco. has come to the aid of Mrs. Jane
> Strong. in whose behalf a petition
has been filed TO have the children re-
stored to her
The records of stha charitable insti-
tutions and the courts in this case tell
a. dramatic story OF "a rofined woman,
loo proud to appeal for aid even TO her.
wealthy relative. who always had been
wiling 10 help in the past; of woman
separated from her children and driven
10 the verge of insanity by her longing
10 sec them again.. and of strange
ehain OF circumstances which still pre-
cents her from gathering her family
together, but which legal steps are be-
ing taken to remedy
Prona Mother Battles Alone
Mrs strong is the granddaughter Of
brother of the San Francisco lumber
magnate, Asa NJ. Simpson who has cS-
tensive properties in the Coos Bay re.
zion and private limo of steamships
More than Il year ago she was de-
serted by her husband, and she was
TOO PROUD to write again to Simpson
asking Tor assistance. although his ben.
efacticns had always been prompt and
generous. Fer brave attempts to sup
port herself and her five children
proved futile however. and ueighbors
sent word to the Humane Society that
tile children were not being cared for.
IN officer was sent to take them to
court, and the mother in her shame and
fear of court proceedings, fied.
To the soc!ety's authorities. who did
ha Is, G t.,s-, H. -,
effort TO make her way independently,
1t was simply an ordinary case of fall
Ore to support, and as the children
were bright and with perfect manners,
the Home Finding Society within a few
days had found splendid foster parents
Tor all five.
Mrs. Strong driven to desperation
by the loss OF her babies, the eldest Of
whom was then only eleven years old.
and seeking to soothe her unstrung
nerves. began taking parcgorc and
while under the influence OF the drug
was arrested Tor begging on the streets
and sent to the Truclovc Homo. This
was in October. 1910. For five months
she remained al this Institution and
broke herself oil The drug habit Her
record ut the nome was perfect, ana
employment was then found for her
in "A private family.
Throughout all these months tho on O
cry OF the mother had been to be
allowed to see her babies. She did not
ask that they be given back to her at
that time. but just wanted to see
them, to kiss them. TO know that they
were in good health and were being
cared for She pleaded for a sight OF
the FIVE little ones. But her pleas and
the requests OF the Humane Society
officers. 1t Is said, were unavailing.
Loses Mind Under Strain.
at last Mrs. Strong broke down un-
der the strain OF her months OF
mother-hungcr and she began TO have
hnllucinations that something terrible
had happened TO the children. Those
Authorizations became so frequent that
she was finally taken TO the county
hospital. examined before Judge VIII
bur a to her sanity and sent to Pat
ton.
IL was at this stage that MIR. S.mp-
son became aware OF the facts, took
personal interest in the matter, and
came here. remaining for several days
He proposed TO Judge Wilbur that he
De allowed to take full responsibility
for Mrs. strong and her children. Hc
asked permission TO reunite the little
camily, and send them all to Coos Bay
where his sons are living. This per
mission was withheld, and then he en-
gagged counsel to take legal stems to
restore the children to their mother, on
the ground that she is now in full pos
session OF her faculties there has
mover been tho slightest question of
her moral fitness. and that any steps
toward final adoption of the children
which have been taken were illegal.
us tho required period of one year
from the time OF their technical
abandonment has not expired
MIS-. Strong has succeeded in seeIne,
three OF the Ave babies, and Is now
eagerly anticipating q settlement OF
all her troubles. through the assistance
Of he~ great-unclc.