Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-27
"Grandma'S Nice, But | Want
My Father" Says Little
John Richards 3rd.

"Grandma's awful nice and was aw-
ful good to me, but / want to stay with
my daddy"
Little John Richards. 3D. less than
eight years of age, today expressed his
satisfaction at the final turn in the
long legal battle for his possession,
which finally has removed him from the
custody Of his grandmother, Mrs. Kath-
crime Mccain of Jasper, Ga, and re-
stored him to his father, John b. Rich
ards. j.. of SO Culberson street.
John b. the Third, for whose pos
session his father has spent hundreds
of dollars, is a bright, manly looking
boy, with light hair and clear blue
eyes that look fearlessly forth on the
world He was dressed in a neat Nor
folk suit of gray, decidedly boyish. and
looked essentially the American boy.
Motherless since he was a few days
old. John B. the Third has been cared
for by his grandparents nearly all his
life, and for over six years his father
has battled through the courts for his
possession.
Carried to Highest Court.
The legal fight started in January,
1907. when the little fellow was slight
ly more than a year old. Mr. Richards
filed a petition before Judge Pendleton.
asking possession Of his boy. but the
grandparents. especially the grandma
Their, fought the case, and little John B.
the Third was awarded to her urcon-
ditionally
Mr.. Richards appealed to the SUI
preme court, and that body declined TO
rule on the case further than TO allow
Mr. Richards to make a second appli-
! cation later.
In 1905 Mr.. Richards made a second
attempt to obtain possession Of his son
and brought suit before Judge George
| F. Gober Again the grandmother
fought the case, claiming that little
John b. the Third was i'll and needed
her attention. Judge Gober decided
! that Mrs. Mccain could keep the boy
until he was six years old
Grandmother Wins Again.
The boy was six years old in NoVcm-
Der, 1911, and just before this Mrs.
Mccain appeared before Judge y. A.
Morris. of the Blue Ridge circuit and
asked for a modification Of the order.
allowing her to keep the boy a little
| longer
Mr.. Richards through his attorney,
Judge Gober the Judge who formerly
had awarded the custody of the child to
Mrs. Mccain. dcmurred to this appli-
cation, and Judge Morris overnHcd the
demurrer. The ease again VAS APP
I pealed To the supreme court
y few days ago. judse Patterson
ruled that Mn Richards should have
/ possession of his son. and MIR Rich
ards went at once to Jasper to bring
the boy home with him. II" exhibited
The ordcr Of the court, and llrs Nc
Cam decided that she would give mp
the child. A. Mr. Richards was about
To leave with the boy the GRANDPA
Their appeared and forced the father to
/ leave without his son.
Judge Gober Immediately got an or
der for the grandparents TO appear in
court and produce the child, and when
this order was served they capitulated.
Mrs Mccain boarded the train with
little John h. the Third. and brought
him to Atlanta. She was met at the
Terminal station by MIR Richards and
Judge Gober The Judge handed her a
receipt for the boy. and the case, which
: ~ = ''' ~a'ssA. sra~ SIP yeas,s o5ss
closed '<"
Nh Richards has am older sou a
| brother uf John g. the THIRD. aud is
| again happily married. having baby
son 10y his SECOND Wife.