The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-03-18
71th YEAR. mo. %
MOTHER MAY NOT Get CHILD;
HEARING CONTINUED
''NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE" SAYS
JUDGE SEARLE, ITO WAR
RANT DECISION"
The Stories Told by Mother and Man,
Who Has Child, Do Not Agree
Girl Reluctant to go Home.


Who Has Child, Do Not Agree
Girl Reluctant to go Home.
A habeas corpus proceeding was
heard before Judge Searle, sitting in
court Saturday morning. The pro-
ceedings were started by Mrs. Mary
Wingerter, of Ronova, Pa, who
claimed that her daughter, Ethel May
Shields, aged sixteen, was being il
legally and unjustly detained by one
William Myers, resident of Poyn-
telle, this county. The writ of
habeas corpus was served on Myers
Friday afternoon by Sheriff Frank c.
Kimble, who went to Poyntelle for
that purpose. Myers and the girl,
who was working for Charles Smith
at Rock Lake, were brought to
Honesdale Saturday morning Mrs.
Wingerter claimed that she had not
seen or heard from her daughter in
six years but Myers stated that he
had been the custodian of the child
for at least ten years.
Mrs. Wingerter was placed upon
the witness stand and told story of
how her daughter came to go into
the Myers family to live. She said
that her present home was in Renova,
Pa, where she kept a boarding house
and did other work for a living.
after my first husband died." said
Mrs. Wingerter, II could not sup
Johnsonberg, Pa. l have four chill
dren, Ethel May, aged 16; Hazel
Marie, aged IA, who lives at home
with me; John, aged 10, of James
town, and Silas, aged %, in the U.
S. army, located at Galveston, Texas.
j knew of the Myers family who
lived at Starlight Creek and Mrs
Myers wanted my daughter to come
and live with them. They wanted
to adopt the child but did not want
them to do that. My daughter went
there, with the understanding that
they were to return her to me when
ever l wanted her. Sometime after
that l decided / wanted the child
back so l wrote to them at Starlight
Creek. The letter was returned,
with an inscription across the face
of No such person living here
learned soon after from Mr.. Myers
sister that they had moved to Ba-
tavia, N. Y, taking my daughter with
them. l wrote several times asking
them to send the child back but they
ignored the letters and some of the
letters were returned unanswered.
Sometime after they moved to Ba-
tavia, Mrs. Myers died. Mr.. Myers
and my daughter remained there
about four years, My daughter lived
at the home of Henry Myers while in
Batavia. After they left Batavia
they moved to Poyntelle, where
Myers now resides. Ethel May
Shields has been working in the
home of Charles Smith at Rock Lake.
She went to work in the Myers home
in the fall of 1907
When Mrs. Wingerter was asked
if her daughter had not been with
Mr.. Myers since 1903 she declared
that the girl had only been with them
six years. She said that she had sent
money to Myers. One time she said
she sent $1,000.
Ethel ShieIds was called on the
stand. She said she was living in
the Smith home at Rock Lake, do
ing chores and milking cows. She
said she never received any letters
from her mother. She was asked if
she wanted to go home with her
mother, and she said "Yes," but af-
terwards said that her mother had
told her to say that. She said she
would rather stay and work at
Smiths, where she had good home,
and where she was able to attend
school and church, but" she added,
II would like to go home for a visit
once in while"
William Myers was called. He
said he intended keeping the child
at Smiths until he had a place ready
for her at Poyntelle, when he intend
ed to take legal steps toward adopt
ing her. He said he wanted to adopt
the child all the time. He said he
was a married man and had proper
ty.
4 have had her 10 years. l have
bought all her clothes and kept her
in school, 1 have paid out about
$3.50 for clothes and paid $500 a
week board for her when she staid
at my brothers. in Batavia, N. Y
Mrs. Wingerter never sent a penny
to me for the support of her child OF
never came to see her. 1 did not
send the child back because 1 wanted
to keep her and adopt her."
Mr.. Myers attorney, Charles P
Searle, then presented a petition fol
adoption but it was deferred by the
Court until later date.
Judge Searle declined to make any
decision in the matter at that time
for he said there was not sufficient
evidence on either side. He desired
more time to look up the character
of Mrs. Wingerter and find out if she
was proper person to look after this
child. A date for a further hearing
was set for May 18th when more evi.
dence will be submitted. Ethel May
Shields is to remain in the custody OF
the final hearing takes place. Mrs
Wingerter has been staying at Mrs
Briggs while in town.