Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-28
"Grandma's Nice, But | Want
My Father" Says Little
John Richards Bird.

"Grandmas awful nice and was aw-
full good to me, but l want to stay with
my daddy"
Little John Richards. Sd, 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, Jr., of 80 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 year old Mr. Richards
filed 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 unCon-
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 1908 Mr.. Richards made a second
attempt to obtain possession of his son
and brought suit before Judge George
+. 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 Novem-
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 little
| longer.
Mr. Richards through his attorney.
Judge Gober the judge who formerly
had awarded the custody of the child to
Mrs Mccain, demurred to this appi-
cation. and Judge Morris overruled the
demurrer The case again was APP
peaied to the supreme court.
few days ago Judge Patterson
ruled that mir Richards should have.
possession OF his son, and Mir Rich
ards went at once to Jasper TO bring
the boy home with him He exhibited
the order of the court. and Mrs Nc
Cam decided that she would give up
the child, As 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 Mr. Richards and
Judge Gober The judge handed her
receipt for the boy, and the case. which
mad been fought over six years, Was
closed
Mr.. Richards has au older son.
brother of John =. the Third. and is
again happily married. having d baby
son 10y his second wife.