Omaha daily bee., 1913-12-14
RULING AFFECTS CHILDREN
Judge Brennan Says Youth Was Not
Legally Adopted.
CONTRACT NOT AN ADOPTION
Belief that Two Thoasand ChiIdren
of the state Have Been Given
Away Under similar Cir
cumstance-.

LES mOlNbS, Dec. Z-NSpccial Tele-
gram.)-Judge Brennan Of the district
court made decision that may materially
affect the status of nearly 1000 orphan
children adopted from the Iowa Childrens
Home, In that they might be deprived of
their rights as a natural child Of those
persons who took them TO rear.
The court sustained a demurrer entered
TO an application filed by whitney
Hughes Riley for one-third of the tsa. 900
estate left by John Riley. Young Riley
contended that he was the adopted son
OF the decedent and exhibited a contract
purporting TO be articles Of his adoption
by John Riley and his wife.
Judge Brennan held that the alleged
article of adoption was nothing more than
contract for employment. as II did not
state that such child is given to the per
son adopting for the purpose OF adoption.
A T. Burneli, superintendent OF the
Iowa Children's Home. said today II was
possible that more than 900 children had
been given unto the care of persons under
such n contract.
wheeIock Bank Probe.
Thus far nothing of any importance has
developed from the probe by the state
authorities into the affairs Of the late
Cashier wheelock Of Colfax. The mat
ter In in the hands Of c. II. Robbins as
sistsant attorney general, who was a
schoolmate Of Wheelock. The will OF
Wheelock filed at Newton leaves all the
property to his wife. and this will sim
plify the securing Of funds to reopen
the bank, as the assessment of rs per
cent can be made against Wheelock's 5
stock. Investigation shows that the lsrg-
est bunch OF bad paper OF the bank Is
that against a grocer, q. II. York, who
owes the bank $4,000 and has nothing
beyond small stock OF groceries The
moro the whole matter is probed the
greater the belief that there was some
cause for the suicide OF the banker not
yet revealed.
Continue Experiment.
The directors OF the State horticultural
society today decided upon continuing
the experiment station work, but dropped
tho station at storm Lake. NJ. J. Gra-
ham. the retiring president, was re-
elected superintendent OF the experiment
station work. The directors increased
the premium list for the state apple ex-
hiblt and added to tho premiums for
ADDttHs Ano AHll6 NAfllbil kulH
year was not up-to-standard, many oi
the apples being small and few OF them
OF the best color
Fair superintendents.
The directory board OF tho department
of agriculture today assigned the new
members TO their work for the mex:
year. G. A. Tow will succeed r. 8. John
ston,, in charge OF the swine depart
ment. and c. II. Tribby will have charge
Of tho sheep department. The board con-
sidered improvements and changes and
worked on the premium list for next
year. II was decided that the first thing
ITO be done is to complete as soon as pos
slble the new building for exhibits OF
interest to women ana children This IL
under way now and will be finished be-
fore spring.
Dairy Men Have a Complaint.
A delegation OF members OF the State
Dairy association headed by Judge w. b.
Quarton OF Algona, called on the board
and insisted upon a better deal for the
dairy cattle at the annual state fair II
was pointed out that tho new large barns
are given over 20 the beef breeds OF cat
tie and the dairy animals are given only
the old barns that were built when the
fair was first located at Des Moines
They insist upon new barns for the dairy
exhibit which has been growing rapidly
in recent years II IL probable some
change will be made In this respect and
in time new cattle barns viii be built
state Grange Officials.
A. b. Judson of Balfour. Ia, was again
chosen president of the Iowa State
Grange at the annual election in Cedar
Rapids. other officers elected were;
Overseer, ]. r. Mclean, wilton Junction.
lecturer. l. N. Taylor. oskaloosa; stew
ard. L. l. Richardson. Balfour; assist
ant steward, III. f. Carroll. Wilton June
ton; chaplain. Miss Mary Youkin. Daven-
port; treasurer. NJ E. Blair. Manchester;
secretary. w. A. Caldwell. osksloosa;
gate keeper, p. L Moffatt Newton;
Ceres. Mrs. IDA Judson. Balfouri Pomona,
Miss Iva wild. Council Bluffs; Flora.
Mrs. w. A. Caldwell. Fremont
Decide smOke-Law.
Constitutional validity OF the city's
smoke ordinance will be determined by
Judge Smith Mcpherson OF the federal
court on Wednesday January IA. accord
ing 20 an assignment OF hearings made
by that court this morning. The states
new law OF employers liability win be
thoroughly dissected for the same pur-
pose January Is. while the question OF the