The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-17
Exposure of Inner Workings Of
-.
This Local Society.
HORRORS OF WHITE SLAVERY
Mckinneys Admit Sale of Pa
per Covered Book.


Judge Hugh mcfarland of the pro-
bate court Wednesday afternoon finally
took 2-year-old Mildred Mckinney away
from the custody of the Rev. G. w.
Mckinney, manager of the Christian
Messengers" and turned her over to
|thc Topeka Orphans Home. The little
girl who is now a ward of the court
until further orders, will doubtless find
her way into a good home. She is
that kind. In the court room where
the fight for her possession was in
progress all day she was constant
center of interest. smiling and playing
with her numerous friends and the OBJ
ject of hungry glances from the foster
parent from whom she was separated
by the courts Intervention.
Wednesdays hearing drew away the
curtain which wells one fraction of To-
peka's social life from the gaze of the
other portions of the whole population
Attorney Ed McKeever as inquisitor on
behalf of the Foster Humane society
which was the active spirit in taking
the baby out of the sordid surroundings
of the christian Messengers" head
quarters. probed deep into the work.
ings of that society.
Among the witnesses for Mckinney
were several shabby men and women
who gain a livelihood soliciting money
and clothing in the name of charity,
who hold religious meetings in impro-
vised halls and sell literature to ad-
vance social purity movements. One
witness. Mrs. Lillian Black. admitted
on the stand that she devoted consid
cradle time to the sale of paper COW
cred book devoted to the white slave
traffic. Ostensibly an exposure of the
horrors of white slavery" the book
is filled with Objectionable illustrations.
Mckinney admitted having sold about
nf Ire in, t1oa ~
Insured Children's Lives.
That it has been the practice of the
Mckinneys to carry insurance on the
lives of the infants whom they took into
ter r o Under Ateorney ' McK as lr ex
smination. He said he now held policy
on the life of the little girl whom he had
adopted from founding asylum in ST.
Louis. He said he had none on the life of
the .-months-old baby now in Christs hos
pital because no insurance company
would issue a policy on an infant of less
than one year.
Why do you carry life insurance
policy on that baby?" demanded Nc
WHY does anybody carry life insur-
ance?" was the sullen response of Nc
The subject of yesterdays court pro-
oedure is an unusually attractive baby of
ABOUT years old. Its mother is said to
its father is unknown. Just how the Nc
kinneys came into its possession was
not explained Tne child declares ner
name is Oracle but 1t has been called
both Mildred and Mary, being entered in
court under the name of Mary. She has
already established herself at the or
phanage and has made friends with the
matrons and other children there as
only bright and affectionate baby can.
= Mrs. Mckinney Did Not Appear.
Mrs. Mckinney. wife of the Christian
Messenger" manager, left town and is
said to be visiting in southeastern Kan
sas. and her nonappearance in court yes
terday called for an explanation which
McKeever demanded.
w. F. Jamison McKinney's attorney,
advised Mrs. Mckinney to remain away
Il told her to do SO for was fraid that
her mental condition. which appeare to
have been greatly disturbed by recent
occurrences. would lead her to make an
unpleasant scene in court" said he.
Her husband was called upon for eX-
PLANTATION of the official report from the
Kansas City court. where Mrs. McKin-
ney was arrested for beating a small boy.
then living in their home. Mckinney de-
clared ignorance OF the fact that his wife
had been fined 500, and later admitted to
parole and that the boy had been taken
out of their custody. He said he was
away at the time, declared that the whole
business had been act Of persecution
such as is likely to be directed against
those who try to do right"