The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-11
Girl Turned Up Her Nose at
Parents Affection.
NOW IN CARE OF Her AUNT
Shows Signs of Mysteries When
Invited by Mother.
Insanity, Divorce and Death in
Topeka Court Drama.

her nine-year-ol daughter, She
daughter, reared by an aunt, sat upon
the aunts lap and turned up her little
nose at evidences of affection shown
by the mother. And when it dawned
upon her that perhaps her own mother
might take her, she became almost
historical.
The case is on trial before Hugh
MacFarland, probate judge. He must
| listen to a long story running back
/ thru three marriages, a case of in
sanity, divorce and n death Then
he must decide whether the little girl
shall go TO her mother or remain with
the aunt who has had her since 1910.
The attendance at the hearing was
too great for the office of the pro-
bate judge and it was transferred to
| the court of Topeka. The Mabons live
| west of Wakarusa in Waveland school
| district and their friends and neigh
bors are on hand. The aunt, Mrs.
Walter Rogers. lives north of Topeka
in Lyman school district and she is
accompanied by neighbors and friends
Mrs. Rogers is a sister of Mrs. Ma
bon's first husband, whose name was
Mckibben. The little girls name is
McKibben. Mrs. Mabon was divorced
from McKibben in Shawnee county in
1903 while McKibben was in the To-
peka state hospital. Later he died.
| SEe ndO Two CnliOren Cnen, boy ana
the little girl. Vivien.
The following year Mrs Mabon was
in hard circumstances and she allowed
the little girl to go and live with Mrs
Rogers. She kept the boy with her
| Within short time she was married
to n poor man named Henderson. Her
situation was not improved To any
great extent and the child continued
to stay with the aunt. Then Hender-
son was killed by lightning.
Mar1ies Third Time.
| Some time later Mrs Mabon was
married to her present husband, Rob-
ert Mabon. He is a well-to-do farmer
in the south part of the county and
for the first time in her life Mrs. Ma
| bon is in good financial circumstances
She testified today that her husband
| owns real estate worth in the neigh
/ borhood of $4,000, that they have an
automobile and many other luxuries.
With the coming of prosperity Mrs.
| Mabon wanted her daughter and be-
gan trying to get her. The aunt re-
fused to give her up and still refuses.
Numerous letters written by Mrs.
| Mabon to Mrs. Rogers regarding the
girl were read in court today by Ralph
Cav. attorney for Mrs. Rogers. All of
| them showed that it was with Mrs.
Mabon's consent that the child was
| with her aunt but they also showed
that at no time did Mrs. Mabon con-
| sent to adoption. In fact there is a
against an adoption. No adoption was
ever made.
IT don't maintain" said Mrs. Mabon
| on the stand, that the child is mis-
| treated nor that she does not have 4
| good enough home. My point is that
| she is my child, that never consented
to any adoption and that Mrs. Rogers
has no right to her"
Poisoned Her Mind.
She testified that at times when she
| went to the Rogers home to see the
girl the aunt would pull her into the
room in such a frantic condition than
she, the mother, couldn't tell how she
looked and that 1t would be necessary
to remove her at once.
They have treated her all right in
| their way said Mrs. Mabon
What do you mean by that" asked
Mr.. Cav.
II mean" said the mother, that
| they want to keep her and have pois-
| oned her mind against her own moth
err. No natural child if left alone
would feel and act towards me as she
has the few times 1 have had a chance
| to see her."
Did she show affection towards
you when she lived with you?" asked
the attorney.
She was as affectionate as a child
could be- said the mother. She
nearly cried her eyes out when she
| was taken away. 1 have been kept
away from her so long and she has
been with the Rogerses so long that
now she does not want anything to
do with me. Anyone would think she
had been taught that 1 was poison"
Mr.. and Mrs. Mabon have one child
of their own. boy years old. He
played around the courtroom today
while the case was in progress and Of
| fcred his mother ''cracker-jack while
she was on the stand testifying. The
} McKibben boy, result of Mrs. Mabon's
first marriage, was also in the court
room with his step-father. The girl,
| his full sister. occupied the other side
of the long table with the Rogers fam
lily. She had nothing to do with any
one on the Mabon side of the table.
Mrs. Mabon testified that Mr.. Ma
= bon would gladly support the little
/ girl as his own daughter and that he
was aiding her in the fight. 1t is ex-
pected that he will go on the stand
before the case is closed.
Mrs. Mabon is a matronly lookirg
woman and her demeanor on the
stand was pleasant except when ques-
lions were asked rejecting upon her
, affection for the little girl. She flared
frequently at such questions asked by
Mr.. Cav.
. 1t was in the probate court office
before hearing commenced that the
, little girl showed signs of Mysteries.
, After she reached the courtroom she
, sat upon the lap of her aunt and
watched her mother. On several oc-
casions when her mother testified to
natural love for the child the little
girl turned up her nose and smiled
she is living.
Mrs. Mabon is represented by Ed
) Rooney.
'