The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-20
Court Grants Habeas Corpus
for ssFictftisus Heir
Declares Mrs. Mattern- Now On
Trial. Stole Infant.
LAY BARE WHOLE CONSPIRACY
Nurse Told Margaret Ryan Her
Baby Died.
Mrs. Matters Gets Ii and As
sumes Motherhood.

Chicago, May 2a.-MargareE Ryan,
the little Canadian girl who says she is
the real mother of the infant which
Mrs. Anna DolIie Ledgerwood Matters
Is seeking to prove her child, was
granted a writ of habeas corpus by
Judge Lands in the federal court to-
day on a petition for a writ to obtain
the child The writ Is returuabIe May
IS. Judge Landis issued the order
with the undecsta uding that il is not
TO embarraSs either side of the Mat
tiers case. Mrs. Matters with Charles
trial in the state court on a charge OF
conspiracy to fCiSt a spurious heir to
the estate Of her late husband, Fred
Matters, upon the probate court
Admit Perjury.
Nuns and nurses from the lIiseri-
coriia hospital at Ottawa. Canada
have testified that the child known as
Irene Matters was born to Margaret
Ryan. who at the hospital was known
as Jessie Bryan Several of the wit
neaseS in the Matters trial admitted
that before the probate court they tes-
titled falsely and that the infant was
the child Of Mrs. Matters
Hearing on the petition was brief
The court was informed by counsel for
the young woman that the petition
was based on an alleged violation OF
the federal immigration laws in bring
ing IL child into the country without
the consent of either of its parents. On
that showing Judge Lands ordered
that the writ be issued
Father Off to War
A year or SO ago. much was written
and spoken OF the great wave of emo
ton which shook women of the bel
1gerenE countries their men
marched away to possible death The
elemutaI instincts brushed aside the
traditions and conventions OF cen
turtles.
It was thus with Jessie BRYAN. Her
lover sailed away with his comrades
and some months later the girl went
to the MiEericorfa hospital at Ottawa.
It was to this hospital that Mrs.
Matters. according to testimony. came
seeking an infant whom she might
pass off on the probate court as the
posthumous child Of her husband. of
whose SS00,0e estate she desired a
larger share.
Knew Mrs. Matters.
Did Mrs Matters ever speak to
you2" the witness was asked.
She used to stare at me and the
frSC time she spoke she said Jessie
you are nice girl and it is too bad.
Did the girls address her as Mrs
Matrers2''
''Oh, no. sir replied the girl with
touch Of awe in her voice You
millionaire lady. We were in the poor
ward. you know. and she had a room
TO herself"
The infant girl was born July
a 1919 She was Il healthy and
promising child, but the unwed moth
er was told that her child. a bow.
was born dead The girl continued
her story
Nurse Showed Her the Body.
I was taken into a private room
mere was another woman there and
she asked me i Lot of Questions I
SAID wanted to go back TO the Door
ward. but the nurse said no. They
brought me chicken on silver trays
and nice things I never had eaten be-
Tore IN my life
nat happened August 3 -
There were several babies to be
chr1stened- One was brought IN 10 me
and II was the most beautiful babv.
dressed in beautiful clothes The
nurse said 'ISn il pretty It's the
millionaire lady's. Z felt the lace and
the soft embroidery
Read Melons Confession.
In an alleged confession made bv
Charles T. Mellon one of the defer1-