Arizona republican., 1916-12-03
FIERCE FIGHT bE TWEEN WOMEN
 OVER 4 CHILD

The case of Mrs. Ida Earl against Mrs. C. A. Bruce for the possession of a fiVe-N'ear old child of the plaintiff, but which has been in the possession or the defendant since it was a month old was begun before Judge Stanford yesterday. The very conflicting evi- dence was not concluded and the mat ter was continued until next Saturday. The testimony of each woman was calculated, not only to show that she was entitled to the possession of the child. but also that the other woman was not of a proper character to have the rearing of the little girl.
 Mrs. Earl said that she had given the babe to Mrs. Bruce. soon after it's birth with the understanding that when she was able to take care of it she should reclaim it. Mrs. Bruce told quite different story. She said Mrs. Earl. then Mrs. Claude came to her home in Prescott with little boy about two years of age. her con duet was such. Mrs. Bruce said that she did not think she should have the care Of the child and she asked for him. Mrs. Claude declined to give him up. but she told Mrs Bruce that there was another one coming and she could have that.
 But it may be little girl" said Mrs Bruce. and then you won't part with it
 Tt will he yours" replied Mrs EaIl. whether it is a boy or girl
 Mrs. Claude went away and some time later returned with a little girl about a month old and told her she could have it. She gave. at the same tipe piece of paper with the name of the child written on it. the last r00c toin~ "Bruce" Mrs. Bruce
 
 enid legally. but Mrs. Claude told her that it was unnecessary; that the paper was sufficient
 She said she later wrote to Mrs Claude who became known as Mrs Dan Leynolds. about the little girl. but never received a reply from her. The latter had also given her the names of thiee persons each of whom she said was her own mother to whom Mrs Bruce could write. She said that she had never been able to learn the maiden name of Mrs. Earl whether it vas Wilson. Grigshv or Sweet. But after sae came into pos session ef the little girl Mrs. Bruce said, She learned that before Mrs Claude gave it to her. she tried to sell it and had once offered it for $50 The little boy she understood. had hc@n given to some one in Tucson.
 ne cross cAafuinat4On or Mrs. Bruce Was begun with the question whether she had not been an inordinatc drink CT of Whiskey and beer She re- piled that she sometimes drank beer with her meals in place of coffee
 The next question was, What is yoir natiOnalitv?"
 French. English and German" was the reply
 Are you not fulI-hlooded Indian?''
 "No," cried Mrs Bruce, with flash ing eyes and teeth
 She said that she was a native of Maryland and had come to this coun- try nineteen years ago
 This proceeding is the sequal of an encounter between the two woTnen at inc state fair ground for possession ot the child Mrs. Ea-l saw it here for the first time two years ago. and tried to taEe it by force. In the en- counter Mrs. Pruce was struck in the face Mrs. Earl was arrested for as- sault and on Friday was convicted in justice court In the meantime she had brought action in the juvenile court for the legal possession of the child