The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-09
Crying, She Wandered Blindly
After Two Loved Ones.
DECLARED NOT PROPER PERSON
Yet She Waded Barefoot in
Snow and Mud to Work.
Sad Case Decided Before Pro-
bate Court Today.


day in the week except one. Shaving
month after month to support. first a
worthless husband and two children,
then two children-al these things
counted for naught today when it
came to a question as to whether or
not Mary Briggs should continue 10
rear her own babies.
They were taken away from her by
court order. Sobs and tears prompted
nv motherloVe availed her nothing.
Her cries were heard to the third story
of the court house when her children
were taken from the building and she
wandered blindly after them. forget
ting her hat. her purse and her friends
in the court room.
1t is the judgment of Hugh Mac
Farland Judge of the probate court,
that Mrs. Briggs is not proper per
son" to rear the children His action
followed a hearing that took most OF
the morning. Testimony was taken
both for and against Mrs. Briggs
Women for whom she had worked for
years testified to the manner in
which she had shaved to provide for
her children There were hints from
the attorney seeking to take the chill
dren from her. that she had associated
at various times with men. but no eff
fort was made to prove it or even to
make a plain statement of fact.
surely" it was remarked to Judge
MCFARLAND after the hearing. your
Judgment was not based upon the evil
dence taken at the hearing.
Had Private Evidence.
Il knew a lot of facts besides those
introduce today" he replied. I'VE
have been looking into this case for
long time. The children were taken
away from Mrs. Briggs once before
when we found them in the home of
paroled convict under bad conditions.
riu
court room under the care of woman
from the orphans home, where they
have been held for some time The
girl Maud, is eight years of age. The
little boy Orval. is six years of age
They are bright looking children and
today were scrupulously dressed. How
ever Judge MacFarland stated that
they were in fearful condition when
first taken to the detention home. He
said the boy had large running sore
on his face and that both children were
entertaining company" on their
heads
The husband of Mrs. Briggs and the
father of the two children was killed
more than a year ago in North topeka,
when a householder discovered MIN
setting fire to his home a man named
stevenson found his house on fire. He
kicked a burning bundle of kindling
away from the house and stationed
himself in a window where he could
man sneak ed into the yard little lat
err with the evident intention of start
ing the fire again. Stevenson fired
with a shot gun and when the object
he had fired at was picked up it was
found to be John Briggs. The top of
his head had been blown off.
Made 1t No Harder.
But according to Mrs Fred Miller.
who formerly lived on a farm north
of Topeka, Mrs. Briggs has had no
harder work supporting the family
since Briggs's death than before.
She worked for me as long ago as
four years." said Mrs. Miller. She is
a hard worker and did everything pos
sible to earn a living for her child
rem"
Then" remarked Ed Rooney, at
torney, she helped support the fam
lily when Briggs was alive
There was no help to it, retorted
Mrs Miller, she supported the FAM
lily
Mrs Miller told of trips Mrs. Briggs
made to her home in the country,
when the roads were so muddy that
Mrs. Briggs was forced to remove her
shoes and stockings to get there.
Mrs Briggs gave a detailed report
of her employment each day in the
week and the average amount she
earned each day. The average was
$1.4O. She worked at washing and
nesdays on Fillmore street. on Thurs
days she did a washing in Oakland
and on Friday another washing ir
North Topeka. On Saturday she die
her own work at home and spent hel
time with the children.
Questions were put to her to learr
what disposition she made of the chill
dren when she was at work.
Left Children With Neighbors.
Il either leave them at the Provi-
dent association or with two or three
neigh bors.'
It was one of the "neighbors' the
court first found fault with. The
children were found not long ago a
the home of Charles Estes. parolec
convict who is now a fugitive from
justice. They were removed from
there by court officials.
u took them to the elder Mrs. Estes
who is nice old lady," said Mrs
Briggs. when Mrs. Miller wanted m,
to go out to her place to work
The court had information that tn,
Esteses did not know where Mrs
Briggs was and that the children haC
not been provided FOR. Mrs. Brigg
denied that vehemently-
II told them where I was going t.
work" she declared. 81 left pro
visions there for the children and
told the Esteses that if they needed
anything for the children. or if the.
needed any money while 1 was at worl
TO let Mr.. Miller know and he would
send it."
1t Might Be Better.
Mrs. Miller vouched for as much o
the above testimony as she knew
about. But when pinned down by al
attorney Mrs. Miller stated that takin,
everything into consideration, tn
manner in which the mother had t