Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-28
Famous Matters Case In
Fair Way to Be Settled
Amicably.
MRS. MATTERS
GIVEN FREEDOM
Charges Of Producing, Spurious Hsir In
Order TO Secure Estate of Husband
Dismissed by State and Dsfsndan&'s
Attornsys Say Thsy Will Not Re.
sist Miss Ryan's Writ 10 Obtain
Possession Of Child.

Chicago, July :S.-Charges OF pro-
ducing spurious heir and perjury
against Mrs. Anna Dollie Ledgsrwood
Matters were dismissed In the state
court today. Charges grew out OF the
rival claims OF Mrs. Matters and Marg-
aret Ryan, Canadian girl. TO the
motherhood OF Baby Irene." whom the
former produced as an heir to the es-
tate OF her late husband.
After the decision was announced the
attorneys and principals went to the
court OF Federal District Judge Lands,
who has heard evidence In q suit be-
gun by Margaret Ryan to obtain po,-.
session OF the child thru writ Of
habeas corpus. Mrs. Matters attor-
neys announced they would make no
Defense
Baby Irene. tho central figure IN the
celebrated Matters case" will be re-
stored to the Canadian girl, Margaret
Ryan. today was the inttmaton OF Fed
eral Judge Lands In court yesterday.
At the Same time 1t was announced
by Assistant States Attorney Daniel G.. J,
Ramsey that the criminal indictments
against Mrs. Dollie Ledgerwood Mat
ters will either be buried" or mol
pressed.
These Developments came shortly be.
fore the close OF the afternoon session
Of Judge Landis court In which testi-
many was being heard In the habeAs
corpus proceedings brought by MarKa-
ret Ryan 10 obtain possession Of Baby
Irene
Asks Court to Restore Baby.
When the last witness had been in
troduced by Attorney Francis Hnckisy.
for Miss Ryan he asked the court 20
grant the plea and restore the child to
the Canadian girl.
The witnesses had testified. to their
participation In taking tho baby from
tho girl and giving It to Mra. Ma4taro
50 she could put in claim 3orA~ 3gSver
share OF her husbands estate Ibllov.
Ing, Attorney Hsncklsy.s pies fudge
Lands said: W
Il can't make known my decision
now because It would hurt Mrs, MAT.
ters In the criminal case which WIN be
called next Monday. It would not be
fair for the court to take any action
which would be adverse 10 any ono In.
any criminal proceeding. I will hold
my decision In abeyance until the Grim.
lnal action Is disposed Of
Will Never Como to Trial.
At this point Assistant States Attor.
ney Ramsey approached the bench and
said:
Your honor, It does not appear nov
that the case can be heard In the Grim.
inal court before next autumn. Bv that
time all OF the witnesses will be- back
In Canada and I cannot 70 into court
alone. The case Is set for Monday. hut
1t Is very doubtful whether It can 20 tn
trial and the expense OF keeping tho
witnesses will be too much. It is nos,
sible that it never will come to trial"
All right said the Judge. you 20
over to Judge Thompson's court tomor-
row and either mol -prosse the case or
take any other action the court deems
proper. Then come back here imme--
diately and I'll give my decision IL the
case is drnnneh"
Satisfies Both Sides.
This arrangement was agreeable 70
attorneys for both sides Of the case. and
Mrs. Matters appeared to be greatly re-
lieved when she was told that further
prosecution possibly would be dropped.
Margaret Ryan, however, did not
quite understand what 1t was all about
and she began to cry. She had expect
ed that Baby Irene would be given to
her before the afternoon was over. And
until her attorney encouraged her by
stating that she would have the baby
before noon tomorrow, she had believed
that the judge intended to allow Mre
Matters to keep the child.
That Mrs. Matters will relinquish all
claims to Baby Irene without further
court action. was the opinion expressed
by the attorneys.