Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-07
MOTHER PLEADS TO.
KEEP CHILDREN AND
PROVIDE THEM HOME
MRS. MARY PERSoNG RESISTS
ATTEMPT TO HAVE SON AND
DAUGHTER TAKEN FROM HER
GETS TEMPORARY VICTOR

Joe and Julia persong, aged about
IL and II years, respectively are with
their mother today and stand a good
chance to spend the rest of their min
GRITTY under parental wing, in spite Of
a petition that was filed in the County
Court and threshed out before Jsdgc
Mayo in the County Court this morn
ing.
Joe and Julia are the son and daugh
ter OF Mrs. Mary persong, of Strea-
Tor, whose husband deserted aim fam
lily six years ago, leaving them in aes-
titute circumstance. From Mrs. Per.
songs own statements her trouble
today came Oh the very eve of a
switch in fortunes Her Oldest son
is working in Ottawa. Joe is getting
along where he viii soon be able to
help. while julia is already doing
what she can in her own little way.
Lee O'Neil Browne, representative
from the 29th senatorial district. reg
itsered his objections to the petition
in no hestant manner. Called into
the hearing to represent the state in
the absence of States Attorney Wiley,
Mr.. Browne took advantage OF the op.
portunity to put some of his leeisa-
tive findings into words in speaking
against the breaking ~ Of Mrs. Per
songs little family.
Your honor, | have seen so much
Of this at Springfield that cannot
bring myself to believe that child is
better off under a theory or under the
protecting care OF mother no mat
ter If the poverty be extreme" he an
nCunced.
THE mother is the natural guar
dian of the child and the home she
provides is the place her own want
10 be. cannot see where there would
/ be any chance to better the lives OF
his boy and this girl by tearing them
/ from their own home and putting
/ them in some state institution.
1--WE know down at Springfield that
aeitators in favor. Of just this prac
tice are working solely on theory The
/ life of a child cannot be wholly de
cided theoretically as compared to the
practical life it would have under It's
own mothers care.
Looking this boy and girl over
find them pretty bright youngsters an'
believe left with their mother the.
will grow into good and upright cit
zens."
Mr. Browne announced that he dit
rot care to examine Mrs Ida Strife
president OF the Str2at0r Charities
nor Mrs. Josephine Wagner, probation
officer working under the jurisdiction
of the County Court.
Both ladies voluntarily told about
the conditions Of the persong home
/ which they described as being a SHACK
with a leaky roof and decidedly un
kept interior. They told of the chill
dlen running the streets at night and
Of Mrs Persong's struggle to get
funds enough from her own labors tc
maintain some semblanCe of home
1 for her oiispringS.
1t was finally decided by Judge
| Mayo to return the children to thcil
mother until July 30, when the hear
| ing would be concluded In the mean
! time an effort viii be made to get
/ service on Mrs Persongs HUSBAND
/ who is somewhere in the L, ). a.
4 Sinking the responsibilities that ale
/ rightfully his.
Mrs. Parsone was represented at the
4 hearing by Attorney Lester Koran
who was employed to resist the pe't
/ ton filed by Mrs. Wagner