The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-10
GETS BACK BABY SHE ABANDONED
 FOR FOUR YEARS
Mother w e eeps For Joy While Son Cries For
 Foster Mother
Especial to The Farmer)


 New York, April 1O.-A search of more than four years by Mrs. Helen Petconk of S98 Union avenue, The Bronx, for her son George was re- warded Saturday when the child, who is years old, was brought to the su- preme court on a writ of habeas cor pus directing Mrs. Leo D. Shire of Al West Eighty-Second stret, who has acted as the foster mother of the boy, to produce him.
 George Petconk has had many names in his brief life. As George "Borak" his mother left him at the Madonna Day nursery when the fath- CT became sick after the family had come here iron Denmark and found himself unable to provide further for his family, which included another boy little older than George.
 When Mrs. Petconk failed to claim her chiId,s who then was a baby in swaddling clothes, he became pub lie ward. and through various steps of guardianship finally was turned over to the care of the State Charities Aid Association.
 E conk has sought her son, while she worked in a factory. Then, through the Bronx Day and Night Nursery, she learned that child named "Bor- ak" had been adopted into rich family from the State Charities.
 Mrs. Petconk's long search brought it's reward. Weeping and laughing by turns, the happy mother sought to fondle her lost baby" There was no sign of recognition on the part of George Bernard Shire. He seemed to wonder at the great interest and af- lection shown by the strange woman. He clung tightly to Mrs. Shire, the only mother he has ever known or can remember. He wore fine clothes, in sharp contrast to those of his brother who accompanied Mrs. Pet conk to court.
 'I feel sure we could have estab- lished our right to him." said MT. Shire, in the elaborately appointed apartment at No. Al West Eighty-Sec- ond street, where George was having last bedtime ,romp with the family. stWe had every possible inquiry made before we took, him, and found no
 
 made after he was left at the Madon- ma Day Nursery three years before by a woman who gave a false name and address. sl But, though we felt that we could give him far greater opportunities than his own parents, it seemed bet ter, as long as they were ready to fight to get him back, to let him go than to Keep him with the millstone of an unwilling family hanging about our necks.
 'Of course," MT. Shire added, I've never would have taken him if we had known that his parents were 1iv- ing, for we would have felt that under those circumstances we had no right to him. But to give him up now-af- ter we have had year to get attach ed to limits heartbreaking, to say the least''
 We've been trying to get him ready to go without really telling him that he is leaving us. We've kept say ing that he is going to visit his broth CT and is going to take his clothes and his toys along, but he thinks we're going too, and I'm afraid he'll have a hard time when he finds we aren't there. we shall break all connection with him. Mrs. Shire added in answer to a question. We have had enough heartache already, and to keep on seeing him would only make matters worse. I have asked Miss Sophie Theis of the State Charities Aid As sociation, through which we heard of him, to have one of the society's agents visit him every now and then to make sure he is all right
 When he was left at the nursery he weighed only half what child of his age would weigh, and was serious ly i'll, but under the care of the homes in which he has been placed and of his foster pare.4s he has become a sturdy child, larger and stronger looking than the brother, year old CT.