Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-01
MARY VISITS JUDGE
FATHER-SlASHER SAID TO BE
DYING At COUNTY JAiL-EF-
FORT WILL BE MADE TO HAVE
CHILDREN DECLARED DEPEND
EMIT.

That a struggle will be made for
possession of the three Webber chill
dren between people of their own ma
tionality who are aligned with oae
side and their present guardians on
the other. was information finding its
way into Sheriff Davis Office this
morning.
La Sale authorities are making pre-
parations for legal battle in event
any or all the children are brought ne
fore Judge Mayo for adoption. Lead
sers OF the Austrians in the vicinity Of
f. Sale and Oglesby, it is said, are
anxi04 to keep the trio among their
own peol = At present they are In
American lt.nes where the best Of
care and attention is being Kiyen
them. The people In whose custody
tlcy have been temporarily placed
are exceedingly desirous of taking the
unfortunate little tots into their fam
lilies
Wanted to Make Sure.
To make sure that she secures first
option upon Mary, aged three, Mrs.
William Stuppy, who has been ap-
pointed custodian of the baby until
court action has been taken on her
case, yesterday made hurried trip
to Ottawa bringing the child with her,
and called upon Judge Mayo to secure
his consent to the present arrange
ment and to be given the FIRST refus-
al Of the love and affection Of that
very important bit Of humanity
Mrs. Stuppy admitted to the Judge
that she and her husband had fallen
head over heels In love with the baby.
and would find it exceedingly difficult
/ to give her up. The people having
the other two are In the same posi-.
I tiol toward their recent acquisitions.
Mrs. Stuppy was granted the option
she asked for and said she would
close the deal just tie moment that
dependency proceedings to have the
children taken from their unnatural
parents were begun.
Babe FIrts With Judge.
Mary was not retcent il showing
the terrible scar her father inflicted
upon her neck the night of the trag-
edy at Oglesby, when the insane moth.
er joined him in a conspiracy to wipe
their entire flock of three kiddies anu
themselves out of existence. The cut
is jagged one across the back Of her
neck. Court attaches and the kindly
old Judge, when they were introduced
to the babe, kicked in on the love
business just as Mrs. Stuppy and her
husband had done.
A bright. sparkling little creature.
she possesses all the winning ways
that babies are idolized for. She
drove the wedge in deeper when she
blew kiss to the court in most un-
very pleasing little trick did not an.
ger the judge any, she was allowed
to go reluctantly, tho without any
contempt charges beng preferred
against her. Several sighs followed
her out, but there was one with her
who beamed all over. That was
Mrs. Stuppy While she was not
given u clear title, she was positive
there would be an agreement Of trans
fer issued to her that would be Just
as good as any old quit claim deed as
over went into the recorders office,
when time came for her TO adopt the
child.
Webber Not So Well.
!, Wcbber whose first name is An
tone, is still prisoner at the county
g Jail His condition is not so favor
able according to reports from his
. cell and it is doubtful whether he
will live very long. He is suffering
:. from cancer of the stomach His
mental condition is o. r., the doctors
say The mother was removed TO
, Kankakee the other day to undergo
treatment.