Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-03-06
SOLDIER HUSBAND.
IS GIVEN CUSTODY.
OF TWO CHILDREN
VAN CRAEN CASE IS GIVEN AN.
OTHER CHAPTER OF SENSA-
TIONAL EVENTS IN CIRCUIT
COURT-SETTLEMENT CAUSES
MOTHER TO 1RELiNQUISH
RIGHTS TO HER OWN FLESH
AND BLOOD.

Another chapter in the martial woes
OF Peter Joseph Van Cracl and his
former wife. now Mrs. Mary Van Bay
dalek Of La Sale was added to the
records OF the Circuit Court this
morning, when Van Cream was award
ed the custody Of his two children,
Charles, aged IL and Laura, aged II.
by Judge Eldredge, and two suits
started by Van Cream against Mrs.
Baydalek and her husband John Bay
dalek last week were dropped The
two Riddles who created such a scene
on February 18TH. when the mother
secured possession Of them. by their
loud lamentations and apparent grief.
presented a marked contrast today to
their previous court room appearance.
Their faces radiated with joy when
the Judge signed the decree and they
lovingly chung to their father.
The first chapter Of the Van Craen
case took place on January 10, 1916
when the wife appeared in court and
secured divorce from the husband
who was soldier in the Canadian
army. She Claimed that she did not
know where he was at the time and
was awarded the custody of their
children.
On February f. of this year Mrs.
Van Cream started habeas corpus pro
ceedings ri get her little son and
daughtor from their uncle and aunt,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Van Cracn of
La Sale. She claimed that the child
rem went to live with their uncle dur,
ing the hu epidemic Of 1878 and that
when she was ready to take them again
they refused to part with Tho hoy and
girl. The case was heard on February
10th.
Judge E,drcdGc ordered the child
ron to 70 with their mother. which
evoked Il storm Of grief from the
Youngsters. They screamed, fought
and clawed. and tried several rusn8
to escape from the woman who had
borne them and called loudly for their
aunt after she left the court. house.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Van Cracn denied
that they were keeping the children
from their mother and declared that
they refused to go to live with her
The next day Mrs. Van Craen and
Baydalek were married
Last Friday Van Craen stared pro,
ceedingS against his wife. charging
her with securing divorce by fraud
and with knowing where he was and
receiving Il government allotment
from his army pay at the time she APP
pearcd in court and won her freedom
He claimed that she did not inform
him Of the suit until ten months after
she received it,
The same day he started suit ask
ing $1,000 for the alienation of his
Wite'S affections from Maydalek
After the filing of the suit a compro-
mise was reached whereby the mother
rel'nquished the claims on the young
sters and the suits against herself
and her husband of a few weeks were
dropped.
1t Is said that after the children
were taken back by their mother to
! Sale they ran away from home
and returned to their uncle where
they have since resided
Van Craen was wounded while
hghting overseas and returned to Can.
ada in the fall Of 1918. He did not
secure his discharge from the army
until April. 1919, and declared in his
bill that he had since been working TO
secure funds to regain possession of
Charles and Laura.