Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-10
MIXED BABIES
CASE TO COME
BEFORE COURT

Atlanta's celebrated mixed babies"
case, which so aroused the city last
winter, is to occupy the limelight
again.
Mr.. and Mrs. John C. Garner an
nounced Saturday they will renew
their fight to get Louise Madeline,
the child in the possession of Mr..
and Mrs. Daniel l.. Pittman, whom
Mrs. Garner claims is her own.
Their attorney, William E. Arnaud,
is expected to file proceedings in the
Fulton county courts this week, ana
to introduce new evidence in support
Of Mrs. Gamers claims. The case
has never been heard in court anC
Mrs. Garner declares she will never
be satisfied until it is
While the Ptttmans have not been
informed Of the Gamers intentions,
1T is assured they will oppose them
vigorously as they did when, the Gar
ners first began their fight
Saturday, that the matter has never
been decided at all. We went at it
in the proper way, through the courts,
but our petition was withdrawn at
the time of Mary Elizabeth's death.
We planned to renew the fight
that made it inadvisable. We
have been waiting these last few
months because the Pittsmans were
expecting the stork. Now the stork
has come and gone, and we feel we
are entitled to go ahead with our
The mixed babies case began May
%, 1919, when child was born to
Mrs. Garner at Grady hospital.
Twelve hours later a child was born
to Mrs. Daniel L. Pittman, at the
same hospital Both were girls.
attendants made mistake few
hours after the Pittman baby was
born and mixed the babies, giving
her child to Mrs. Pittman and Mrs.
Pittman's child to her: She protested
at the time, but Mrs. Pittman was so
sure she had the right child that
no change was made and Mrs. Garner
eventually left the hospital with
baby she declared was not her own.
The Carriers took the matter up
personally with the Pittmans, but the
Pittmans were certain no mistake
had been made. The Gamers went
to the hospital and lodged a formal
protest. It was then the newspapers
printed the story and the public took
it's feverish interest in the case.
versy, just after the Carriers had
gone to court, the baby they had,
Mary Elizabeth, became critically i'll.
At the same time the baby the Pitt
mans had, Louis Madeline, fell in
the fire and was burned.
Tragedy entered the scene. Louise
Madeline recovered, but Mary Eliza
beth died. Though still declaring
she was not their child, the Gamers
buried her in the family lot at Pal
metto, Ga, cemetery.
There the case rested for while.
The Gamers, grief-stricken, were I'M
certain what to do. While they wait
ed, their court petition was dismiss
ed. Knowing the situation at the
Pittman home, they waited until
the stork. on July Fl, brought
the Pittmans another baby, whom
they christened after their at
| torney, James w. Austin. The Gar
ners feel that enough time has
elapsed since then to start their pro-
ceedings.
When the case reaches trial, it is
probable that interesting testimony
will be introduced. It is understood
that Mrs. Garner has made a very
detailed statement she Is prepared
to deliver, and that the testimony
will also include the introduction of
pictures and evidences Of physicians
in regard to prenatal influence,
birth marks, facial characteristics
and the like.