Weekly journal-miner., 1920-01-28
CFrom Saturdays Daiiyl

 old were put up to Superior Judge John J. Sweeney yesterday in a role somewhat similar to that once play ed by King Solomon, the jurist was called upon to decide which of two grandmothers should retain the custody of the youngster, whose par ents shielded in this city within a week in November 1918.
 Grandma Alice Tupman, in whose care the child has been placed by the court following the death of his parents, Joseph Piper and Grace Piper. won George back to her little home in East Prescott, where he lives surrounded by what neighbors testified were good Christian home influences.
 Grandma Mary E. Piper of Mia mi, Arizona, wife of a well to do rancher and realty owner of EmpOr- ia, Kansas failed in her second at tempt to secure the custody of the little one.
 There were tense moments in the court room as witness succeeded witness on the stand, and Georgie played somewhat noisely, first at the knee of his guardian grandma and then with his aunt, Nettie Piper, who is taking music" in Denver and liv- ing with an unmarried sister, who is a private secretary.
 There was something of drama in the trial, too. There was everything to show that both the elderly ladies wanted to lavish their love on the little fellow. During the morning, his little nibs was made much over by those who sought to take him hence. When the court announced that the petition would be denied and the ap- pointmcnt of Mrs. Tupman confirm ed, neither Mrs. Piper nor her daughter sent a glance toward the boy as they hurriedly gathered their things and left the court room.
 Inquiry by Attorney E. G. Scott, of Phoenix for Miss Piper and At torneys Luther Spalding and R. B.. Westervelt for Mrs Tupman, center ed about the financial resources of the two grandparents. It was re- vealed that Mrs. Piper, though not living with her husband, considers herself half owner of his property, which she estimates at between $75.- 900 and S10O,000. Moreover, Mrs, Piper stated she had money in the bank, and was willing to devote re- sources to the upbringing of George and his education, entirely aside from the meager funds left him by his daddy
 Grandma Tupman admitted freely that she was a mighty poor woman. Her little home Is supported by what scant wages she can earn, the income from flock of chickens and the fancy work done by her crippled daughter. Nevertheless, Georgie was a fine witness, though not an out spoken one, to the excellence of the care she has devoted to him. His little blue serge suit was neatJand his linen clean and of good quality. He had every appearance of an idolized grandson. There is but little money in Mrs. Tupman's bank account. She has two grown sons, one a carpenter and one a barber and both are mar ried but childless. They have offered their mother any assistance she may need. she declared.
 The Tragedy
 Mir. and Mrs. Joseph Piper came to this county searching for health He was a newspaperman, and did some slight work for the Journal Miner. III health, however, weighed on this family. and in November 1918 Piper shot himself. The wife was cared for at a hospital, where her sorrow and her affliction drove her to an act of desperation. Deprived of any other means of accomplish ing her purpose, she is said to have thrown herself down a stairway, thus ending her life.
 Her mother had come out to help her. To this gentle old lady, whose five feet two of stature fails utterly to match her spunk, was given the custody of the little boy. Funds from the estate were lodged in the Commercial Trust and Savings Bank whence she has drawn occasiona, monies for his care.
 There were ten months in which none of the Piper family inquired about the youngster, it was said.
 Mrs. B. M. Hill, of 6l8 East Gurley street, told the court she was a neal neighbor of Mrs. Tupman, and tha che considered the household q mos