Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-02-16
CHILDREN SPURN THE
WOMAN WHO BORE
THEM, FOR AN AUNT
DRAMATIC SCENE ENACTED IN
COURT WHEN JUDGE RULES
SON AND DAUGHTERS PLACE
IS WITH THEIR MOTHER.
BULLETIN.
A marriage license was issued
this afternoon to Mrs. Mary Van
Craen, aged 20 and John Bydalek
aged 80, botn o; LaSaIe.

thildren'S screams rent the COur'
house this morning and caused occu-
pants Of the various offices to rush to
the halls when Charles and Laura
Van Craen, aged Is and - years,
were returned to their mother. Mrs,
Mary Van Craon, after living for the
pas year with their uncle and aunt
MI and Mrs Frank Van Craen.
Id rather die I'd rather be dead
sobbed Charles, while his sister. who
had cried until she was almost hys
terlcaI, thew herself on the tile iioOI
in the corridor of the court house tc
keep her mother from taking her
downstairs
The uncle and aunt came from the
Cour. room about that time, and the
mother was unable to tear the grass
OF the young hopeluls from their pre-
yiOus caretaKers. Deputy Sheriff
Sredman. who was standing near by
Went to her assistance ana succeeded
in holding Charles until Mr. and Mrs
Van traen reached the elevator and
We're whiskod downstairs.
II want TO kiss my auntic good-by
screamed Laura. Charles readily TOOK
mp The refrain. The children were
taken to the County Court room by
their mother and Deputy Stedman
until they quieted down.
The excitement followed a habeas
corpus hearing instituted last Friday
by Mrs Van Craen to get possession
Of her Riddles. In her bill she stated
that she was divorced from her huS
band, Joseph Van Craen, and that the
court gave her the custody Of the
children. She claimed that during
the influenza epidemic in 1918 She
gave the children temporarily to hef
DIotherin-laW to care for. ana that
since then he has refused 10 give
them up.
After hearing the evidence Judge
Eldredge stated that the children
were 10 90 with their mother. He de
clared that there was no law or nc
court that could take children from
d mother, the woman who bore them
unless she vas shown to be unfit tn
raise them.
Charles start ed weeping loudly dur
ing the judges statement His mother
went to him at the close Of the award
and said, Come on. Charles; I'll be
good to YOU" The boy cried loudly
and tried to shake her of. The LITTLE
girl, who was sitting near by, startec
to weep. The mother finally moyey
10 take the children from the room
when Charles, seeing a chance to eeN
back. dropped his cap. Laura, motto
ing this pulled off her stocking car
and tried to throw it back. The rlse
was noticed. the caps were collected
and the party proceeded to the hall
After the group lett the cOur; room
the aunt addressed the Judge telling
him that the children came to her, tell
ing her that they were hungry She
purchased some buns and meat from
the grocery and had it charged ia
their mother, They told her, she al
legged. that when the mother found il
out. chat if their aunt and uncle
would not take them in she would
send them to a school for dependents
The Judge instructed the aunt and
uncle that it had been their duty tc
teach the children TO love, honor and
cherish the mother who had borne
hem and who alone had the legal
right to their custody.
There were eyes in the court room
that filled with tears while the dra
matte scene was being enacted The
tears were others than those of thr