The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-09-15
UNIQUE EVENT in
MONTANA COURTS
AGED COUPLE ADOPT EIGHT
CHILDREN, SEVEN BOYS AND
ONE GIRL
William Bowen, Miner, 81 Years of
Age, and Working but Half Time,
Voluntarily Takes Upon His Shout
ders the Responsibility of Large
Family.

Family.
What was declared by the court
to be an event without precedent in
the history Of Montana jurispru-
) dence occurred recently in Butte
when a crippled miner, aged ga
years, n his good wife, aged 63,
adopted eight small children be-
ore Judge Lynch in the district
court. The eldest child is ii years
old and the youngest 3 years. Seven
of them are boys.
This is an event in the history OF
Montana Jurisprudence" exclaimed
Judge Lynch as he surveyed the
group. Il am of the opinion that the
court records of the entire nation
will fail to show a case where eight
members of one family have been
adopted by the same people. 1t is a
most extraordinary occurrence"
The miner was William Bowen of
319 East Woolman street and a poor
man who is at present working as a
Waterman at the East Stewart. To
the courts suggestion that they were
assuming a heavy burden, Mr.. and
Mrs. Bowen beamed back at him and
Bowen said, II am only working two
weeks a month but l guess we can
stand it," and the wife vigorously
nodded her assent.
The children and their ages are as
follows: Robert, IA years; Curtis, 10
years; Frank, IL years; Leonard, 8
years; Philip, z years; Chester, 6
years; Dorothy, 4 years, and Donald,
3 years.
The petition of adoption stated
that the mother of the children was
dead and that the father had left the
city and had not contributed to their
support for more than two years.
In explanation of his action, Bowen
said: 1.-THE mother of these children
was our daughter and our only child.
She died a year ago the goth of this
month. The father, Charles P. Wor-
den, is an engineer. He earned 81
a day and didn't drink, but the money
went somehow. We have had the
care of the children for the past four
years. So we decided to adopt them"
Underground 50 Years
Interrogation by the court brought
out the fact that Bowen was born in
Wales and has worked underground
for SO years, part of which time was
in Pennsylvania.
81 have worked "a years in Butte"
he said. 81 am the only survivor of
a cage load of four that started up
the Rarus shafe one Saturday morn
ing in 1893. We had no safety doors
on the cages in those days.
zone of our crew tainted on the
way up. He fell against the shaft.
Joe Waters, Sandy Mcdonald and an
italian whose name I can't recall
were ground to pulp and I was left
with a shortened Leg.
Bowen has worked at the East
Stewart for 10 years and is now part
time Waterman there.
"You are only a workingman, you
say, but you are now worth approx
mate1y $4,000" remarked Judge
Lynch as he signed the adoption
papers.
They Manage Somehow
81 own my own home," said the
old mar brightly, land we will get
along. I had my boy Che called them
his c%hildren) operated on for appen-
dicitis a few days ago and that cost
me some money, but we managed it.
"The reason we are adopting these
children is to prevent the father COM
ing back and claiming them after
they are half grown"
The crowd of children attracted
general attention in the courtroom
and inquiry vas made as to whether
Judge Lynch was holding a session of
the juvenile court.
Cooney Appreciated 1t
County Commissioner Cooney came
the room while the hearing was
going on and cast an appreciative
eye over the crowd of lusty little
boys. The permission of the court
was asked to take a photograph of
the adoption proceedings. 1t was
granted. "Put Mr.. Cooney in the
group" said the judge. Though he :
has no children of his own I can !
see that he appreciates the !
glory of a large family" :
Bowen and his wife radiate good
The children climbed over .
hem confidently or turned on them :
ayes beaming with affectionate re-
gard. The old couple smiled back at :
hem or patted their little heads. y
"Folks have to go some to beat :
ny family" said Bowen proudly as :
lie limped toward the door. |
Indeed they will in these days of !,
me and two children" said the !
Judge. "and the courts of the nation !.
will have to go some to beat your :
record" !.