The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-01-05
Lillian and Frank Bostetter
Met in Court on Custody
of Their Child.
PARENTS DIVORCED
Exciting Scene in Court Friday
Afternoon as Young Mother
Expresses Herself.

Mother-love and father-love met in
clash of arms in the municipal court
Friday afternoon, and the formality
of the courts collapsed before the on
slaught. AS the battle ragged, the
judge sat on his bench helpless, the
clerk of the court sat with paralyzed
fingers unable to take down the words
as rapidly as the fire came from close
range and the lawyers for once sat
speechless. 1t must be admitted that
mother-love was the loudest voice to
be heard in the clamor, and that WON
an had the last word which is allowed
her by tradition.
The wordy and furious quarrel cen
tered about the custody of an infant
boy, scarcely one year old, whose
father and mother, Frank and Lillian
Bostetter had been divorced. At the
time the interIoculatory degree of di-
vorce was handed down to Mrs, Bos-
letter she was given partial custody
of the child, with the provision that
the father was to have the child from
time to time. Mrs. Bostetter com
menced the action yesterday asking for
sole custody of the child.
Case for King Solomon.
The air was blue with cries from
Mrs Bostetter across the court to
the grandmother of the baby, you're
liar! How dare you come into court
and lie that way" Again as her for
mer husband, dropping young man,
stood before the court and tried to put
in one word for himself edgewise,
you're a liar tool" she cried Per-
haps if King Solomon had been sitting
on the case he might have offered to
divide the baby in two, to settle the
grievous question Of which of the war
ring parties truly had the infants well
fare most in mind, or he might have
take nthe child away from both liti-
giants.
Most touching in the court room was
the figure of Mrs. Bostetter, senior,
the mother of Frank and grandmother
Of the baby, whose love 70 rthe baby
was most clearly betrayed Yet the
court found it necessary to remind
the grandmother that under the law,
harsh as it might seem the grand
mother could be given only secondary
consideration.
Judge UphOIds Mother Right.
Mrs. Lillian Bostetter stated that
Franks relatives came for the baby
and that after visit to the grand
mothers house it came back crying and
fretful, and that she had to, stay up
with it at night after such trip
from home. She declared that the
father had shown no attention to or
love for the baby while he was living
with wife and child, and that it was
only his family who really cared. She
was represented by Lewis Powell as
counsel.
Attorney Stewart, arguing for Bos-
letter, declared that the father had
some rights to the child, and that he
could not be shelved altogether.
"The mother has the first right to
the child" said Judge Tully, "but the
father can go and visit if he wishes
to- Part Of the evidence introduced
at the time of the divorce, however,
went to show that the father had not
exhibited an affection for the child.
The mother said he had not even
picked the child up or shown it the
feeling Of parent"
chat is the testimony presented by
one side only" returned Stewart.
Frank told me that he used to
warm the bottles at night" interposed
the anxious grandmother
"He told you'll" cried the i~repres-
IDLE Mrs. Bostetter, the younger 'You
believe him! Well he's liar, and
so are you'll"
my Baby and I'll Keep IT,
The brakes were off and the whole
party went sliding down hill. The in
terchange of civilities went on be-
tween the women sitting at either end
of the jury box, the younger woman
making accusations and the older one
defending herself. Even the court held
back aghast. Just as things were go
ing mostly the younger wonan's way,
she upset things for herself by talking
little too freely.
Stewart, when he finally was able to
make his voice heard above the tumult,
rose and threw out his hands hope
lessly.
"Your honor has suggested" he
said, chat the father of the child go
to visit it at his formers wife's home.
Can your Honor possibly imagine after
what you have heard here that he
would be welcome ."
"Of course he is welcome" snapped
Lillian Bostetter
eff it is satisfactory" said Judge
TuIly, "the custody of the child will
be given the mother, with the provi-
sion that the father may have the child
twice month to visit at his home. I
recommend though that the mother let
him have the child three or four times
"a month. It is understood that the
mother agrees to that"
Mrs. Bostetter, the younger gave
cursory nod, and her attorney said that
the order would be followed. But no
sooner had the matter been settled,
and the lawyers and the court drew a
breath Of relief than the young won
an cried out, "But I don't see why he
wants the child now when he never
cared about it before when we were
keeping house together! That's my
baby and I'll keep it."
Bostetter is said to have been lax