South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-04
ather" L earns
In Court Child
Was a FoundIing
Husband, Away One Day, Re-
turns to Find Baby Girl
With 58-Year-OId Wife.

DETROIT, oct. Alterations
that a woman well On middle life
deceived her husband into thinking
that three years ago she gave birth
70 baby girl came as a bomb shell
during the hearing Instituted by
Charles T. Drake. a Ford worker. 90
years old, 20 obtain possession OK
the child from the family ne had
boarded 10 with
The question Of paternity was
raised by brakes present wife. has
third She declared il was her firm
belief that Drake was not the faith
or Of the little girl and that his
wife had taken St from founding
home during his brief absence from
home.
Testimony tended 20 disclose a
story OF sacrificing woman. a tale Of
how she willingly took the work and
responsibility Of raising a child of
obscure parentage 20 please her hus-
bands wishes for an heir. a plan
that was successful until her death.
Now her husbands remarriage
threatens 20 bring &c to naught
Drake testified that when ne re-
| turned TO his home on Hinkiey Stu
April 90. 1919 after spending the
day i'm AIgouacs he found the baby
was there At the time he testified
that ne was so years old and his
wife AZ. Later a son Of brakes wife
by "a former marriage testified that
his mother was born i'm 1851, and
was SIS years old iu 1919.
The baby was named Bonnie Jean
brakes second wife. the child's pur-
ported mother. Mabel S. died June
IL. 1920. The baby was boarded with
William J. and Elsie Reid 1886 Ha-
zelwood avenue June 20 1922.
Drake married mis- present wife, who
is AZ years old. During the summer
they have been living I'm a twO-room
cottage az Algonac. Drake staying
there week ends and rooming dur
ing the week at 4439 Third avenue
with Nettie Payne a niece of one oc
his former wives.
sues To Regain Child.
Since his third marriage Drake
has endeavored 10 obtain, Bonnie
Jean. but the Reds have been lOath
TO have her leave them Drake in
stituted habeas corpus proceedings
which opened before Judge Ira w.
Jayne Monday The present Mrs.
Drake Svas called as witness by
her husband. She electrified the pro-
ceedings when she said.
IF Bonnie Jean is my husband s
child I am willing to care for e..
otherwise I feel IL Is a responsible
~ I am not strong enough 10 uu-
dertake"
1.Do you think there is any
doubt?" queried the court. The cid
erIy husband leaned across the table
his hand cupped about his ear, to
catch her reply
Yes" she answered without hest
tatioI
Drake tried to demonstrate with
his wife
you started this" was her re-
tort" and now the judge tells me
I must tell the truth. ] do doubt
Bonnie Jean is your child
She said her suspicious were
aroused shortly after her marriage
when she and Drake moved 10 AL
gonac. She asserted that the niece
with whom Drake roomed I'm De
troit was the first one TO tell her
Bonnie Jean was not her husband S
child
Nlyron Winny of Algonac son
of Mabel S Drake by "a former mar
riage. was called by Fred G. Dewey
attorney for the Reds He said his
mother was IS years old at the time
of the coming Of Bonnie Jean.
Did your mother ever tell YOU
that Bonnie Jean was her chile?
Dewey asked.
YES. she did at first. But after
wards she knew 7 knew better and
said that Nettie Payne got the baby
for her. She said my stepfather was
crazy to have a child so this one
was secured from lying-in hospi-
tai She told me never to say any
thing about it
A subpoena was ordered issued by
the court 10 assure the appearance
Of Nettie Payne i'm court Tuesday,
when the case will be resumed.