Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-07-08
BLIND BOY CHOOSES
AUNT OVER MOTHER
IN COURT BATTLE.
REQ, AMELIA THOMPSON, OF MAR.
SslLtCG, GWEN CUSTODY OF
LITTLE LESTER CoWlGY, A
SlGHTLESS But MIGHTY
BRIGHT YoUNGsTER.

Princeton, ILL.,, July S.-Mrs. Edith
Cowley. former resident of Cherry,
.ost her battle for possession OF her
ten year old blind son, Lester, who
was taken few weeks ago by his
aunt, Mrs. Amelia Thompson, OF Mar.
settles, from the state school for the
blind at Jacksonville.
In decision handed down In the
circuit court here, Judge S. C..
Slough denied a petition for aabeas
corpus and entered an order award
ing the custody of the child to Mrs.
Thompson. The judge ordered that
the boy must go back to school at
Jacksonville for another year but
consented that during vacation he be
permitted to spend part OF the timo
with his mother, who resides ia De.
trot.
Boy Prefers Aunt.
The decision OF the court based IN
large measure upon the boys own
desires. On the witness stand he
testified that his step-fathsr was harsh
and cruel to him and that mis- aunt
was kind and good and that he would
rather live with her, although he low
ed his mother.
James Cowley, the stepfather, de.
MED the charge OF cruelty, and NJ. II.
Flaherty and other prominent resi-.
dents of Cherry, including the mine
boss and manager of the company
store, took the stand and expressed
the conviction that Mr.. and Mrs.
CowIey were fit and proper persons
to have the care and custody of the
boy and were well able to provide for
him.
Bares Mrs. Thompson's Past.
Attorney II. l.. Russell, counsel for
the Cowley's put Mrs. Thompson
thru grilling cross.eXamination in
which he dug up her past and ex-
ed her as the former queen Of.
Spring Valleys red light district
Mrs. Thompson frankly admitted
that she was at one time known as
Red Slippers" and ran saloon and
house of ill-fame at Spring Valley, but
claimed that she had reformed and
that for more than ten years had been
living decent life. She said she low
cd the little blind boy as tho he were
her own son and touched the hearts
of the Judge and spectators by relat,
'''g plans for his education and his
future. -.. .-.
Among other things she has pur-
chased piano upon which he is TAX
ing Lessons. and Mrs. Thompson says
the boy is showing remarkable must. !
cal talent
Earns Respect Of Neighbbors.
Declaring she has gone straight" |
since she took up her residence in
MarselIes. Mrs. Thompson claimed /
she had gained the respect and good |
will of her neighbors and hoped to
be able to keep it. With her husband I
and the little blind boy she could be /
happy. she said, and told the court ,
she would give the boy the best Of
care and would see that he obtained
4 good education.
The court seemed convinced that +
she would do as she said and that
her influence over the boy would be
satisfactory and decided the case in
her favor.
Mrs. Thompson obtained possession
of the boy several weeks ago at the
close of the school term at the Jack
sonville home. She also claimed the
mother had gone off to Michigan and
abandoned him. The boy liv-
with Mrs. Thompson a great deal
of the time since he was baby until
three years ago when his mother was
married to CoWley.