The Washington herald., 1922-03-02

case,to the Supre me Court, although
against the advice .of her counsel.
Miss Kate Johnson, ss~ ~, I,
Unable to speak English, the
italian woman. who has been In the
United States but eight months,
gave her testimony through a
friend. Mrs. Molly Dariano,. 7l5
Fifth street northwest. who acted as
interpreter and witness The baby
was born. she declared. July 30.
1921. at 1896 Georgia avenue north
west, shortly after her arrival from
Italy. Deserted by her husband,
with two children to support, ana
no money. she advertised the child
Tor adoption 'T let Mrs Peck. have
my baby with the understanding
woman and would give him a good
home" she declared. fs.-.
Ceremonies of adoption were held
September II. both women admitted
DIR. Charles w. Allen. 941 New York
avenue northwest. told the coury
that, Mrs. Peck called him to the
Bariano residence, where he wit
messed he: adoption Of the baby un-
der the name of Mrs. Mary E. Smith
He afterward drove Mrs Dariano,
Mrs Peck. Alphonso Dariano and
the infant to Tuxedo. Md. where he
left Mrs. Peck and her newly-ac-
quired son.
However. 1 cannot identify the
baby DR.. Allen responded, when
asked IL the child. placidly watch
ing the proceedings was the one in
volved in the ceremony he wit
messed. James Corby, nephew OF
Mrs. Dariano, thereupon testified
that he had heard Mrs. Peck state
that she was going to call the baby
her very own.
I'm getting along nicely now"
Mrs. Mattfo protested. tI can take
care of my baby and give him a
good home. But Judge Sellers was
adamant.
When that transfer was made,
Mrs. Peck actually said she wanted
the baby to fool her husband. a
soldier at Langley Field, Va" Mrs.
Dariano exclaimed. Mrs. Peck said
she was: going to get sDr. Allen to
give her a birth certificate for that
baby"
Almost incoherent with excite
ment. Mrs. Peck admitted that she
had taken Mrs. :Mattio's baby. but
had turned II over TO a friend in
Georgia, and insisted that the one
In the courtroom was her own.
UNFOLDING Mrs. Peck's testimony.
Mrs. Grace Marshall, 1857; Jefferson
street. Georgetown. and Mrs. Emma
Greene. 1910 jefferson street.
Georgetown, declared that they
visited Mrs. Peck four days after
the child was born. They knew it
was just that age because they
81,
Agnes Ferriter social service work
er in Prince Georges County. told
the crowd gathered to hear the case
that on September II she had visited
Mrs. Peck's Tuxedo home and found
Mrs. Peck in bed with the baby az
her side.
She got up when / came in.
urged caution, but she told me that
the women of her family never
weakened under the circumstances.
She assured me that a doctor and
two nurses were with her when the
baby was born at midnight two days
before, but she couldn't remember r
their names" -
Attempt was made by Miss John
son to keep the court from con-
sidering the parentage of the child,
declaring that II was not a question
of Mrs. Peck's relationship to the
boy. but her fitness to care for him
that was moot. Judge Sellers ruled
however, that the matter must be
decided in order to- TX tBei person
on whom the obligation of upkeep
rested. 1t was alleged that Mrs
Peck kept chickens on the second
floor of her house. and that the
place was not kept in proper condi-
tion forthe rearing of a child.
Court records of July 12, 1912
showed that Mrs. Peck, under the
rame OF Mrs. Eta Shields Reed. had
had another adopted child taken
away and consigned to the Board
of Guardians because 1t was living
in destitute circumstances