The Washington times., 1923-08-11
RELATIONSHIP
Of MOTHER
DOUBTED
Mary Miles Minter Prepares to
Sue for Millions Earned
In Movies.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
story Of her theatrical debut when
she used the birth certificate Of q
dead girl.
It was in the Chicago Opera
House that Mary Miles Minter
made her theatrical debut.
How Miss Minter came by the
name Of MARY Miles Minter'' when
the family name Is Shelby was told
along with other interesting features
Of her life when she talked today
with the Cosmopolitan News Service
correspondent for several hours at
the Pasadena home Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Phil Hurn, where she is living.
Resembled Aunt's Child.
Miss Minter, or, rather, Juliet
O'Reilly, was born in Shreveport,
La, twenty-one years ago. Her
mothers name was Mrs. T. Jerome
O'Reilly. Eight years previously
Mrs. O'Reilly's sister. a Mrs. August
Minter, became the mother Of a
daughter. This daughter died. When
the O'ReilIy child was born it was,
by some Quirk OF nature, 80 much
like the Minter baby that 1t could
have been mistaken for its twin.
Mrs. Minter, on seeing the O'Reilly
baby, declared that 1t was reincar.
nation Of her own dead child. and
she beseeched Mrs. O'Reilly to let
her have It. This Mrs. O'Reilly
steadfastly refused to do. Grteving
over this, Mrs. Minter died.
"Are you positive" Miss Minter
was asked, ''that you are not the
original Minter baby?"
"I have never seen the birth GER
tificate, but I have no reason to
doubt but what Mrs. Shelby was my
mother, although bear no physical
resemblance to any member OF the
Shelby family" she replied.
Mrs. Shelby herself is a frail little
woman and light complexioned, ana
Margaret Shelby. the other daughter,
is dark complexioned. No one see
ing the family together, however
could tell at a glance that Miss Min
ter was a. Shelby. The father was
described by Miss Minter as a tall,
dark-haired Irishman.
Father Was Printer.
Although she said she did not
know what her fathers occupation
was, 1t has been generally known
in Los Angeles that he was a
printer. He worked in Dallas, Tex,
at one time. He was supposed to
have been in Los Angeles last sum-
mer, according to Los Angeles
Juliet O'Reilly MARY Miles Min
teri was eight years old when an
opportunity was offered for her to
take the child's part in 'The
Littlest Rebel" The play was to
open at the Chicago Opera House
with Dustin Farnum in the lead
ing role. Miss Minter explained
that the child labor laws Of Illinois
were such that no child under six.
teen could appear upon a profes-
sional stage. This obstacle In her
path was overcome;' she said. by
the use Of the birth certificate OF
the daughter born to Mrs. Augustus
Minter and which was named Mary
Miles Minter. On the face OF the
birth certificate Mary Miles Minter
would at that time have been six
teen years Of age.
Built Up Heels.
To conceal the obviousnesS of
her childlike appearance, Miss Min
ter said her heels were built up
and the impression was created
that she was a midget. In order to
carry out the deception in age, it
was the practice, Miss Minter said,
to dress Margaret, who was older,
in very youthful frocks and she
passed as the youngster sister.
The present picture star, Viola
Dana, whose family name is Flu.
garth, was the understudy for Miss
Minter in 1.-THE Littlest Rebel" but,
as Miss Minter remarked, "I was
so healthy that Viola never had a
a chance to go on in the part"