The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-10-16
COURT UPHOLDS
TRADING OF CHILD
FOSTER MOTHER AWARDED
CUSTODY BABY FOR WHICH
SHE SNAPPED PROPERTY.

SHREVEPORT, LA trades a
trade-even if it's a 14-ntonths-old
infant snapped for an old horse and
dilapidated buggy
That's how half OF Shreveport looks
at the recent decision OF Judge Bell
here, when he awarded to a foster
mother the child she secured by trad
ing-one OF the most amazing cases
in the history OF the south. And this
half is raising fund to help the real
mother in her fight for the child her
husband disposed OF.
Il thought he was tColing when he
offered to trade the baby for the old
horse and buggy" says Mrs. Edward
Joles. the mother of IA children, as
she recounted offers made her by Ar
thur Mausay, father of the infant she
admired.
Finally, we thought we could give
the child a good home, and took it,
but first we secured adoption papers,
signed by both parents"
Mausay sold the horse and buggy
for $40, it is alleged. Then, his wife
charges, he deserted her.
Seeks Child Again.
Crying about that her maternal in
stincts had been outraged and that
only through fear of her husband had
she consented to the adoption trans.
action, Mrs Mausay went to the Jole
home with deputy sheriffs armed with
a habeas corpus writ and had Arthur
brought to court.
I've borne seven children" the
mother sobbed. Two are in juvenile
Al. 20 MIL, q
family in Texas. And / lost my last
one gave up the others, judge,
when my husband insisted. | was
afraid to refuse him. Now all my
mother love-everything that is ca
pable OF good in me is wrapped up in
little Arthur here. And | need him,
Judge. My heart aches to hold him.
He stands for all that | have lost.
Please give him back to me or | shall
surely die" A muffled scream shut off
her entreaty and with that she tainted.
Plainly. Judge Bell was disturbed.
With minute care he carefully weigh
ed the evidence The simply worded
adoption papers were brought to him
and further report by welfare work
ers who lad investigated conditions
in the Mausay home.
Judge Disturbed
1t was with measured voice, not
without kindness, that Judge Bell an
nounced his decision.
The adoption was legal, he declar-
ed. Arthur should stay with Mrs.
Jole Altogether it was for the best
for Arthur's good as well as for the
community.
As though she had heard her doom
Mrs. Mausay leaped terrified to her
feet. The primitive in her was reused
to fury. Like a Jungle beast guarding
its young she hurtled across the floor
you have murdered me! You have
murdered mel" she screamed. God,
is there no justice! Must | pay for
the brutality OF my husband! Give
me my boy! The law did not suffer
to bring MIN into the world. Mother
hood is greater than the lawH
Refuses Return.
At these anguished supplications
Mrs. Jole offered to restore Arthur to
her, but the court said no.
Now, in Shreveport, which has
been divided by dissenting opinions
over the tragedy, certain factions have
raised subscription to enable the
mother to carry her fight to the high
est courts.
All of which means nothing to lit
tie Arthur, who all day romps in the
Jole home with the other Jole chill
dren, happy with his new playthings
and utterly unmindful of the tragedy
which centers about him-unmindful
even that he has been bought and
paid for "