Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-06-26
Mother Wins Son
After Fist fight
and Gun Threats

bdIllt DttWttu ldtutI anu HULL
er, divorced and both remarked, over
possession of Jack Davis, 12-year-old
Grangeville boy, which developed in
to what was declared to have been
free-for-all fight and gun play, in
which the son threatened to shoot his
mother, at the John Davis residence,
in the north part of Grangeville, last
Friday afternoon, and later adjourned
to the court of Probate Judge Will
bur l.. Campbell, following Davis ar
rest on two charges of assault, and
his incarceration in the Idaho county
Jail Friday night, ended Saturday
afternoon when papers were drawn
up, whereby it was agreed by Davis
that he would give the right to and
custody. of the boy to the lads moth
er, Mrs. Mayme Birkett, Davis di-
vorced wife.
BOY GOES TO PORTLAND
1t was further agreed by the faith
err; with whom the boy has resided,
that little Jack should go to Portland
TO live with his mother and older
brother, but the privilege is given
Jack of returning to Davis when he
so desires. The happy mother, who
had come to Grangeville from her
home on the coast, in an effort to OBJ
tain custody of her son, left with the
boy Sunday for Portland.
Davis was arrested on a charge of
assault upon Mrs. Grace M. Yates,
and on another charge of assault up
on his former wife, Mrs. Birkett. Mrs.
Yates and Mrs. Birkett are sisters.
They appeared at the Davis place tor
gether, it was related at the trial of
Davis, and Mrs. Birkett asked Davis
if she could have the boy, when bat
tie royal began, in which names were
called, hair was pulled, the women
were beaten by Davis, according to
the testimony, and Mrs. Yates was
thrown to the ground and was only
rescued when Mrs. Birkett picked up
stick of wood and hit her ex-hus-
band over the head.
At the hearing in which Davis was
charged with assault on Mrs. Yates,
Mrs. Yates was the first witness.
UNWELCOME RECEPTION
HE slapped me in the face the first
thing" she testified. Il went down
there with my sister. I hadn't seen
her for twelve years. She asked II
she could have the boy"
".You get out of here. I'll clean up
on both of you. I'll kill you.'" Mrs.
Yates testified Davis threatened them.
Mrs Yates then testified that Davis
said she was no friend of his.
81 think I've been pretty good
friend of yours. 1 loaned you money
TO get married on, and you never even
paid the interest, leave alone the
principal" Mrs Yates testified she
replied to Davis.
"'No, and / never intend to pay it,
she testified Davis answered.
Mrs. Yates then described the
fight.
after he hit me, my sister got
stick of wood and hit him. 1t was
free-for-all," she testified.
WOULD SHOOT MOTHER
Jack Davis, the boy, then appeared
with a % rife, Mrs. Yates testified,
and pointed it at his mother ana
threatened to shoot.
did you Strlke HILL NDo''Si
asked Atty. NJ. r. Hattabaugh, rep
resenting Davis, in cross-examlna-
ton of Mrs. Yates.
Indeed / did after he hit me,
was the answer.
you knocked him down, didn't
you?" =,
you bet l knocked him down"
wac tho charm reDly
"You don't know whether he mas
any marks on him% was the next
question.
eff he hasn't, 1 hope he has," the
witness answered.
MRS. BIRKETT ON STAND
Mrs. Birkett was the next witness
She testified substantially as did Mrs:
Yates. and declared that Davis toid
the boy to shoot her.
ssYour son at no time during tne
alteration called you any foul names
did hep" asked Attorney HattaDaugn'
in cross-examination of Mrs. Birkett'
CONTINUED on page four)