The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-01-04
MONTANAN WINS in
FIGHT FOR CHILD
AARYSVILLE MAN FINALLY Sue
CEEDS IN BRINGING NIECE
TO AMERICA.
Egyptian Relatives in Cairo, In Eff
fort to Secure Control of Little
Girls Estate, Kept Niece From
Him for Three Years.

| After being kidnapped three times
in Cairo, Egypt, by relatives who de-
sired to gain control of the $4,000
legacy left her by her father, little
Georgette Betor, an American girl
born in Egypt, is now safe at the
home of her uncle, Blibel Betor,
merchant at Marysville, near the top
of the Montana Rockies.
Georgette's story reads like NOV
ling-picture scenario-one of the
thrillers favored by Pearl White.
Georgette is not yet nine years old.
Her father, now dead, was George
Betor, formerly a merchant at Helena
and Marysville. In 1914 George Be
tor left Montana for trip to Egypt,
his homeland.
Then came the war Like so many
others, George Betor found himself
stranded, with vast sea separating
himself from his adopted home. I'm
like most of the others, Betor was
unable to get back to America event
ually. He was we'll off financially,
so he settled down in Cairo and made
the best of his exile. He married an
Egyptian girl, and to them Georgette
was born.
In November, 1919, George Betor
died. His wife died the following
July, leaving Georgette an orphan,
and an estate of nearly $4,000.
Hearing of his brothers death,
Blibel Betor, also a merchant at
Marysville, started for Egypt to visit
his sister-in-law and niece, whom he
had never seen. This was in the
summer of 1920.
At Paris Blibel Betor learned of the
death of his sister-in-law. Realizing
that his niece was thereby left an
orphan, he hurried to Cairo.
Arriving at Cairo, Mr.. Betor met
opposition from the parents of his
late brothers wife. They had taught
the child to fear her uncle, but she
was soon won over by her uncle's
kindly way and numerous presents.
Then Mr.. Betor began legal fight to
secure custody of the child.
This legal battle led through the
Patriarchal court of Lebanon and the
Egyptian courts of Cairo. The Leb- Z
anon court granted Mr.. Betor guard
Ianship papers and as much of the
child's estate as could be retrieved.
Mr.. Betor's sister was to have custody
Of Georgette until her departure for
America with Uncle Blibe1 Betor.
When Mr.. Betor and his sister went
10 get Georgette, it was found she
lad been taken away from Cairo by
Ter grandmother.
Secret service men were engaged.
After weeks of search Georgette was
ound hidden in the home of an Eng
ish resident of Cairo. BY the time
he necessary search warrant had
,een obtained, the girl had been TAX
IN away.
A year passed, during which time
ar. Betor enlisted the aid of ]. Nor
on Howell, American minister to
Egypt, to find Georgette. With the
minister's aid, the little girl was
ound in an academy near Cairo,
where she had been placed under an
ssumed name.
Mr.. Betor then cabled Senator t. J.
Walsh of Montana, and Sen. Walsh
n return cabled the United States
minister at Cairo to do everything
ossible to aid Mr.. Betor.
A special guard was detailed to ac-
ompany Mr.. Betor and his niece to-
he ship when the estate finally had
cen settled and custody of the girl
sgally and actually obtained. The
state had dwindled from $4,000 to
$4,000 while in the hands of the
Egyptian relatives, Mr.. Betor de-
Jared.
Georgette and her uncle arrived in
lew York on Dec. 6, and in Butte
lst Sunday.
II would never have succeeded in
~ long undertaking without the aid
the American minister, DR.. How
II, Mr.. Betor declared. HE
orked night and day for me and
course did not charge me penny
,r his efforts. 1 am indebted to Dr.
DWELL, Senator Walsh and Secretary
ughes for all of my life, for they
ere all instrumental in getting me
ack on American soil with my
zee, my objective attained"
Now Georgette, the heroine of the
ree-year fight, is in the adopted
nd of her father, and is happy. She
dainty little black-eyed maiden,
ive-skinned and of a type that is
re in Montana. She will make her
'me with her uncle and aunt at
arysville.