New Britain herald., 1924-01-01
MOTHER SOLD CHILD
 BUT GOT HIM BACK
California Judge, Confronted With
 Problem, Denies Contract

San Francisco, Jan. 1.-Cattle are traded. Chattels are sold:
 But cold words of the law are not sufficient to contract sole right to a baby's smile.
 This from bitter experience Mrs, Frances Maher here has just learned.
 Regretfully she needed her brain and not her heart when she let Mike slip from her arms at birth into the yearning embrace of childless Mrs. John Fleming flor a price" Even before the angels brought him, Mike with his dimples and pink other woman by the mother. who, with three other babies to care for, feared there would not be enough left to care for Mike out of his daddys s6S monthly salary.
 Advertised Baby for sale.
 And so it happened in this strang- est Of birth contract cases, that Mike became the prenatal bargain" ad- ,ertised for sale by Mrs. Maher, who now says she was distracted and un- aware of what she was doing when
 
 barter unborn Mike away,
 The bargain" went through as agreed, with Mrs. Fleming taking to bed following Mikes arrival to sim ulate visit of the stork 10 her home.
 In another part Of the city, Mrs. Maher, the real mother, lay with aching heart and awakened con- science and with her arms empty arms that were beginning to feel the urge for Mikes departed caress.
 in becloudng mercy she had con- scented to the parting, hoping Mike might be better cared for and spared possible priyation consequent upon a fourth mouth to feed from the fathers meagcr salary as an army bandmaster at the Presidio.
 But all this solemn calculation dis pcrscd like chaff when the surge of mother love mounted to claim it's own.
 For, like Rachael Of old, the heart Of Mrs. Mahcr sobbing for her baby, would not be comforted.
 To court then she came. And likewise did Mrs. Fleming.
 Mike. now five months old. was the center Of contention. The apple of their eyes.
 Other Woman Claims Him "He is mine." said Mrs. Fleming. Under rule Of land and law" "I contracted for him. Paid for him. love him and want him. His mother did not" Judge Louis II. Ward sitting as Solomon beard the plea. He listened in silence. But the silence was broken by a sob as with Madonna like mein Mrs. Maher reached forth her hands in application. Give me my baby. judge. Ii was who suffered for him. l who gave him life. What right then has the l law with words to take him from ! me? Contracts are nothing with love. parted with my baby, judge, be. l cause was not in my right mind ! from agony Of brain and body. Let me have him. My arms ache 10 hold | him-for just . little while"
 Bark A Loves Lesson To such entreaty the court waived l adjournment to take the matter un- der adyisement
 Mike. in the arms of the other l woman." slept contentedly through 1 t all.
 But late that night--as Christ | mas present---the law protected right | Of Mrs. Fleming was erased by her | own consent and she turned Mike | back 10 his mother. Nor has any further mention been i made Of the money expended by the | Flemings in behalf or Mrs Mahcr's ] hospital bills nor any other part Of I the contract which included care Of ! Mrs. Maher's sister. Hawii. Mike is back. That is all Mr ] Maher can say or cares about.