New Britain herald., 1926-10-09
FATHER WEEPS AT
 DAUGHTERS PLIGHT
Judge Puzzled Over Case Of Girl
 Who Abandoned Baby

While a chubby year old baby boy chortled and gurgied in a crib at the Town Home, blissfully un- aware of the sad circumstances of his 17 year old unwed mother, she and her father, a gray haired, mid dle aged man. stood before Judge E. ". filling in police court cham bers today, surrounded by court of- ficials, police. and welfare workers, and listened to a discussion of the legal and humanitarian phases of the mothers predicament. brought about by her abandonment of the child week ago.
 Marie Garon, a mere slip of girl, plainly though neatly dressed, told Judge filling she "can be a good girl If she wants to" and her father, a resident of Seymour, as- sured the judge of his willingness to take her to his boarding place and help her to a fresh start in life if she would behave. Mir Garon blam- ed his wife for the family circum- stances, charging that she is not a good wife and mother and prefers the company and attentions of star boarder" to life with him. He wiped the tears from his cheeks as he viewed his daughters plight, and she wept openly as the discussion went on and the statute books were consulted.
 n h1o oNonr5tDo tn fho Ia fn commit the young mother to the House of the Good Shepherd under the statute on abandonment, Judge filling ordered Prosecuting Attorney Woods to nolle the charge and bring new charge under the statute per taining to habits of vice and vic ious life. Judge filling ordered a piea of not guilty entered on the new charge and continued the case pending a decision as to the dispo- siton Of the infant.
 Whether the town of Berlin must care for the child because the birth occurred there, or whether the city of New Britain, where the family has been living for the past few months, must provide place for him, is unsettled. Miss Helen Ring rose, representing the Catholic Dio- cesan Bureau, and Miss Ruth Bris- toll, woman probation officer, who were consulted by Judge Alling dur ing the hearing, will consider this phase of the case.
 Both are agreed that the mother should be committed to the House of the Good Shepherd rather than being given over to her fathers care Miss Bristoll reporting that the fath- CT lives in a mans boarding place, which is not considered a proper place for a young girl. Pending dis position of the case, the young mother will be at the Town Home with the infant.
 It developed during the hearing that the infants grandmother had refused to care for him while the mother sought employment. and the reason for the abandonment was the grandmother's insistence on having the infant removed from her house. hold.
 Mir. Garon, given an opportunity to talk to Judge filling, mentioned his wife's alleged infidelity, but the judge interrupted him to say that the question of placing the infant during the mothers commitment is puzzling him at present, and Mrs. La l,,, Lo court if it is found that she is living contrary to law.
 The father of the infant Is said to be in Springfield. Mass, where the mother and a 13-year-o companion were arrested after the infant had been left with a family on Spring street.