Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-31
FATHER DESCRIBES
Loss Of YOUNG SON
John O. Sanders Says d.
vorced Wife and Armed Men
Took Boy Off Ship.
By a staff Correspondent OF Tho star.

MARLBORO, Md. August 81
Alleging that his 5-year-old son John
was taken from him by his divorced
wife with the aid of an armed escort
of three men in 1924, while on board
q ship about to steam for Venezuela
John o. Sanders. a Missouri attorney
took the stand in his fight for custody
of his boy and 7-year-old girl. Mary
Caroline who were brought into
court before Judge Robert +. Mating
ly, at Marlboro. under a habeaS corpus
writ today.
Through Attorney Clarence f.
Roberts. Sanders alleged in his peti
ton that he was granted custody OF
the children in 1924 by A Missouri
court al Cassville after he had sue
ceeded in II suit for absolute divorce
Between the period of the interlocu
tory decree and the final decree, he
testified today. he had not custody OF
his daughter. but had found his boy
in Cumberland. Nd. and had taken
him TO New York City and boarded q
steamer en- route to Venezuela. where
he was going on a business trip.
Describes Ship Incident.
After getting aboard the boat al
Hoboken pier, he testified, Mrs
Leota Sanders. the divorced wife
with three men came aboard. She APP
preached him and said: Let me kiss
The child" AS he acceded to her re
quest. sanders testified, she grabbed
the child and started away. Hei
three compa Mons. whom Sanders de
rlarpd represented themselves as New
York policemen. blocked his way un
til she disappoarf d on the other side
l.. 4. hot, l,r
ship for her. Sanders said he learned
from the purser that she had gone
ashore by way of lower deck on
which baggage was being loaded. and
that he started ashore at the moment
he whistle was blowing to send AL
visitors ashore preparatory TO the
shin showing off.
NS he reached the gan-Dlank. how
over. Sanders said. one Of the three
men who was armed. gave him =
shove back and then with his hand
on n pistol kept him aboard until the
ship left the dock. Sanders testified
he went all the way to Venezuela
aboard that ship.
Since that time. Sanders said. he
had conducted n search for his di-
vorced wife and children. locating
them about two weeks ago.
Previous Effort Made.
\ previous attempt to obtain Gus
tody OF the children was made by
Sanders in the district of Columbia
shortly after he learned that Mrs
Sanders WAS employed at ST. Eliza
beth's Hospital rs nurse about two
weeks ago. At that time he brought
a petition of habeas corpus in the
District Supreme Court before Jus
tice Bailey. but was unsuccessful in
his attes.pt to obtain custody.
Attorney Harry Hegarty. appearing
for Mrs Sanders. urged that the
Marlboro court respect the finding Of
the District Supreme Court as to the
apparent invalidity Of the decree
awarding custody Of the children to
Mr.. Sanders. The court decided.
however. to hear the case on its merits
and testimony began shortly after
noon.
Little John Sanders got sleepy dur
ing the proceedings and curled up
on n bench in the courtroom. going
of into Il sound slumber while the
argument as to whether his father
or mother should have custody over
him waXed warm. with attorneys
raising technical objections from time
to time.