Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-05-30
MODERN JUSTICE
Editor ASkOy American:

MUDLhN
Editor Askov American:
During the past century the things
that were done to women and chill
dren, even in the Law Courts or
England, were something disgraceful.
1t continued until some of the writer's
of those days took the matter up and
turned the searchlight of publicity on
the terrible conditions with the result
that reforms were inaugurated. The
right of the mother to the possession
of her offspring is now respected in
the civilized countries of the world,
so today if one were to tell you that
in the courts of Minnesota, child
could be taken away from hard
working, mentally competent and le-
spectacle mother, and given in adop-
ton to another without the consent
Of that mother, and the child'S
whereabouts concealed from her for
period of 16 years, and at the time
of the childs adoption the mother
was a resident of the same city, you
would pooh. pooh the statement, and
say: mot on your life, in Minnesota"
But it can be done and here is the
case:
For a number of years prior to 1918,
John Nemec and his wife, Vera, Oc-
cupied an eighty acre farm in Pine
county, about three miles from Brook
Park They had their land under
cultivation, had it stocked, and had
buildings and farm machinery. Then
came sickness. John Nemec was
stricken with lingering disease
which took him off September IA,
1918 He left a widow and five chill
dren-Steve. 10 years old, Mary, y
years, Joseph, Z. Albert, 5. and Anna
rot quite 2. Doctor bills and funeral
expenses had become huge amount
to that widow on that little farm, so
she applied to the board of county
commissioners for mothers aid so she
could continue on the farm and raise
her family. But Pine county had not
been in the habit of paying mothers
aid. ct might add to our taxes was
the story, and 16 years ago officials
listened to the taxpayers, so the idea
of passing the buck was used, without
regard to the feelings of the mother
"a Bohemian lady, who could under
stand little English and talk less.
Someone was secured to file a COM
plant that the children were being
neglected, overwOrked, etc. A hearing
i. was had promptly at Pine City, and
four of the children, Mary, 9, Joseph, Z,
Albert. 5, and Anna less than 2 years
old, were promptly taken away from
the mother and sent to the State
school at Owatonna. Steve, 10 years
old. was left with the mother. and has
remained with her at all times. Not
understanding the English language
and being unable to get any one to
explain the proceedings to her she
supposed it was the legal and proper
thing to do.
There were still those bills to pay.
so the administrator sold the personal
property and paid the bills. They did
not do as is done in most counties of
first taking care of the family and if
there is anything left then pay the
creditors. Then she rented the farm
and went to st. Paul, where she was
employed in the City Hospital for two
and half years, and kept her son.
Steve. in school.
During that time she was unable
to learn anything of her children,
other than that they were not at the
school, having been taken by differ
ent families. OF the whereabouts of
]
nothing. At one time she employed
an attorney at Pine City to look up
the matter. but he evidently did not
learn anythin The files in the Pro-
bate court of Pine county contained
the fact that Anna had been adopted.
In 1922. while Mrs. Nemec was en-
ployed at the St. Paul City Hospital.
proceedings were had in the District
Court of Ramsey county, and Anna
was adopted by the family with whom
she had been placed by the Owatonna
school, The mother had no notice of
the proceeding, although she resided
in St. Paul at that time. and her sis
ter who has lived continuously on a
farm adjoining that of the Nemecs at
Brook Park. knew Mrs. Nemec's adj
dress. 1t is doubtful if the people
adopting the child knew anything II
this. as they maintain that they had
been informed and always understood
the child's mother was dead.
In 1924 Mrs. Nemec was married to
Anton Shir. and they have one son.
The other children that had been
taken from the state school had not
been adopted. When they attained