Mother's Sad Tale Wins Back Her Baby

Dec. 1919

Shade of King Solomon is Modern Judge's Guide

Woman Who Claimed Little "Love-o'-Mike" as Her Kidnaped Son Fails to Convince Court.

NEW YORK, N. Y. — The shade of King Solomon sat on the Children's Court bench while Judge Levy tried to decide who was the mother of little "Love-o'-Mike," claimed by two women — by Mrs. August Wentz as her kidnaped son and by Mrs. Lena Lisa as the baby she had planned to abandon to the mercies of Mrs. Elizabeth Seaman (Nellie Bly) for his own happiness and because she could not support her little family of three, herself, the baby and 3-year-old William on the $12 a week, which was all she could earn.

The infant was found in the Grand Central Terminal with a note pinned to its clothing, saying: "For the love of Mike, take care of this kid — I can't."

Mrs. Lisa, brokenly, and through her tears, told how she had schemed to have the infant left where Mrs. Seaman might notice and adopt it.

Weeps as She Finishes Story.

She narrated her trembling anticipation of news of it after the deed had been done, of her heartache when she read that it had arrived at Bellevue Hospital by way of a police station, and of her panic when Mrs. Wentz claimed it as her own.

Not a sound in the courtroom interrupted her story. Big policemen, unromantic agents of the detective bureau, officials of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, scores of others — and Mrs. Wentz — listened in a silence that was dramatic.

When she had concluded, her small frame shaken with sobs, the judge, with obvious emotion, ordered the baby returned to her.

Hugs Baby to Her Breast.

The little woman cried aloud with joy and hugged her baby to her breast. She had deliberated days and nights before deciding to let him go, she told the judge. A friend of her dead husband had taken him, promising to leave him "in Nellie Bly's arms."

Her husband's death last May had left her with a burden she often despaired of bearing, she said. She thought "Nellie Bly" would adopt him, or find a good home for him where he would have enough to eat, warm clothes, and be sent to school and allowed to grow up like other children.

She said she was frantic when she found her plans had gone wrong and could no longer repress her mother's instinct.

Mrs. Wentz finally admitted she was convinced it was not her baby, and added: "My two days of happiness in the thought that I had at last found my own little Arthur are like a fairy tale to me."

Her Beauty Fatal, This Girl Admits

1920

"TOO PRETTY TO BE GOOD WIFE," BRIDE DECLARES

Sued by Soldier-husband, She Says Her Looks Spoiled Her Wedded Career

NEW YORK, N. Y. -- Good-looking girls are warned to be careful in a letter introduced as evidence in the divorce suit brought in Patterson, N. J., by Sergt. James W. McGlade. The letter was written by McGlade's wife, Anita, who did not contest his suit. Francis Scott, special master in chancery, recommended that the decree be granted.

The letter, which admitted that the writer had left her husband to become the "pampered doll" of a millionaire oil speculator, added: "My beauty was fatal, my good looks a detriment to my being a good wife."

She ended with the hope that her case would be an example to other girls with good looks.

Testimony showed that the McGlades were married in 1911. On March 26, 1916, Mrs. McGlade left her child with her grandmother "to mind for a few hours." The following day she sent a telegram, saying she was sorry, but would not come home again for some time, and asking that no search be made for her.

McGlade was a member of the 5th New Jersey Regiment and went to France.

In March, 1918, while he was abroad, Mrs. Emma Monks, the grandmother, received a telegram from Mrs. McGlade saying she was about to commit suicide. It was followed by a letter from "a friend" confirming the suicide and enclosing the letter written by Mrs. McGlade which figured in the suit.

Sergeant McGlade learned on his return from France that his wife had fled with an oil speculator from Gary, Ind. He started divorce proceedings on the ground of desertion. Mrs. McGlade acknowledged service of the complaint, but did not defend the suit.

Custody of the 6-year-old child was given to the father.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 2.

Father of Luikart Babies Sues Wife

1920

BRINGS DIVORCE ACTION IN A MICHIGAN COURT

Charges Mate, Who Poisoned Little Girls, Was Believer in "Sex Antagonism"

DETROIT, Mich. -- Roy E. Luikart, father of Shirley and Edna Luikart, whom the mother, Mrs. Hazel Luikart of Royal Oak, attempted to poison last September, has brought divorce action in the Circuit Court, it became known. Mrs. Luikart is held in the Ionia Hospital for Criminal Insane.

The bill of complaint says the mother was much in the company of a Royal Oakman, who had promised to take her to Europe just before she tried to end the lives of her daughters.

Thought "Women Were Toys"

According to the bill of complaint, Mrs. Luikart became a devotee of the philosophy of "sex antagonism." The husband says she told him "women were the toys and playthings of men, that men never suffered, and that she had made all the sacrifices and he had made none."

The bill reviews the poisoning case, and how Shirley and Edna were saved by being taken to Dr. Carter in Chicago, where they attracted the sympathy of the entire country. Luikart alleges that on the day of the poisoning Mrs. Luikart and the man he names had an appointment, which the man failed to keep.

Mother Named in Suit

The Royal Oak man is made a party to the court proceedings. Two other co-defendants are Alexander Zora, stepfather of Mrs. Luikart, and Mrs. Luikart's mother.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 3.

Dyes Kiddies' Hair Red to Fool Father

1920

Mother Also Adopts New Names, but All Are Found

DETROIT, Mich., March 25. -- John Evart, a member of the Toledo water board, is seeking the aid of the Wayne Probate Court in recovering his five children, the eldest 15 years old, who, he alleges, were taken by their mother when she deserted her home and came to Detroit, about a month ago.

Evart located his children after a long search. His wife had changed her name to Clara Bell Edwards, and also changed the names of all the children, and had colored their hair red, the father alleges.

Evart learned that his wife was employed in the United States Government store here and was living over the store.


How the Game Law Works

HARRODSBURG, Ky., March 25. -- "If you find a fox or other wild animal killing your livestock, what are you going to do?" asked W. E. Thompson after he had been fined $17 for killing a fox out of season. He said the fox was attacking his lambs and fowls.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 1.

Pathetic Scene at Depot

KENDALLVILLE, Ind., March 23 -- A pathetic scene was that enacted at the union depot this morning, when a mother and her three-year-old baby were reunited after a ruthless separation of nine months. Some months ago Mrs. Rosa Case, of Rome City, wife of Charles Case, left her husband on account of his excessive drinking and went to live with her parents west of LaOtto, taking her little daughter with her. About nine months ago, Mrs. Case says, the husband took the child and since then she has tried to get possession. She hesitated to begin legal proceedings, but was finally compelled to do so and as she had in her possession some very damaging letters of Mr. Case's she agreed to exchange the letters for the child and this morning the exchange was made through the efforts of Mrs. Case's father and an officer of the law. Mrs. Case and her father reached Kendallville on the 9:35 G. R. & I. train from the south and Mr. Case and his friends were in waiting. The mother, avoiding the husband, went direct to the depot, the baby staying with its father in the buggy until he was satisfied that the letters were turned over to him. The efforts of the mother to win some sign of recognition from the child were indeed pathetic. The little one showed no signs of recognition, but looked on in mute astonishment. The mother and child returned to Collins on the next train.

--Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, March 24, 1907, page 6.