Transcribed by Dorothy
Wiland
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BABE IS IN THE ROLE OF PEACE DISTURBER.
Foster Parents and
Grandparents Both Set Up Alleged Right of Possession.
Behind the struggle of
a mother and daughter for the possession of a little fair haired
foundling,
and which struggle may lead to litigation there is an interesting
narrative.
Eighteen months ago a tall, blond-haired woman, exquisitely gowned and
bearing every mark of refinement, arrived in Cincinnati on an evening
train.
Mrs. Nettie Hefferman of 1551 John street, who has found homes for more
than one babe, met the young mother at the depot. The mother handed
Mrs.
Hefferman a sum of money and said, "See that my darling gets a home, a
good home." Then she left. That little child was "Savannah Catherine,"
the little girl over whom two families are wrangling, the fact that
threatens
forever to estrange a daughter and her parents. Mrs. Milt. Adams, so
Mrs.
Hefferman says, had applied to her for a girl baby to adopt, and when
the
child of the strange young woman fell into her hands, she immediately
sent
for Mrs. Adams. Mrs. Adams took the baby to her home, to love it and
rear
it in lieu of a child of her own. Mrs. Catherine Brockman, mother of
Mrs.
Adams, saw the pretty infant that her daughter had taken to her heart.
She had it with her often, and soon learned to love it, too. She begged
her daughter to give the child to her, but Mrs. Adams would not. As a
compromise,
Mrs. Adams and her husband moved over to Covington to live in the same
house with her parents. This arrangement went well for some time, until
Mr. Adams thought his father-in-law was trying to wean the baby from
his
wife. Then he moved back to Cincinnati. One day Mr. Brockman asked his
daughter to let him take the baby over to Covington, because her mother
was longing to have the little one with her. That was the last time the
Adams family ever had their baby with them. Mr. Brockman claims that he
has started adoption proceedings, and Mrs. Adams is in Covington trying
to stop him. She says that she is the rightful guardian of Savannah
Catherine,
and that Brockman cannot adopt the unfortunate little girl without her
consent. Mrs. Hefferman says that Brockman told her a few days ago that
if Mr. Adams, his son-in-law, tried to get the child from him, that he
would resist. Mrs. Hefferman says also that she will urge Adams to take
action. And through it all, Savannah Catherine, the source of
contention,
is at the home of her foster grandmother. If the Brockmans do not
desist
in their fights for the child, Mrs. Hefferman will notify the mother of
the child and have it taken away from here. Mrs. Hefferman has not seen
or heard from the mother since that memorable evening, a year and a
half
ago, but she says she can locate the parent, and unless the squabble
over
the child is stopped, will send for her.
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May 11, 1904
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