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COLD LAW TO DECIDE A VERY
INTERESTING CASE
Washington, Jan. 17. Whether a
dying parent has the right to say
what shall be done with her baby,
or whether the millions of a family
who, in life, disowned the mother,
shall with her 'death be powerful
enough to take from her family her
three-year-old baby girl will.be de
termined.by the cold processes of the
law, started today.
The child is Lena, lovingly known
to her mother in life ' as "Little
Jacques" Swift The mother, Jac
ques Bradley, one-time noted actress,
died early this week. She left a re
markable will, reading:
"I, Jacques Bradley Swift, being of
ill-health but sound mind, bequeath
to my sister, Jennie Bell Wendal, my
child, Lena Swift."
The father Of the child is Thomas
Swift, son of a millionaire family of
Atlanta, Gel He eloped with the
mother and took her to his Georgia
home, but. she was a "woman of the
stage" in the eyes of the aristocratic
Southern family, and soon after lit
tle Lena was born the mother sued
and obtained her divorce. Also, de
spite the influence of the Swift mil
lions, she was awarded possession' of
her child.
The Swift family have used their
millions in an effort to get the baby.
They have made lavish offers, the'
last "one coming just pet ore Airs.
Swift's death. But the mother would
have none of their money and with
her last strength she penned the will
which she hoped would, keep the
baby away from its father's people
is coming fron Atlanta and
has sent word in advance that he
will demand the baby. Mra Wendal
says she will not give it' up and her
lawyers are already "preparing for
what will prove a precedent estab
lishing, legal contest, for the cdurts,
for the first time here, will be asked
to decide whether a dying parent
shall-say who shall be" her child's
'giiardian. : -
o o
REMNANTS OF FEDERAL ARMY
v MAjCE TOUCHING SCENE
"El Paso, Jan. 17. The remnant of
Gen. Mercado's Mexican federal army
which fled across the- border a week
ago when the rebels captured Ojinaga
left Shatter, Tex., on its march to
Marfa, accompanied by 1,500 women,
children and civilians, also refugees
from Ojinaga.
The procession was picturesque.
Mothers, carrying newly-born babes
in their arms, rode in wagons that
jolted ov'er the rough roads. Young
girls, leading little - tots, straggled
along behind the weary soldiers who
rolled thin cigarettes and sang and
told stories to keep up their spirits.
Most -of the men, and the women,
too, are in tatters, but they have been
well fed since they crossed the border
and few of them complain. " Wounded
soldiers, able to makethe trek, are
riding astride burros, some of them
strapped to the shoulders of women,
the burros bending low under the
double burden.
. At Marfa they will be put aboard
the special trains and hurried to Fort
Bliss, where a tented city- has been
prepared for them. The civilians will
be set free and the defeated federal,
soldiers detained until the outcome
of the Mexican rebellian is definitely
settled.
HOBOES THREATEN TROUBLE
The millionaire hobo, James Eads
How, , oh behalf of" fhe unemployed,
threatened trouble if the finance
committee of the County Board f ailed
to act
"The men are hungry, and ready to
act, he cried, "and will form parades
and demonstrations -that "will force
you to. get addltip,nal;p"olice."
How advocaleajock piles for the
jobless, but was told the supreme
court forbade the county from tat:
ing such action-
