CUSTODY OF A CHILD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3254, 27 June 1911, Page 3

CUSTODY OF A CHILD.

BABY PLEADS OWN CASE

\ rosy, prattling two-yhar-olcl pleaded his own case in the Court of Multnomah county, U.S., and, as a resuß, little Jens Hassing, son oi William Hassing, the convicted wife slayer, uni become the legal child of Mr and Mrs IJ T. Burntrager of that city instead of’being sent to California. On one ride were the sisters of the condemned, man protesting that it uas for the best interests of the child' that lie be given to Mrs N. J. Nielsen of Berkeley, a former and neighbor of the babe’s parents, with Mrs Nielsen herself holding out her own childless condition and her ample means, backed by a- strong love for the baby. On the other side tlie two brothers and sis-ter-in-law of the dead mother upheld the claims of Mr and Mrs Burntrager who have had the custody of the child fbi the last four months. But small Jens or John, as lie will be called, made the most eloquent plea, of all when he toddled up to the bar of justice, climbed up on a chair at the right of the Judge’s own and, craning his baby neck so that lie could see over the bench, called out in a. clear voice, “Da-da, liia-ma,” to the Burntragers. “We cannot take this child from these people to whom it is so attached,” said tlie Court. “It is hereby awarded to the custody of Mr and Mrs Burntrager.”