On This Date in Minnesota History: April 25

April 25, 1905 – Today Joseph Motte was awarded the custody of his 3-year-old daughter, who has been living with her foster mother, Mrs. Louise Allard, a woman of Corcoran Township, Hennepin County, who has some Indian blood in her veins. Motte, who is the father of six children, testified that the mother of his little daughter died when she was born, and he made arrangements with Mrs. Allard to care for the child and paid her a stated sum weekly.

When he wanted to take the little girl home, he was denied admission to the Allard house, and the town constable and his assistant departed after an exhibition of axes and guns was made by Mrs. Allard and her two sons. Deputy Sheriff Woodcock finally succeeded in serving papers in a habeas corpus proceeding and the matter was heard before Judge John Day Smith today.

He awarded the custody of the girl to her father, but the child, who had never known a mother other than Mrs. Allard, clung to her foster mother, and when she was turned over to the custody of her father, she burst into tears, and the woman who had been caring for the little one, wept. She kissed the girl repeatedly and finally rushed across the courtroom and threw her into the arms of her father.

The parties to the controversy are little versed in the English language, and it is expected this is the beginning of trouble between the two families, and the courts will be busy for some time to come.

The Saint Paul Globe; “Secures His Child. Joseph Motte Takes Her From Foster Mother”; April 26, 1905; p. 3.

http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Corcoran.htm

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