In re the Adoptation of Bewley

This is an appeal by Sylvester H. Thompson and Lillie Thompson, his wife, from an order denying their petition for the adoption of Myrtle Alice Bewley, a minor.

The facts which are undisputed are as follows: The mother of the child was married to Bewley in November, 1911, after they had known each other for five weeks. The child was born January 2, 1912. When the baby was bom Bewley was out of work and penniless and believing that he was not her father he was unwilling to assume the care of the infant. Mrs. Bewley, on January 18, 1912, took the child to Mr. Lewis, the superintendent of the Children’s Home Society, and after she had explained her circumstances and her husband’s unwillingness to support the child, Mr. Lewis accepted Myrtle Alice Bewley, on behalf of the society, first, however, having secured from the mother a writing, signed and acknowledged, by which the latter relinquished to the society all claim to the custody, services, and earnings of the minor, to the end that a home might be obtained for her. Such a home was soon secured and the child was placed with the petitioners who, a short time thereafter, filed their petition for the adoption of the baby. Thereafter…