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GIRL VICTIM OF MARRIED MAN PLACED IN NEW HOMEf!*»!Gladys Stecker, 44 years old nextmonth who fled frop the GermanLutheran Orphan home with the agricultural foreman last month, will make her new home in a Methodist institution for girH. near St. Louis. This was ordered by Judge D. V.Jackson in the juvenile court thismorning when the girl appeared be-j fore him on delinquency charges set out by County Attorney C. K. Stafford.The county attorney informed the court that the child was neglected, that her father, residing near Grin-nell, had virtually indicated no interest in her during the past three years, that the orphans home where she had been an inmate for the past seven years declined to receive her again and that she was now homeless,temporarily under the care of theMuscatine Welfare association pur-1 suant to his instructions. James Heliums, married and father of five children, is now serving a life term in the state prison at Fort Madison, following a charge of rape preferred against him by the county attorney after his arrest in Galesburg in company with the girl.Girl's lt;audition a Problem.The physical condition of the girl has given considerable concern to the county attorney and social workers ^ interested in her welfare. The exam-;ining physician's report recommendsthat a close watch be placed on het.Mis? May me Jericho, deaconess of the First Methodist Episcopal church, will escort the girl to the home near,lt;t. Jjouis today. She has co-operatedwith the local relief society in planning for the child’s future.Klein on Vacation.The Rev. William Klein, superintendent of the Lutheran home, who refused to take back the girl or give her shelter for even a few days at the orphanage where she had been the past seven ve;rrs. is reported to be on a vacation of several months in Nebraska. This became known yesterday when Sheriff R. J. Wiley sought tosubpoena him as a witness for this morning s juvenile court proceedings. The Rev. G A. Graf, for year?prominent in Lutheran circles of the middle west informed the sheriff thathe was the new superintendent of the home. He told a newspaper man at this morning's hearing that the Rev. Mr. Klein was in Nebraska on a financial campaign and that he expected to return to Muscatine in a few months. In the meantime, he said hewill act as superintendent.Miss Louise Wittig, matron of the home, almost broke down at the ^venile court hearing in relating the Wfrts incident to the girl’s flight with Heliums. For the past three years,she told the court in response toquestioning by County Attorney Stafford. Gladys had not been well behaved. A changed attitude was no-ticeable, she declared, after a visit Ito her father.“Since then,” the matron assorted.“she had not been the same.”heliums TelK of TripHeliums was taken to the FortMadison penitentiary yesterday bySheriff Wiley to enter upon his life sentene. The prisoner expressed confidence that he would soon he given his liberty, according to the sheriffThe flight of the 111 matched couple c was recounted by Kellums to the sheriff on the journey to the state I prison. He told of living with the child in Burlington for a week, afterwards leaving for Galesburg. While in the former city, their hoarding house keeper called their attentionto a newspaper article describing them. Kellums told the sheriff. That promoted him to leave ?hat citv. Employment had been found by Kellums in Galesburg.1(13]111I*Ctlt;„ it \\I1! V*AiilON VACATIONITHE REV. WILLT-MT KLEIN
Newspaper Details
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune
Muscatine, Iowa, US
Wed, Feb 14, 1923
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne C.
NA, 14 Feb 2023
Other Publications Near Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine Journal and News Tribune
New Indexed Atlas of Muscatine County Iowa
Atlas of Muscatine County Iowa
Muscatine Daily Journal
Muscatine Weekly Journal
