A DRASTIC ORDER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 17 October 1922, Page 7

A DRASTIC ORDER.

MAKING-MOTHERHOOD IMPOSSIBLE. • Extraordinary interest has been aroused throughout the United States by a decision of Judge Royal Graham, I of the Children's Court of Denver. He ! has ordered a married woman to sul> l mit to an operation to make mother- j hood impossible, because of the undernourishment of her five children and ; the habitual insanitary condition of her home. This is the first time any American Court has imposed such conditions. Judge Graham could not legally compel the mother to agree to the I operation, but he told her that if she j refused he ..would commit all her children to a ■ home. She then agreed. The woman explained that her husband, a notary and Italian interpreter, did not" earn enough money to provide decent home surroundings. The husband did 'mot attend fthe Court, but later accepted Judge Graham's order concerning his wife. Social workers had constantly explained to the Court the foul conditions of the ! home, and Judge Graham was much : influenced in his decision by the testimony of Dr. Sutherland, who attend- j ed the woman since the birth of her j first child. He described the progressive insanitary environment as j more children came, and declared that, in his opinion, the home condition was not due to poverty, but too I frequent child-bearing. Denver women who were interviewed support the decision, since both parents agreed to the operation, but express the belief that jurisdiction does not rest with the Children's Court. Judge Graham overcame this objection by adjourning the Case ..to January, and if the operation has not been performed by then he in^ tends to take the five children from the mother.