Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 47, Decatur, Adams County, 25 February 1954 — Page 9

Adoption Case Settled, No Secrets Bared Tennessee Woman Carries Adoption Secrets To Grave MEMPHIS, Tenn., UP—A “baby adoption racket” uncovered here will remain a mystery although legally settled because the woman who knew its secrets carried them to the grave. No one has even been able to explain why Miss Georgia Tann. who dedicated her life to unwanted children, placed babies for profit. The case broke three years ago when the governor ordered an investigation into reports of a 8L-

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

000,000 "black market” in baby adoptions at the foundling home run by Miss Tann. Miss Tann died of cancer shortly after the probe started. She never knew the state was investigating her operation of the Tennessee Children's Home Society here. The case itself is a study in contradictions. Board Was "Fooled” The state charged that |Miss Tann sought out uuwed expectant mothers and paid their expenses in exchange for their babies, thtat she doubled up on expenses for babies placed in New York and California and "fradulently and unlawfully converted” the money to her own use. However, the home's board of directors, which also investigated the cage, released an entirely different version. The board said Miss Tann did make "excess money” in travel and investigation fees before placing babies in out-of-tate homes and that "this was wrong.” The board said it was "guilty of crass stupid-

ity” and was "completely fooled” by Miss Tann. But it denied there was any “black market” in babies and said "each and every adoption has been for the best interest and welfare of the child.” 8750 Fees Only two things are certain. Miss Tann did overcharge for tripn in connection with adoptlons_and she did illegally convert the money to her own use. She did it by sending social workers on out-of-state trips with more than one baby at a time. The social workers would investigate hopeful foster parents and complete several adoptions on that one trip. But instead of splitting travel and expense costs, Miss Tatin charged each couple the full amount, and had them make their checks payable to "Miss Georgia Tann." __— Robert L. Taylor, special counsel in the state investigation, claimed the actual cost of each adoption was about SIOO and that Miss Tann charged an average fee

Decatur, Indiana, Thurs day, .February 25, 1954.

of $750 per child. Records for the years 1940-50, while Miss Tann was In charge, show 1,016 children placed outside the state. One child went to Dick Powell and his wife, June Allyson, the movie’ stars. Settlement Made Three months after Miss Tann died, the state filed suit against her estate for 3500,000 it claimed Miss Tann made in excess charges. The state said the money was collected by "fraud,” but nonetheless “properly belongs to the home and not the estate of Miss Tann.” The suit was settled out-of-court recently, with Miss Tann’s heirs agreeing to give the Tennessee Children’s Home Society twothirds of her 382,000 estate. But the settlement failed to shed further light on the case. Miss Tann was constantly after the state legislature to liberalize the. adoption laws. She couldn't see why "so many children” were kept in institutions "at a cost to taxpayers of 310 a week or more” when “scores of homes are offered for every child available for

adoption.” Ironically, one of her last efforts beyond her job dealt with the subject of "black market” babies. A New York publishing house had requested a story on the subject. Miss Tann dictated one full cylinder on a recording machine but was fatally stricken before she had made clear her viewpoint. Baked Squirrel HARTFORD, Conn., UP — A fii-e that originated in an electric motor caused minor damage to a house basement. The blaze was started by a squirrel whifh had prowled into the motor ed off a spark. The squirrel died. Bad State For Doctors f’ONCO'RD, N. H.. UP — New Hampshire’s 1953 apple crop could produce 17,430,000 pies. Allowing one hour to prepare and bake each, mother would have to bake for 726,280 days, or nearly 2,000 years. Some 1,162,000 bushels of apples were in the fall harvest.

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AS THINGS STAND NOW, the Democrats have picked 21 “special target" congressional districts (black) they expect to win from the GOP in next November’s election, and the Republicans have picked 15 (white) they expect to win from Democrats, according to a political survey in Washington. The districts are Indicated above. In addition, the Democrats say 17 other Republican districts are likelv to be won away, and Republicans sav they nrobablv can unseat 15 additional Democrats.

Seattle School Is Aiding Teen-Agers Second Chance For Rejected Youngsters SEATTLE. Wash.. UP —'Rejected teen-agers are getting a second chance here because 114 men and women are willing to work for nothing. Their goal—stop juvenile delinquency before it starts. King’s Garden, a 370-pnpil nondenominatoinal boarding school rim by “stateside” missionaries, provides a home for abandoned or abused children as well as those from broken homes. "We believe no child wants to be bad and only needs a little love and help to be good,” said A. B. (Mike) Martin, founder and director of the school. "Our job is to give them both. “Some hoys and girls are forced to steal jiuU to eat. If we can get them before they reach that stage, we can save them."

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Supported by Donations Many of the students coine from slum areas. Some neighborhood children are sent for the day by parents who want to support the organization. Although endorsed by public and private welfare agencies, the , school receives no financial help from them. King's Garden "looks to the Lord” for money and Is maintained by individual donations. The missionary teachers :*d administrators receive no salary. They work for room, board, and 335 a month spending money — when there is any. The school began almost by accident when a teen-age sOclaT ctub for neighbdrhood children, sponsored by Martin and his wife, grew too big for their front room. “We had a hundred boys and girls in the house one night and decided to expand,” Martin explained. Poultry Raised To continue his work with children, Martin ggvft ,up fria oil bqsiness. With a group of friends he acquired an abandoned tuberculo-

SECTION TWO

sis sanitarium. They repaired the broken-down buildings and opened the school. ‘Sometimes I thought we'd have to give up," Martin said. “Even with the Lord's help, it’s been a nip and tuck battle to get the $650 a day we need." To cut food costs. King's Garden has its own poultry farm which*supplies eggs and chickens for holiday feasts. A truck garden provides some seasonal vegetables. A commercial print shop does work for various religious groups. The organization also operates a home for the aged on the same grounds. The small fee charged helps defray expenses of the children’s care. ; —r: ; —— ‘‘We'll let the senators, judges and polciemen argue about what cause juvenile delinquency." Mar tin said. “We're too busy trying t< do something about it.” Just Getting Started MEMPHIS, Tenn., UP — C. E. Campbell started to work for Choctaw, Inc., here at the age of 65, when most men retire. Now Btf, he covers a 12-eounty sales territory each week.