by Al Lacy
“I read about Peter’s death in the Tribune and came as soon as I could.”
Hennie held Meggie on her lap as the two women sat down at the kitchen table. Kathleen’s nerves settled some as they shared an aromatic pot of tea.
With kindness and compassion Hennie once more brought up the subject of salvation but found that her friend was too angry at God to accept His love.
Kathleen did allow Hennie to pray for her and Meggie, and when the hour was up, Hennie told her she would be at the funeral to pay her respects.
There was a large gathering at Peter Stallworths funeral. His parents were well known and respected by the upper class of Chicago, and Peter’s character had attracted many friends.
During the service, Kathleen and Meggie sat with John and Maria Stallworth. Meggie pressed close to her mother’s side and kept looking up at her face beneath the black veil she wore. The child was unsure of what was happening and a bit puzzled about what she was supposed to feel and do.
While the solemn service progressed, Kathleen was quite aware of her daughter’s glances, and she kept her expression as stoic as possible. Occasionally she looked down at the small, serious face and gave her a wan smile.
Finally the long service came to a close. Kathleen caught a glimpse of Hennie in the crowd as she and Meggie went with the Stallworths to the carriage that would follow the hearse to the cemetery.
Meggie stuck to her mother like a second skin and was holding her hand with all her might as the funeral procession moved slowly down Chicago’s narrow streets to the cemetery at the north edge of town.
Upon arriving at the cemetery, the family was guided to wooden folding chairs placed under a canopy near the grave. The minister approached Kathleen and told her that since she was the widow, she would be the one to drop the first handful of dirt on the coffin after he had said, “Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust.” John and Maria would follow and do the same thing.
The graveside service was brief, and Kathleen was soon tossing the dirt on the lid of the coffin as Meggie stood by her side. Her veil obscured the tears flowing down her set features as Peter’s parents tossed their handfuls of dirt on the coffin. When the minister closed in prayer, people immediately began gathering around John and Maria, expressing their condolences.
Kathleen took hold of Meggie’s tiny shoulders, turned her around, and led her down the gentle slope toward the waiting carriage.
Hennie O’Banion emerged from the crowd and rushed up to them. “I love you, honey,” she said to Kathleen as she embraced her, then Meggie. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Kathleen wiped tears from her cheeks. “No, Hennie, but thank you. We’ll be fine.”
Hennie pressed a small slip of paper in Kathleen’s hand. “This is my address,” she said. “If you need me, please let me know.”
They embraced again and Hennie walked away.
Kathleen and Meggie climbed into the carriage and waited for the Stallworths.
Kathleen had been informed that John and Maria’s closest friends and associates from the company would be coming to their home for refreshments, and of course, Kathleen was expected to be there.
“Kathleen, I’ve hired a neighbor girl to look after Meggie during the time our guests are here. She’s seventeen and quite responsible. Her name is Alta Washburn. Alta will see that Meggie is fed and will keep her upstairs in Peter’s room.”
Kathleen nodded.
Maria took Meggie in her arms, kissed her cheek, and said, “Grandma loves her little Meggie doll.”
“I love you, too, Grandma,” Meggie said, putting her arms around Maria’s neck.
Maria turned cool eyes on Kathleen. “Go on into the parlor and sit down; I’ll take Meggie upstairs to Alta.”
John left Kathleen alone and went outside to stand on the front steps, waiting for the carriages and buggies pulling into the drive.
When the guests had gathered and refreshments were passed out, Kathleen tried to mingle with the friends and associates of her late husband and his parents, but she was snubbed by most of them, and the rest were only slightly cordial. She couldn’t ask John to take her home before the guests were gone, so she found herself a corner chair in the parlor and sat down to wait.
After an hour or so, when the first guests departed, Kathleen left her chair and stepped up to John, who was in conversation with two men in the hallway outside the parlor. When he paused to give her his attention, she said, “Mr. Stallworth, I really am very tired. Would you mind taking Meggie and me home now?”
John smiled and said, “Pretty soon, dear. Could you give me a few more minutes?”
“All right. I’ll go upstairs and see how Meggie’s doing. We’ll come down in a little while.”
John nodded, and Kathleen headed for the sweeping spiral stair-case. When she reached Peter’s room, the door was ajar. She could hear Alta Washburn’s voice.
She tapped on the door lightly. “Hello…it’s Meggie’s mother.”
“Come in, Mrs. Stallworth.”
Kathleen pushed the door open and saw Alta sitting in a chair next to a window, with Meggie on her lap, holding a book.
“Mommie!” Meggie cried, sliding off Alta’s lap and dashing to her mother’s side. She wrapped her arms around her mothers legs and squeezed hard. “Are you all right, Mommy?”
“I’m fine, honey,” Kathleen assured her. She loosened Meggie’s grip, bent down, and took her in her arms. “Are you all right?”
“Uh-huh. Alta’s been reading me some stories from a book.”
“That’s nice, honey.” Kathleen rose to her feet and smiled at the girl. “Hello, Alta. I really appreciate your looking after Meggie.”
“It’s been my privilege, ma’am. She’s such a sweet little thing.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Kathleen said, patting her daughter’s head.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yes. Meggie’s grandpa is going to drive us home.”
Alta hugged the child and told her good-bye.
Maria was waiting at the bottom of the staircase when they descended. She greedily lifted her granddaughter in her arms and said to Kathleen, “John told me you wanted to go home.”
“Yes. I’m very tired.”
She set Meggie on her feet again and said, “All right. I’ll get him. Most of the guests are gone now.”
After a few minutes, John returned and indicated he was ready to take them home. He hesitated at the door and looked over his shoulder at Maria. She gave him a tight smile and nodded. Then he ushered Kathleen and Meggie out the door.
Only a few words were spoken between John and Kathleen during the ride to Kathleen’s neighborhood. When they rounded the corner onto her street, Kathleen’s jaw slacked at sight of a Chicago police wagon parked in front of the house.
“I wonder why they’re here,” she remarked.
John remained silent and pulled up behind the police wagon.
Two officers waited on the porch, watching as Kathleen stepped out of the carriage and lifted Meggie out.
Kathleen turned to say something to John about staying until she learned what the policemen wanted, but he snapped the reins and drove away She looked after the hastening carriage for a few seconds, then turned to see the officers coming down the porch steps.
“Mommy, why are the policemen at our house?” Meggie asked.
“I don’t know, sweetie, but it looks like they’re about to tell us.”
One of the officers was short and stout. The other was tall and slender.
“Mrs. Stallworth?” the shorter officer said.
“Yes?”
“I’m officer Bud Fox, ma’am, and this is officer Kale Warneke.” He pulled a white envelope out of his coat pocket. “We have a court order to deliver to you, ma’am.”
Kathleen opened the envelope and took out the official-looking paper. It declared that Megan Kathleen Stallworth was to be removed from the custody of her mother, Kathleen Stallworth, a
nd placed with her grandparents, John and Maria Stallworth.
The reason given was that Kathleen Stallworth was financially unable to provide for her daughter, and because the John Stallworths were more than able to do this, the court’s decision was to place the child in their care until such time as Kathleen could produce evidence that she was financially able to provide for her daughter. It was signed by Cook County Judge Clarence Waymore.
Kathleen felt a mixture of anger and fear. For a moment she stood there breathless, a stitch knifing at her side. Her hands trembled as she held the paper toward the officers and said, “I can’t believe this! How could these people do this to Meggie and me? How could they stoop so low?”
“What do you mean, ma’am?” Officer Warneke asked. “The grandparents are just concerned that this little girl be taken care of properly.”
Meggie ran her gaze between her mother and the policemen, confusion showing on her face.
“No, they’re not!” Kathleen said. “If that was their concern, all they’d have to do is give me the money it would take to stay in this house. They’re filthy rich! No, that’s not their concern. What they want is to take Meggie away from me! They never wanted me as their daughter-in-law, and they still don’t! Well, I’m telling you right now, I’ll fight them! They have no right to take Meggie!”
The little girl’s voice quavered as she said, “Mommy, aren’t we going to live together anymore?”
Kathleen leaned over and hugged her. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Mommy won’t let them take you away from me.”
“Ma’am,” said Fox, “we have orders from the judge to take the little girl to your in-laws’ home as soon as we’ve placed the court order in your hands.”
“This whole thing is illegal, officer. Don’t I have to be proven unfit to care for my child before the law can take her from me?”
“I can’t comment on that, ma’am. We simply have orders from the judge. If you want to fight this court order, it’ll have to be in court. We must take the child now.”
“Wait a minute! Why won’t you comment on it? I see a badge on your chest! Aren’t you supposed to be the law? Tell me I’m wrong when I say this is illegal!”
“We aren’t here to interpret the law, Mrs. Stallworth,” Kale Warneke said. “Our job is simply to do what we’re told. We must take the child. Would you like to pack some clothes for her?”
Fury coursed through Kathleen and made her chest heave. “No!” she cried. “You’re not taking Meggie from me!”
Meggie grasped her mother around the legs and sobbed, “Don’t let them take me, Mommy!”
“Look,” Kathleen said, her breath coming in short gasps, “I want to talk to this Judge Waymore. Do I at least have the right to do that before you take my daughter away from me?”
Fox scratched his head. “Well…”
“Let’s take her to the judge,” said Warneke.
Judge Clarence Waymore had finished his last case for the day at the county courthouse and was taking off his robe in his chambers when there was a knock at his door.
He laid the robe on the back of his desk chair and waddled to the door. He was a short, rotund, bald man who wore half-moon glasses low on his nose. He opened the door to find officers Bud Fox and Kale Warneke standing there with a young mother and her little girl.
“Your honor,” said Fox, “this is Kathleen Stallworth and her daughter, Megan Kathleen.”
“Yes?” A look of irritation passed over the judge’s face.
“Mrs. Stallworth asked to talk to you, sir. She does have that right, doesn’t she, since you signed the court order?”
Waymore glanced at the wall clock behind his desk. “It’s almost five o’clock. I don’t have time to see her now.”
“But we’re supposed to take the child to John Stallworths home, sir. And this mother has asked to see you.”
“Oh, all right…come in.”
Waymore did not offer Kathleen a seat. Fixing her with penetrating gray eyes, he said, “What is it, Mrs. Stallworth?”
“I want to know how you can legally take my child from me and place her with my in-laws when the law has not proven me to be an unfit mother.”
“It is a matter of finances, ma’am. You’re not capable of providing your daughter proper food, housing, and other necessities.”
“How do you know what I’m capable of? Have you seen my bank account? Have you looked into my holdings?”
“Mr. Stallworth told me that you have a very small bank account, and I have taken his word for it. Tell me, how much money do you have in the bank?”
Kathleen swallowed hard. “Well, only about three hundred dollars. But Peter has stock in the company. I don’t know exactly what it’s worth, but I’m sure it would be seven or eight thousand dollars. All I have to do is sell the stock.”
Waymore was shaking his head. “This can’t be true, ma’am. I asked John Stallworth if Peter had stock in the company. He told me he didn’t and that all you have is what’s in that bank account.”
Kathleen felt as if she’d been struck in the face. “John Stallworth is lying, your honor, but there’s no way I can prove it. I asked you a moment ago if you could legally take Meggie from me and place her with my in-laws without proving I’m an unfit mother. You didn’t answer my question. All you said was that it’s a matter of finances. Well, I’ve worked jobs before, and I can work jobs again. I’ll find a way to see that Meggie is well cared for. I’m taking her with me now, and we’re going home. If you want to investigate me in a month, fine. In the meantime, I’ll prove that I can provide for Meggie and myself.”
She took the child’s hand and started toward the door.
“Wait a minute!” Waymore growled. “These officers are taking this child to her grandparents right now. You can peacefully allow it or go to jail. The choice is yours.”
Kathleen’s voice thickened with anger. “I know what this is! John Stallworth slipped you a bribe under the table, and you took it! You don’t care about the law! All you care about is getting your palms greased with money!”
The judge’s eyes bulged in fury, and he motioned to the officers who had brought Kathleen to see him. “Officer Fox! Officer Warneke! Arrest this woman! Put her in jail for contempt of court!”
John and Maria Stallworth stood outside Kathleen’s jail cell, looking at her through the bars while a guard stood nearby. Meggie leaned against her grandfather, weeping.
“You have no right to do this to me!” Kathleen said. “Just because I’m not from your snooty, uppity level of society, you’ve never approved of me nor accepted me into the family! You’ve no doubt plotted to take Meggie from me from the moment you learned Peter was dead! Well, Meggie is one-half Kathleen, as sure is as she is one-half Peter! Why would you want her under your roof? I’m going to fight you! I know you bribed that fat judge, and I’m going to—”
“Kathleen!” John cut across her words. “Shut up and listen to me! I can have you released with a word to the police chief. Now, if you’ll cool down and keep a civil tongue in your mouth, I’ll do just that. You can walk out of here in a few minutes. But if you continue this tirade, Maria and I will let you rot in this place. We’re taking Meggie with us, but you can go on with your life outside this jail if you stop this foolishness.”
“Kathleen,” Maria said, “you know we love this sweet child with everything that is in us. And you know we have plenty of money. Meggie will get the best of care and grow up in the lap of luxury. She will have everything she wants and needs. I have even hired a nanny to watch over her twenty-four hours a day.”
Kathleen took a deep, shuddering breath, set her eyes on her in-laws, and said, “How often can I see her?”
John’s mouth turned down. “Maria and I talked about it. We’ve fixed it with the judge that you do not have visiting rights. It would only keep Meggie upset.”
Kathleen fought down her wrath, looked past her in-laws to the guard, and said, “May I have a few minutes alone wi
th my daughter before these people take her?”
The guard took a forward step. “I think that is reasonable,” he said. “Would you like her in the cell with you?”
“Yes, please.”
To the Stallworths the guard said, “You folks can wait in the office. I’ll bring the child to you in ten minutes.”
John and Maria left the cell block reluctantly as the guard opened the barred door to Kathleen’s cell. He closed it behind Meggie and said, “I’ll be back in ten minutes, ma’am.”
Kathleen sat down on the cell cot and pulled Meggie onto her lap. The little girl clung to her mother, confused and afraid.
“Honey, listen to Mommy,” Kathleen said in a soft, steady voice.
Meggie pulled back and looked into her mother’s eyes.
“Meggie, I want you to go home with Grandma and Grandpa for now. They love you and they will take care of you. I will come for you as soon as I can. Do you understand?”
Meggie nodded.
When the time was up, the guard came and opened the cell door. “I’ll take her to the grandparents now, ma’am. And I have instructions to release you within half an hour.”
Meggie was trying not to cry as she looked over the guard’s shoulder at her mother. Kathleen waved and said, “I love you, sweetheart. Mommy will see you as soon as I can.”
As promised, Kathleen was released half an hour after the Stallworths had left with Meggie. As she walked home, a boiling hatred churned within her. She vowed that somehow, someday, she would lay her hands on enough money to hire a lawyer and get her daughter back.
“YOU STILL DON’T HAVE IT QUITE RIGHT, Stan. Put more shoulder into it when you swing. Gerald, you seem to have gotten the knack of it. Take another swing and let Stan watch.”
It was midafternoon as Tom Harned instructed two new men on how to use pickaxes to cut into the walls of the Comstock Lode. They were deep inside the dark bowels of Mount Davidson. The only light came from overhead lanterns hanging from thick wooden beams.
“Tom!” came the familiar voice of Hank Mitchell.
“Over here, Hank!”
