Custody Battle, part two

Although the morning had begun as many others--breakfast, Albert going to work, Leta walking her children Vivian and Dale to school—the unexpected appearance of a strange but well-dressed man waiting for her on the front porch upon her return startled Leta. She had good reason to be concerned. For several months, she and her husband had been making corn whiskey in their basement and selling it, and in 1925, this was a federal crime. The man, as far as she could ascertain, could be a potential customer, federal agent or even a gangster with the intent to interfere in their minor alcohol business. After all, the drink that she and Albert made was flavorful and growing in popularity.

However, Albert was responsible for the business. She assisted in the making and bottling of the brew, managed their accounts, even purchased some of the supplies, but communicating with new customers and unknown characters were his duties. She watched the man for a short time. He seemed peaceful, but she still felt threatened and uncertain. Instead of greeting him on her porch, she went to her next-door neighbors’ home for assistance, which the woman was ready to provide.

Mrs. DeLong was a solid sort of person. She had a resonant voice that sometimes seemed to shake the room. She stood erect and always presented herself with a firm handshake. As Leta’s mother used to say, Mrs. DeLong walked with both feet firmly on the ground.

When Leta expressed concern about the stranger, Mrs. DeLong quickly devised a plan to further inspect him. She would go to Leta’s home to request a cup of sugar.

Leta watched from the safety of the mostly drawn curtains of her neighbors’ living room.

Mrs. DeLong stood on Leta’s front porch, conversing guardedly with the stranger. Then she rapped on the door; of course, no one answered. Leta watched her shrug her shoulders and point down the street. The man shook his head and held up an envelope. Mrs. De Long nodded and then shook his hand. He tipped his hat and the woman walked calmly back to her own house to find Leta waiting.

“Mrs. Mohr,” Mrs. DeLong said, as she walked in the door, “I don’t know exactly why he’s there, but that man is from the courthouse, and he has a document to deliver to you. You better get on over there.”

“Oh my!” Leta exclaimed.

With her neighbor’s help, she walked out the backyard, through the backyard of the next neighbor and then returned to the sidewalk, as if she was just arriving home from school. She forced herself to walk at her usual pace, so as to seem calm and collected. When she approached her own walk, she called up to the porch where the well-dressed man was still standing.

“Hello? Who’s there?”

He turned to look at her.

“Mrs. Leta Mohr?” he asked.

“Yes,” Leta answered as she reached the steps. “I am Mrs. Mohr.”

“I have this envelope for you,” he said as he took two steps down to greet her.

Then he handed her a large envelope.

“Have a good day,” he said then walked down the street.

Leta’s heart was beating hard.

She quickly went into the house and stood in the doorway where she opened the envelope with trembling hands.

Mrs. DeLong was correct; the envelope and its contents were from the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. Her ex-husband Ralph was petitioning to assume custody of their children.

To be continued.