Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

there to catch him if he should fall. . . ." That was Stella's side of the story. Herman's is quite different: "I have been wanting my son back ever since Stella carried him off to California in violation of the court's order in May of 1959. I have been planning this since then. "I left Memphis on an American Airlines plane at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 23. I had $600 in my pocket. I didn't know how much it would cost. "I arrived in Los Angeles Saturday morning and rented a car. I drove to a private plane rental company at the airport and chartered a plane and pilot. As soon as I arrived at the airport with Andy, the pilot was to fly us to Phoenix, about 450 miles from Los Angeles. "I drove into town and got a map of Los Angeles. I drove out Benedict Canyon Drive and found Stella's house real easy. The watch "I parked down the street and watched the house the rest of the day. If Andy came out, I was going to get him and take off fast. But I never did see him that day. "That night I drove off and found a motel. I was keyed up, tense and excited and didn't sleep too well. I got up early Sunday morning and started watching the house again. No one came out for hours. Then in early afternoon Stella and Andy came out and got in a car and left. "I followed at a distance. She drove up and down the freeways for a long time, just taking Andy for a ride, I guess. She finally turned off and I was afraid she would see me if I followed, so I didn't. After supper, I went back to her house and began watching again. But she didn't come home that night. At least, not while I was there. I fell asleep in the car, it was so late. I finally woke up — it was 2:30 a.m. oi later — and drove back to my motel. (Ed. note: Stella in a later interview denied she did not return home. She said she was home all Sunday evening. It was possible, of course, for Stella to have returned while Herman was out eating, or to have returned when he went to sleep.) "I set my alarm clock for 6:00 a.m. and got a few hours' sleep. I drove back and watched the house again. I didn't see anyone and didn't know if anyone was home or not. "I began checking nurseries in the neighborhood but was unsuccessful. I drove back to Stella's house. I was going to make one last effort. And for some reason I can't explain, I did something I hadn't, planned to do. I parked in the driveway and walked up to the door. It was about 11:30 a.m. when I rang the bell. "Just at that instant, I heard Andy's voice from the side of the house. He was playing outside. When he heard the bell he ran around to the front. He saw me and hollered, 'Daddy,' and came running up to me. About that time I heard Estelle in the house call out, 'Andy.' "About that time I was getting panicky. I had to move fast. I realized that Andy was glad to see me, as I was him. I quickly took him by the hand and said, 'Come o son, let's go for a ride.' The snatch "Then I picked him up in my arms, p him in the car and got out of there in hurry. I was later told that Estelle sa she saw Andy between two men in the ca But, I was alone. "I drove to the airport, checked in tl rented car and hurried over to the cha tered plane. The pilot was waiting. We le immediately for Phoenix and arrive there about mid-afternoon. "We got on the plane and left Phoen at 12:30 a.m., April 26, and got in Memph at 9: 15 a.m. Boy, was I glad to be hon with Andy. It had been too long since had seen him — almost a year." But despite Herman Stephens' pleasu) at being re-united with his son, his troi bles are not over. "I'm going to go back," says Stella, "ar get my boy. Oh, I won't try to steal Anc again. I'll go to court. They know a litt boy needs his mother. Maybe they'll p< me in jail for a while, but I don't care So that's where the story ends ... in tug of war ... in a little boy pulled at ar pushed, having no idea where he belon; or what tomorrow may hold. Oh, little bo; have lived through worse than that . . . v only wonder how he will ever understar that all of this confusion, this emotion torture that must leave deep scars is h because two people claim to love hi more than anything in the world. Have I Failed as a True Christian? (Continued from page 34) was a letter that did not praise Elvis . . . far from it! This letter attacked in the way we know hurts Elvis most ... it told a story of a night that apparently shocked the letter writer, and may possibly shock some of our readers, but it did not shock us. Why not? Because we have received just such letters about almost every star in the United States. We have never previously printed such a letter because we felt it might damage the star, but we feel that this case points a very important moral ... if Elvis Presley, one of the finest men we know, can be misunderstood in this manner, no star, no performer is ever safe. This is the letter: March 3, 1960 Mr. David Myers, Editor Modern Screen Neio York, New York Dear Mr. Myers: First things first — so I'll begin by introducing myself. My name is Miss Ruby Lee Mays. I am 24 years old. . . . Some time ago I took a job in Memphis, Tennessee, where I worked in a finance company — helping our customers to work out their problems and talking with them about their personal troubles. In my spare time I began working with the kids at the Crippled Children's Hospital — and found I completely surrounded myself with their problems. These kids were not crippled for life — there was hope of their recovery. Those with club feet would be able to walk some day — with the right help and guidance. Those with polio could someday walk again. . . . One day I walked in and received not so much as a "Hi" ... 7 talked with the 80 nurse on duty. It was through her that I learned that the kids were "down in the dumps" because they had received word that they were not going home for Christmas. Not going home for Christmas? Why, they had planned on it so much. In fact. I had helped some of them address Christman cards to their friends saying they would all get together and have a good time. But plans had been altered due to a flu epidemic — and the doctors said, "No." How in the world do you explain to children — who, not at their own choosing, are different from other children? So — with one of my big ideas — J marched myself back into the room, gathered all of them around me, and announced. "Okay. I'll tell you what! You tell me what you'd rather have than anything else in the world and III get it as a Christmas gift for you." I no more than got the promise out of my mouth than I got an answer from Janie. "Ruby, will you get Elvis to come see us?" And a silence I've never experienced since, one which I hope will never re-appear — came over the entire room! They knew I had met Elvis through mutual friends. They knew that I knew Anita Wood, the girl Elvis was dating. But they didn't know that they had recently had a quarrel when Anita had gone to Hollywood to make a film, that they weren't writing, etc. But you don't try explaining these things to kids — you just don't! And so — I made a promise to TRY! But it turned out to be the greatest challenge of my entire life! Yes, I had met Elvis. I don't say that we were friends — only that we had been introduced many times — each being very pleasant due to his friendly ways. But I doubted even then that Elvis would remember sxich a meeting, even one of them. I don't know that I ever really had an opinion of him — simply that I was glad to see a guy go from "rags to riches" i he finally did. But other than that I real didn't think about it. But with the promise I made to the ki< J was soon to really think about it. I U the hospital and drove the 3 or 4 mil' to Graceland. Elivs' home. It was pourii down rain — but that didn't keep the fa away. In fact, there were some 4-5 ca parked at the gate when I drove up. ft' first impulse was to get out of there ai forget that silly nonsense. But I couldi do it! I had made a promise to those kit which I would keep. I WAS GOING T TRY! Feeling like a complete idiot. I dro> right up to the gate and yelled for Trav< Elvis' uncle who worked as guard at tl gate, to come out to the car. I had m Travis several times before, so lohen / recognized me. he came out and sat in tl car and talked with me for a while. 1 c.i plained to him what I wanted and he to me Elvis was out with some of the bo; but would be back shortly. "You just pv right up beside the drive and you'll caU him when he drives in." It wasn't ten minutes later that Elv appeared, driving the purple Cadillac. a> paused at the gate. No sooner had h stopped than eight or ten kids rushed i to him for autographs. Well, I wasn't gov to butt in on their fun — so in my car sat! And through that downpour certain nobody recognized Ruby Lee Mays — but felt as if everyone was watching and co> sidering me an "autograph hound." It rvi at that time that I came closest to leavin But I still couldn't do it! Even if it meai pocketing my pride and making a fool myself I'd have to do so — for I was pj going to leave in defeat! As I made a move to get out. Elv moved on toward the house — leaving tl crowd behind. Eventually all the cars left — and / age drove up to the gate in ansioer to Travi call, "Why didn't you get out?" So I hi plained — then asked that he take a mc; sage up to the house for me. That messa< read: Elvis: