Case ID: wis_166/html/0032-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WiNsnow, O. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

State ex rel. Strachota, Plaintiff in error, vs. Franz, Defendant in error.
    
      May 17
    
    June 12, 1917.
    
    
      Parent and child: Father’s right to custody: Fitness: Change in custody: Evidence: Religion: Temporal advantages.
    
    1. The father’s common-law right to the custody of his infant chil-11 dren is subject to the condition that he he a suitable and fit person for the trust, and if the welfare of the children demands that the custody be given to another the court will so order.
    2. Findings of the trial court in this case to the effect that the father was an unsuitable person to have the custody or care of the children, that there was no showing that the best interests of the children required any change in their present custody by their maternal uncle and aunt, and that such care and custody ought to he continued, are held to he sustained hy the evidence.
    3. The question of the religion in which children shall he brought up is entitled to careful consideration, and if their temporal interests will he as well taken care of when they are placed in the custody of persons of the same faith as their parents, that fact should he controlling; but if there are clear temporal advantages resulting from other custody, they may he controlling the other way
    EeeoR to review a judgment of the circuit court for Marathon county: A. H. Beid, Circuit Judge.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    This is a writ of error to review a- judgment dismissing a habeas corpus proceeding. The petitioner, Strachotaj. is the father of two children, aged respectively eleven and'nine years, who have lived for more than seven years with their maternal uncle and aunt, John Franz and his sister, Minnie Eranz. The petitioner commenced habeas corpus proceedings to obtain the custody of the children in order that he might place them in charge of William Jaeger and his-wife, living in the county of Eond du Lac.
    The facts found by the court and practically uncontra-dicted are these: The relator married Carrie Eranz in 1904. The children are the fruit of that marriage. The petitioner inherited about $1,000. He carried on the saloon business first at Wausau and afterwards at Pine Eiver, but was unsuccessful, lost his property, did not obtain steady employment, provided little for his family, drank to excess, and in the summer of 1908 his wife with her two infant children was practically compelled to go to the home of her brother (the defendant) for support. About three weeks afterwards the wife was taken ill and died at the hospital at Wausau after two weeks’ illness. The children were taken to the defendant’s home with the father’s consent and have lived there ever' since and have been well taken care of. The petitioner has drifted about without steady employment during this entire time ; has continued his drinking habits, accumulated no property, paid little attention to the children, contributed less than $50 to their support, and is morally unfit to have the care of the children. The defendant is a farmer with a good and well-stocked farm, living with his sister, who is his housekeeper, is entirely able to take care of the children and desires to do so, and also intends to give them a good education. Up to her death in December, 1914, the grandmother of the children lived with the defendant and gave the children much attention. The children are greatly attached to the defendant and his sister and the attachment is fully reciprocated.
    The petitioner intends, if awarded the custody of the children, to place them in the home of William Jaeger and wife, people of good character and standing living in Fond du Lac county, who are amply able to take care of them and desire to adopt them. The petitioner and the Jaegers are Catholics and the children were baptized in that church. Their mother was brought up a Lutheran, but professed the Catholic faith shortly before her death. The defendant and his sister are Lutherans. Just before her death the mother of the children requested that the children be taken care of by her mother at defendant’s home.
    The trial court concluded that the father was not a suitable person to have the custody of the children and that the evidence failed to show that any change of custody was required for the best interests of the children, and continued their custody in the defendant.
    The cause was submitted for the plaintiff in error on the brief of Regner & Ringle, and for the defendant in error on that of Brown, Pradt & Qenrich, all of Wausau.
   WiNsnow, O. J.

In this case it is held:

The father’s common-law right to the custody of his infant children is subject to the condition that he be a suitable and fit person for the trust. If the welfare of the children demands that the custody be given to another, the court will so order. Sheers v. Stein, 75 Wis. 44, 43 N. W. 728; Lemmin v. Lorfeld, 107 Wis. 264, 83 N. W. 359.

The conclusions of the trial court in tbe present case to the effect (1) that the plaintiff in error was an unsuitable person to have the custody or care of the children, (2) that there was no showing that the best interests of the children required any change in their present custody, and (3) that their care and custody ought to be continued in the defendant in error, are amply sustained by the evidence.

The question of the religion in which the child shall be brought up is always entitled to careful consideration, and if the temporal interests of the child will be as well taken care of when the child is placed in the custody of persons of the same faith as the parents, that fact should be considered as controlling. If, however, there are clear temporal advantages resulting from other custody, they may well be sufficient to be controlling the other way. In the present case the trial judge concluded that the latter situation was presented and we cannot say that he was in error.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.