The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-01-08
INTERESTING TRIAL.
From The Philadelphia Chronicle, Dec. 2

Our readers my remember an article co
pied from the New Brunswick Times in re-
ference TO the abduction Of child, by it's
father, from the care OF the mother, who had
been deserted by her husband a few days
after the marriage. AS WAS therein stated,
Harlwell--the fathcr--brougbt the child to
this city and being followed BY some osthe
friends ofthe mother. application was made
to Judge King for a Habeas Corpus to set
tie the right Of possession, upon the return
of which the following facts appeared in evi
dencc.
In the early part of 1880, Har,well was
frequent visiicr in the family of Miss Packer,
of New Brunswick. lady Of respectable
connections and good character. His atten.
tions were so particular that the friends OF
the lady regarded him as an accepted suitor,
and to herself he was under an actual en-
gsgement of marriage. About the time
when it was expected the marriage would
take place he suddenly and privately with.
dlew himselffrom New Brunswick and came
to this state, from which he was taken back
upon reQuisition Of the Governor OF New
Jersey, who claimed him as fugitive from
Justice, the offences charged against him
being seduction and breach Of marriage pro
mise.
He was lodged in prison, and while
there the alternative was offered TO him
by the brother of the lady either to mar
ry her, or abide the penalties ofthe law
At first anI for some time, he peremp-
torily refused to make the reparatiOn
demanded of him, but finally gave m un-
willing consent, and sometime in the
month of July the contract was finally
solemnized. Four days after the mar
riage he deserted his wife, quilted New
Brunswick, the place of her residence,
and since that time (until the abduction)
has neither visited her nor in any way
contributed to her maintenance or sup
port.
Between four and five months after
the wedding male child was born, which
the mother reared and supported with
out any assistance, and to which it APP
peared she was doatingly attached.
Though ms we have said, he did not vis-
it nor aid her, correspondence was
maintained, between them during part
of the time, the object of which, on his
side was to procure her consent to
divorce, which she resolutely and con-
stantly denied. Two fruitless applica-
tions were made by him to the Legisla-
turc of New Jersey, who refused to in
terfere.--M Matters were in this state when
about a fqglnight ago he went TO New
Brunswick, visited his wife, to whom
his deport nent was apparently Kind and
,.a<lf..I. .l-r..--It- -t-=ss.L ea.eAsad- tho
child which he then saw for the first
time, and finally obtained the mothers
consent to take the child to the store
which he named, where he proposed
purchasing some trifling present for it.
They ware accompanied by the mothers
sister who had the child in her arms.
This, it must be remembered, was after
nightfall, and Tho atmosphere was unus-
ually dark. When they reached the
store, he proposed going to another, and
on the way wrested the child from its
aunt with such violence and rudeness
rs to overthrow her in the street, where
she lay for some time unable to assist
herself, or call for help. As soon ms she
was discovered, aud Ind stated these
facts, pursuit was made, but aided by the
darkness Of the night. Heartwell had
escaped, bearing with him the child. The
excitement occasioned by this outrage,
was, of course. very great and all the in
habltants ofthe place were agitated and
indignant.--The newspapers published
the circumstances, and these being cop
led into the Philadelphia papers, drew a
reply from HeartweIl which indicated to
the mother and friends where he might
be found. As Mrs. HeartwelI from i'll
ness was unable to travel, her sister. es-
corted BY a very respectable gentleman
Immediately came on to this city where
they arrived on Tuesday evening, and
the following morning the Habeas Cor
pus was issued.
1t was made returnable at a o'clock in
the afternoon, bnt upon the respondents
affidavit that he had not been allowed
sufficient lime to obey the command of
the writ, postponement was granted,
the custody Of the child being meanwhile
committed to the under Sheriff.
On Thursday, the subject came rcgu-
larry before the Judge, and the facts we
have related were fully made out. Be-
sides these. it appeared in proof, that
since the abduction, Heartwell had de-
clared his intention of disposing Of the
child in such way that its mother should
be entirely excluded from it; that he
would send it to the western country,
and prevent the mother from either see
ing or hearing Of its condition, unless
she would consent to join with him in an
application for divorce. 1t further APP
peared that the mother was perfectly
competent, in n pecuniary sense, to main
tain the child, to which she was attached
with more than ordinary fondness, and
that she was woman of industrious
habits md good reputation.
Mr.. lnprnham. who was of coyps.I Ca