Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-06-13
Nj | sc e l. l. A N Y.
FROM THE NEW ORLEANS DELTA.
AN INTERESTING CASE.

HE NATURAL VS.. THE FOSTER MoTIIER-PA-
THETIC SCENE IN CoURT-Wishing 10 see the f.
male of a which came up i'm Judge Canon's
Court on Wednesday, and was continued over I'M
til yesterday, we omitted any report of it until we
could give the whole history of wha, is one of the
most romantic and interesting cases that ever came
under our notice. Without recapilulatno the evil
dence given, relating all the legal forms pursued
we will condense the facts of the case into con-
nected and narrative form
A few days ago s,rulling family of street mu
sicians wandered into our city. Ii was composed
OF an Italian and his wife, who had assumed the
English name OF Wilson, and bright-ey ed inter
esting little girl, Of Precocious intelligence, whose
duty II was to carry around the tambourine and
collect the contributions of TIE crowds This little
girl called Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Wilson her pa
rents, and seemed happy in their service, and in
the aifeconate kindness which the poor organ
grinders lavished upon her.
Last Sunday the wandering Ministries were pur-
suing their daily avocations in the suburbs, in a
neghbOrhoOd not considered the most reputable por-
ton OF our city. The drum played by the man, and
the organ which the poor woman turned, had ceas-
ed their moEotOnous strains, and the bright eyed
little girl was tripping it over the banquelte. and
smillngly and beseechingly presenting her little
tamoourlne Tor the pIcayuneS, when suddenly the
attention OF poor woman, in whose worn features
misfortune, vice and Temorse were strongly blended
was attracted towards the little girl. She looked
at the little one with steady, anxious and search
ing gaze Tor moment, and then rushing through
the crowd, seized her in her arms and tenderly
pressed her frai little figure TO her throbbing bo-
som, exclaiming at the time, "Oh, my child,
my long lost child My darling little one Have
got you at last?" The little girl was frightened,
screamed for ''her mother" Ghe organ grnder) to
rescue her, and tried in every way she could to es
cape from the grasp of the ''wild woman" FL
nally, however, by the interference of Mr. and Mrs
Wilson, the little one was taken from the arms of
the poor stranger, whose anguish seemed 10 increase
In bitterness at the indifference orgeiiuness Of
| the little girl, whom she claimed TO be her OWE
daughter. AT the suggestion, however, Of some by
ISLANDERS, the poor woman, who declared her name
To be Ann Mayfied, was induced to let the stroll
iers proceed on their way and advised TO resort i'm
medlately to legal proceedings TO enforce her pa
rental rights.
| Accordingly, writ of habeas corpus was sued
out in the Second District Court, by Ann Mayfeld,
against Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson. IN her petition. she
averTed that she was the moi her of the little Girl
named Rosa, aged seven years, who was stolen
! from her several years ago, and was now detained
/ by the defendants To this Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson
replied, by denying that she was the mother of the
child, and further alleged that il she was the mo
iher, she was OF such VIGOROUSLY bad character, that
it would not be proper for her TO have charge of sc
young child The case came up for trial before
Judge Canon, and occupied all Wednesday and
| yesterday. ne testimony established that the pc
titiOner, Ann Mayfied, came 10 Nachez some year.
ago, with a very young child that she was desert
ed by the man who accompanied her 10 that place
and being in very destitute circumstances, and anx
ious to get 10 New Orleans, actually sold her chile
20 the Wilson's, in order TO furnish her with clio
thing and bear her expenses 10 this city, but that
was understood that she was TO reclaim the chill,
whenever she desired.
Since then, however. she had heard nothing o
the Wilson's and her child, until the accidental en-
counter on the streets These facts were proved b,
a competent witness, and were TO agrcat extent adj
United by the defendants. There was some diff
Guilty, however, in identifying the child The mo
ther positively this point, and the striking
resemblance between them confirmed her testimony
After learned and eloquent arguments from Mess
rs. Frost aud Abel for plaintiff, and Conckn ant
Reney for defendants, Judge Canon proceeded 4
render judgment in the case. Whilst the iudC
was rendering his decision, the scene within TN
Courtroom was quite an impressive and alTectin,
one. On one side was the interesting family of th'
organ grinder, in whose weather beaten scar. seam
cd faces, very perceptibe expression of deep aec
lion and soliciude for their little foster child seem
ed 10 predominant over all other considerations
The little object or ali this contention sat between
the organ grinder and his wife, and seemed to h
clinging to them for protection. On tie ollie! side