The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-05
From the New Orleans Delta.
AN INTERESTING CASE.

came up in Judge Canon's Court on We'd
nesday, and was continued over until yes
terday, we omitted any report Of it until we
could give the whole history Of what IS one
of the most romatc and interesting cases
that ever came under our notice Without
recapitulating the evidence given, or reat-
ing all the legal forms pursued, we will con-
dense the facts of the case into connected
and narrative form.
j A few days ago strolling family Of street
musicians wandered into our city. II was
composed Of an Italian and his wife, who
had assumed the English name Of Wilson,
and bright-eyed, interesting little girl, Of
precocioua intelligence, whose duty il was
to carry around the tambourne and collect
the contributions of the crowds This little
girl called Mr. Wilson and Mrs Wilson her
parents, and seemed happy in their service,
and in the aiectonate kindness which the
poor organ-grinders layished upon her
Last Sunday the wondering mnstrals
were pursuing their daily avocatons in the
suburbs, in u neighborhood not considered
the most reputable portion Of our city. The
drum played by the man, and the organ
which the poor woman turned, had ceased
their monotonous strains, and the bright
eyed little girl was tripping il over the ban
quette, and smilngly and beseechingly pre-
senting her little tambourine for the picay-
unes, when suddenly the attention oil a poor
woman, in whose worn features misfortune,
vice and remorse were strongly blended,
! was attracted towards the little girl She
looked at the little one with steady, anx-
ious and searching gaze for a moment, and
then rushing through the crowd, seized her
in her arms and tenderly pressed her frail
little figure to her throbbing boom, ex-
| claiming at the same time, con, my child,
my long lost child! My darling little one
| Have | got you at last ~ The little girl
was frightened, screamed for +" her mother''
(the organ grinder) to rescue her, and tried
in every way she could to escape from the
grasp Of the "wild woman" Finally,
however, by the interference Of Mr. and
Mrs. Wilson, the little one was taken from
the arms Of the poor stranger, whose anguish
seemed to increase IN bitterness at the indii-
ference or iorgetfulness Of the little girl,
whom she claimed to be her own daughter.
| At the suggestion, however, of some by
ISLANDERS, the poor woman, who declared her
name to be Ann Mayfeld, was induced to
let the strollers proceed on their way, and
advised to resort Immediately to legal pro-
ceedings to enforce her parental rights.
Accordingly, writ of habeas corpus was
sued out in the Second District Court, by
Ann Mayfeld, against Mr.. and Mrs Will
son. In her petition, she averred that she
was the mother Of the little girl, named
Rosa, aged seven years, who was stolen
from her several years ago, and was now
detained by the deiendants.--To this Mr.
and Mrs. Wilson replied, by denying that
she was the mother Of the child, and further
alleged that if she was the mother, she was
Of such VIGOROUSLY bad character, that il
would not be proper for her to have charge
of SO young a child. The case came up for
trial before Judge Canon, and occupied all
Wednesday and yesterday The testimony
established that the petitioner, Ann May
field, came to Matches some years ago, with
very young child that she was deserted
by the man who accompanied her to that
place, and being in very destitute circum-
stances, and anxious to get to New Orleans,
actually sold her child to the Wilson's, in
order to furnish her with slothng and bear
her expenses to this city, but that it was
understood that she was to reclaim the child
whenever che desired
Since, then, however, she had heard
nothing Of the Wilson's and her child, until
the accidental encounter in the streets.
These facts were proved by competent
witness, and were, to great extent, admit
ted by the defendants. There was some
difficulty, however, in identifying the child |
The mother swore positively on this point,
and the striking resemblance between them
confirmed her testimony
After learned and eloquent arguments
| from Messrs. Frost and Abel for plaintiffs,
and Concklin and Reney for defendants,
Judge Canon proceeded to render Judgment
in the case. Whilst the Judge was render
ing his decision, the scene within the Court
room was quite an impressive and affecting
one. On one side was the interesting family
Of the organ grinder, in whose weather.
beaten, scar-seamed faces, very percepti-
bic. expression Of deep affection and tender
soicitnde for their little foster child seemed
to predominant over all other considerations |
The little object Of all this contention sat
between the organ-grinder and his wife,
and seemed to be clinging to them for pro-
lection. On the other side, was the bag
gard and sorrow-stricken mother, whose
heart, though scared and hardened by mis-
fortune, still throbbed with all that intense
devotion and love which mother only can
feel. The Court room was crowded with an
audience who contemplated the scene with
deep interest. Judge Canon commenced
his Judgment by relating fact that came
Under his observation about twenty years
ago. A poor colored woman, in this city,
once found at her door a newborn white
infant, whom she took into her house, and,
with great care and tenderness, nnrsed and
reared until she grew up to be beautiful
and interesting girl of ten wears, when she