New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-01-12
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IHH WEATHER is in another fit OF the dsmals
Yesterday, though not very cold day. was very wet
muddy, dark, and generally nasty. No suicides had
been reported up to the hour Of our last visit at the
| Coroner's Office.
THE RAIN is bad thing for the settlers in Swamp
town. or that portion Of the swamp back of the lower
part of the First and upper part Of the Second Dis
tricts. Since the burning Of the Draining Machine
in that part OF the city Saturday night week the
water has accumulated to the food in all the draining
canals and bitches, and inundated the gardens and
lots OF the settlers to sad extent. On Monday the
water lacked but q few inches Of submerging the
Benyile shell road. Laborers are actively at work,
clearing away the ruins of the burnt draining ma
chine, and preparing to rebuild. But it will be some
time before the machine can be put in operation
again and if the rain which set in yesterday should
continue the settlers in the watery section will have
disagreeable if not disastrous time Of it.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT occurred yesterday morning,
from the ancient cause of q child playing with
matches The child was that Of DR.. Ofant, residing
on st. Andrew street, between Nayades and Apollo
Streets Fourth District; little boy not three years
old. He was badly burned; and though his fife is
not considered in danger it is feared he will lose the
use of his eyes.
A PAINFUL CASE, and rather curious one, has
been decided in one of our District Courts. It was
conflict between parents for the possession Of natu
raj child. An unmarried woman sued out writ of
hnbeds corpus, to recover possession of her child
little boy two years and half old which she said was
illegally Kept from her by certain citizen and his
wife. F.
On trial it appeared that this citizen was the father
OF the child which had been handed over to him BY
the mother when it was trouble and disgrace to
her. He had accepted it, and was doing for il all that
any father could do for lawful chid besides which,
he loved it and petted it fondly. This genteman's
wife, with a magnanimity quite rare in such cases.
(knowng as she did all about the child), had adopted
it also, and loved it if it were her own On trial.
the father not able to prove that the mother had
given the child to him for good and all.
On Monday, the Judge decided the case, which
was, that the child must be delivered over to its
mother. With the order Of Court and accompanied
by the mother, Deputy Sheriff went to the resi-
dence of the father to get the child and pass it
to its mother He describes the scene created by his
visit as the most touching and distressing thing he
ever saw. The adopted motherturning pale as death,
tried to put him off upon different pretexts, and to
delay the separation as long as possible. Taking the
child up stairs to wash him and dress him. she locked
him up and told the Deputy he could not have him
till the husband came home. s
The Deputy said, politely, that be would wait till
the husband could be sent for. The lady refused to
let him send of her servants and shutting herself
up with the child remained there, leaving the Deputy
with his paper in the ball, and the impatient mother
walking up and down the banquette in front Of the
house. The Deputy took human view of the case
and being unable to leave without fulfilling the order
OF court sat down and awaited the husbands arrival
He waited just two hours the mother outside, occa
sionaly stepping in to inquire what all the delay was
about When the husband arrived, the Deputy DO
| litely explained his business, and was politely
treated. The gentleman went up stairs, and after
while came down with his wife and the child
The little fellow was nicely dressed and his adopt
ed mother brought down with him, whole armful
of the daintiest little Clothes and rules etc. besides
/ number of toys which had been purchased for thu
pet at Christmas. All these she laid on the floor al
his feet, without saying word too proud to display
either affection or grief before the hated mother o.
her pet, yet showing symptoms Of the most intense
4 suppressed agony. The father acted as became
man under such circumstances allowing the child tC
60 quietly and without fuss. The mother took the
little one in her arms, the Deputy gathered up the
I clothing and toys, and they left The door closed
quietly behind them, and that was the last of it.
The Deputy says be hopes never to have to perform
such piece of business again.
TIE REPORT OF THE LATE GRAND JURY was sub.
mitted to Judge Hunt on Monday. It is document
of nineteen pages cap, drawn up by the foreman,
Mr.. Achille Hebert The following are chief matters
dwelt upon in the report:
The amount and nature Of the work disposed Of by
the jurors during the quarter and complaint of the
number Of petty cases hronght before III
trict Court; which cases they fhink alfshs "a .
| finally ssttleil w ~ ...,..-