The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-29
SUIT roa THE CUSTODY Gf A CHILD.

SUIT f0a THE CUSTODY lf A CHILD.
A Lobby Woman in ourt-Female Influence
In the Depart mepis In WashinGt on Andrew
Johnson, Henry j. Raymond and Father
Grant Figure in the Case.
from the Cincinnati Gazette, Oct. 261
In the Probate Court Wednesday, before Judge
Woodruff, application heard 10 revoke order
in relation to the guardianship Of little girl named
end the defendants J. r. Cooper and wife and Louis
French
hearing, tho larger portion being ladies' who wit
nesses friends OF the parties Of all ages and degrees Of
Mrs. Jennie Perry, the petitioner, lady or fine
appearance, slightly beyond middle age who gave her
testimony with the ease and confidence Of Won an
accustomed TO the sound OF voice. and perhans
aware Of tH influence. Sho was examined by Mr. J. r.
Hunter, her testimony being as fol'owa:-
am the widow Of William Perry late an engineer in
the naval service OF the United State and am the step
mother OF the little girl Emma Perry, now about FIVE
years OF age whose custody / claim recover from
these defendants IN May last Nr Cooper and his wife
had the custody Of the child under agreement With
me TO take care Of her nnt my return from Washing
ton, where had to 20 Business conn cti0n with
tho cairns 81 my husband for PRIZE money and hack
pay and also upon bns n'rusted 70 by two Now
York gentlemen, Edward r Phelps and T. J. Barre.
absent few months from January to June and on
my return found that through false representations TO
the cour. that Emma was an orphan end had been
deserted ~ her rstres tho appointment was obtained
OF Mr. Louis French as guardian, and the custody trans
ferrcd by him TO the Coopers had intended 10
part with the child.
Mr. Hunter hero interrupted The witness narrative for
the purpose OF stating fact that might probably Illus.
trate her capacity 10 aye tho charge OF Young person
She ives the lady who hal distinguished herself
tho burning af explosion Of tho sutana on the Mssis
sipp river. in The month Of April last. struggling he
rocay in The ws'er, and entirely eef-rcinn, while all
around her we're sending up pteous appeals for mercy,
Bhs-----
Mr. Frrnch-pidnr send 90 any.
Mr. Hunier-sbe sRset be-ssh
The witness then proceeded Her husband in his last
moments bal requested that sho shoud always keep
Emma under Dor own control Extracts from his les-
tors 70 her also read 20 chow the confidence ne had
reposed in his wife, and Ii one, where TO pynpa,hzed
with the OF Of her friends named Willie he
sey5:-."Yon may have 10 the loss OK your own
Willie, aid Y such shoald happen hope you win be to
our lt.e Emma good ma-yes, know that you would
Mr. Hunter hcre made another statement 70 show the
responsibility and position Of his CLIENT that she was
mca-nTably unter government employ for time though
there n,alters said he that cannot be developed.
The attorney venured to far az TO show the auto
graph or . An llew johnson TO document, but would
not then crafty The curiosity the ether side Of the
table 10 t'sc!ose the mysterious contents
ane WINS was Then essrnned az 70 ner c,pcuin-
sire had pension granted 10 her or SIS month and
mad some ~, 600 in money and other property
Tho respondents ieblad the avermeats IN Mr Perry q
petition, ami Mr. French examined her TO tie
matters elected IN her testimony.
Y. Did yon remain sll tho time 81 Washington during
your absence from bereg A. was in Nav York ehort
ume ard was ordered back.
a BY whona A. By Msssrs. Phelps 4 Barre, OF New
q Did they hold any government Office A. None
that know 81 a. that time. went hack partly their
money expected from SIS, COO TO $4,000 Ny ex-
Bsrre
paper wa read here rurTortng 70 be an agreement
between the witness and these two gentlemen by which
hrs. Perry was 70 use her influence obtaining for
them The government patronage in rotation TO the Cen
efsi Order business OF the IN New York city,
from the Battery TO pier No. 5e-Ms Perry 10 for
her services an undivided one bird Of the profts
A letter she lad Obtained nom Henry j. Raymond 70
the President th matter also read and an en-
intended for the eye OF the Collector Of Gus
toms, ~ follows--
Mr. e. X. Phillips having been recommended By Tho Hon.
hsynSna ana other representatives. IN Congress from
as Nsa Gla ssr ssn
. ws "a interest res % sss sGssssrnmen DO given %
ANpfEw JOHNSON
cross-exsmins,icn coot'uued--were you IN the en-
pioy Of the government during the war; A. was.
y Did you not traye, tacog. a portion Of the time in
,hs camps Of both arr,css A. did not was never
O. We're you no, 10 tho employ Of the government,
while 81 " asbInstorf A. wae not.
Mr. Huntel-.we WIN make confession thar she was
enga-ed 10 lobbying Ia Washington.
sh. French-Gcur business was with members or Con-
wtnsss--I had nothing 20 do with members Of Con.
Q DO you not sdop, tb. s,s,smen. Of your attorney
TIA, you were sns-sod IN lobsyingf A told you my
Q. How ss.uy ehildren had your husbandY A. Three
pesides this chile Who WIS the daughter Of his second
hut thev ere all married.
Q Did you SAY 70 anybody thai this child would make
purpose OF raising her 20 theatrical busDsaa
ND vow ever lock tcr up In the house and 60 70 the
tbextfsf A. Nsvsr.
Mira Harriet Johnson called by shs respondenss was
then examined Hse vas scquainted with Mrs. Perry
about sight ycss sad had lived with her. did not think
che would DO suitable guardian for tho child; sho uscd
TO frshten the child by threatening 10 dip her IN water
and used N 70 out and leave her Ia her room Mrs.
Perry rropnsed 20 wtncss that abe ebould accompany
her 70 Wahlngen ard said she would Introduce her 70
good gentlemen islds, and witness declined She fwft-
ness) wss widow she Il twenty-five ycars OF age
snd was married seven years ago
Inc winass resisted 81 nputat!onx Attempted 20 be
acier
Two witnesses, man ana wife tss, Ged that shey did
uo' corsder MIRA Perry ft person have the raising
female Guild; that her reputation for chastity Was
no' 5000 and that shs Vas moi kind the child whom
ws rth hct The husband, on cross examination. nd-
m'ea 'ns ne had bought furniture from Mrs Perry and
nad Lsd only par giving hts ducbil for the balance
sna .nat sro bad sued him In tho Superior Court.
Vner wttnesscs were also called who did not consdeY
.us reputauon Mn Porry good, or that abe would
pe proper guardian for the child
One say testified thai abs had reen men pass Into hay
apartments at night and pass out In the morning. ON
croesoxsrnnatIo0 abe stated that shc had sscn an ala
gentleman como out OF tncro recently in the uoung.
did nol know y was General Grants father. Who nd
business there, but heard 20.
The petitioner recalled aud denied several ar tina
estcmenA made BY these witnesses and other
was nivouecd 70 show that thor rentlcmcn who ma
cs'isd spon her had gone upon bsansss paattera