New-York tribune., 1874-05-30
FATHERS DUTIES DEFINED.

THE cusToDY OF TERESA SMALL DECIDED-JUDGE
BRADY REMANDs HER TO THE sHELTERING ARMS.
Judge Brady announced yesterday his de-
csion I'm the case of Teresa Small which occupied the
attention OF one OF the Supreme Court for several
weeks although in accordance with the custom OF legal
procedure nowadays. It suffered many adjournmen's
Briefly recited, the story OF the case is mus:
Teresa Small the main figure In the whole
daughter OF Mr. and Mrs Joseph Clifton. who being una
BILE to support her all their other children permitted
her to go and live with "Mrs Annie Smai ae NO 10
West FIrstst., whose name she took. In the dead OF
night Police Commissioner Gardiner and Police captain
Williams took possession Of this child. The details OF
their entrance into Mrs smas house and the foreiDle
removal OF the child familiar writ OF haDeas
corpus sued by Mr. Howe brought the child into the
Supreme Court where 1t revealed that the house
occupied by Mrs. Small whose real name is Molle Rush.
panelhouse; that the child was forced to become
decoy for evil purposes, and that the aoductioh
by the police authorities rescue. Mrs Small next
disappears and is more. The father OF the
child, Joseph Clifton began proceeding against Conn.,
missioner Gardiner for the possession of the child and
in this many damaging statements were made against
police captain, who said to have been In collusion
with Mrs Small On examination, Commissioner Gar
diner admitted that he seized the child without any
warrant and said frankly that he would do It again
II another child in danger. When the testimony
had all been taken. argument was had before Judge
Brady and in the course OF decision whch mas JUST
been rendered occurs this passage:
She required the wachfu and consderate care OF her
parents behOoved her father when she was placed
service 1t that she not exposed 70 dan
gerOus influences and bad examples. lt was duty
which he owed not only TO the community or whicn nc
is member, particularly her, TO guard her against
associations which would tend to her ruin when he
parted from her custody and placed her under the care
OF another The evidence in this proceeding fuly DIS
closes that he has been grossly negligent In this respect
He placed his child and permitted her to remain wln
OF notorious character, living In q
house opposite his dwelling, and OF whose reputa-
Not only did he that after he had taken his child
from the changed residence OF Mrs Small and at night
he consented that she should return to Mrs Small VINO
took her to place, whittier, he says he did not
know. His conduct indeed justifes the presumption
indfe rent her destination employ
intrusted at present with her care and maintenance
She requires yigant attention and moral culture
1t is q painful duty. SO to declare, bat the OBJ
legation Is freely met and discharged Without
reluctance The law of the land Is broad
enough to protect children from the errors OF
delinquent parents. aud will not fail through its
officers to intervene to prevent the injustice when
would otherwise ensue. Society demands that child
shall be saved from life OF shame aud the laws or God
and sustain the demand. When tho parent Is
derehct he becomes unworthy Of the charge his trust
s forfeited and the law it, Teresa has not Is
saved although yielded to bad example and per-
nlcious influences She Is intelligent modest in de-
meanor and Impressive In her quiet conduct and gentle
manners. entertain doubt tnat she Will readily re-
ceve proper Instructions for her future aud yield TO the
influences OF good example In the hope or this result
she will be placed in the institution The Sheering
Arms there to remain until the further order OF this