The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-09
A Estnerexa Ef1Srt SfosReeeser Posses
sion OF Har Child Develops D strange
Case OF Domestic InfelicttYs

sion OF Har Child Develops strange
Case OF Domestic Infelieity.
The habed8 corpus case Of Mrs. Rosa B.
| Nelson, to recover possession OF; her infant
| daughter Helen, aged two years and ten
l'months, was partially heard yesterday morn
| ing in the Baltimore City Court In the pre-.
sence of large number OF spectators. Mr..
Ashur Gray and his wife Margaret w.
Gray, In compliance with the order OF The
Court, appeared at 10 o'clock with the child,
accompanied by Hugh B. Nelson, its father.
Mrs. Nelson, the petitioner, with several
male and female friends, had previously en-
tered with her counsel, John I. Donaldson.
Both the husband and wife made quite q
genteel appearance, and are very respecta-
bly, connected.
Mr.. Nelson is a nephew OF Rev. Mr.. Mel
son, of Annapolis, and for number Of
years clerk in the clearinghouse of John
s. Gittings& Co. AT present he is carrying
on the drug business ut Fayette and Park
streets, but formerly occupied a similar
store on Richmond street. His parents and
other relatives reside in Virginia. Mrs.
Nelson's. family are also residents Of Vir-
ginia. She is a lady Of prepossessing ap-
pearance, Of rather stout build, and appa-
rently not over twenty-five years Of age.
or four years, but are now separated, but
not divorced.
Mr.. Gray was placed on the witness
stand, and stated that the child had been
taken to his house about the middle OF Sep
TENDER by her father, who desired him to
take care OF her until l,o heard from his
mother, in Virginia, in whose charge he de-
sired to place her. il.,f.l
Judge Pinkney remarked that this left no
one as respondent, and under the circu2l-
stances he would have to give the child to
the petitioner, as the father was not in
court. At this jnncture Mr.. Nelson. who
was seated aside OF Mr.. Gray with his young
daughter OH his lap, arose and observed,
"I am the supposed father Of the child"
The Court suggested that the name OF Mr..
Hugh Nelson be entered as respondent,
which was done.
Mr.. Donaldson urged that until an answer
was filed the child should be given to the
care of its mother. The Court thought it
better to return to Mr.. Gray the child until
the final disposition of the case, Mr.. Skip
with Wilmer was retained by Mr.. Nelson as
counsel, and had Il conversation with Mr..
Donaldson and the Court, the result of
which was the postponement OF the hearing
until the further order OF the Court.
the object OF this contcntion-little Helen
was quietly seated in her fathers lap. Her
bright blue eyes and beautiful brown curls
made her look interesting, as she amused
herself with her baby doll. Occasionally
her eyes wandered around with wonder
ment expressed, until she saw her mother,
who at times had her handkerchief up to her
face to conceal the tears which flowed fast.
The child raised her hand, and pointing to
her mother desired her father to look also.
When the disposition OF the case was made
known the child was taken by the hand
and led by Mr.. Gray and Dir. Nelson to the
entrance door Of the court. Mrs. Nelson
Immediately followed, and taking up the
child almost smothered it with her caresses,
eXclaiming that she had not seen her child
for month. Finally she was permitted to
take the child, and with Mr. Gray proceed
ed to the Office OF Messrs. Barton d Will
mer, where she spent an hour or two with
her. Mr.. Gray then took charge OF the
child and returned to his home. The hear.
ing in the case will, it is understood, take
place next Wednesday, and probably will
be Observation-Disclosures Gazette, tn.