The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-29
A MOTHERS APPEAL.
The Problem Justice Bixby Found
So Hard to Solve.
FILIAL LOVE AS A CONQUEROR.
Disturbances Growing Out Of the COrtiSSoz
Family Wretchednesx

u
woman and two chdren-came In and the examina-
ton OF the different stories given by the first two
claimed the individual attention OF the Judge
hour and hale police officer appeared also tho
scene and said that Aaron j. Cortissoz aud Henrietta
T.. Cortissoz had been guilty Of disorderly conduct,
each striving to take away from the other the two
children present The olcer had seen tho little girl
and boy cling TO their mother and cry TO be left with
her. The lady had gone TO No. $40 Forty.sevcnth
street, where tho father lived, SEQ them, and
quarrel had cnsued, in which Mrs Cortissozs clothes
had been torn and violence threatened her.
MOTHER SEEKS CHILDREN
Henrietta Corsssoz told the following story az am
about thiry-two years OF age. born In Charles.
ton, s q. Tho man present Is my husband. He does
not now live with me, but lives with another whom
he pretcnds to have married, although he has
been divorced from me, and they have boy aged
seven months, their offspring. once foolish, but
only once. love my children and they love me.
have supported them, clothed them, watched over
them, and have given them mothers ana dcvo-
ton, and intend to do SO II they only allow ed
10 romain with me. Tho father who married me I'M
der false pretonces, will not support and his chill
drcn They do not want to so TO him. They badly
treated by tho lady who now regns In my place In
my husbands affection. am OF respectable family
In the South Ny friends are gentlemen and ladies'
highly respected aud well known South Carolina
and elsewhere. Mr. Cortlssoz and myself were mar
ried somo fifteen years and my children have been
together lost OF that time. Once they placed In
iady's charge Brooklyn, and l visited them fire.
quenty. Then they and went 10 San Francisco, and
later on placed them with their aunt ,n South Caro-
lima, where they stayed for some time l want my
children stay with mo- Judge. For them would
do any thing. | would work as a servant; any mental
service would only too gladly give TO have my little
WI IN | n m cd nd N lady lint
would willingly wash hire myself to havo pos
session Of my own"
Mrs. Cortissoz IS OF medium height, dark-eyed and
quite pretty What Is written above was told to the
magistrate in nervous way, and It was evident the
narrator had bright days, had mixed In good
ciey and had been pleasing conversationalst
THE SPEAKS
The husband during the time Mrs. Cortissoz was
speaking had thrown Off tho cloak that covered hts
shoulders had placed his noticeable hat tho bench
and preparing for the coming effort He is OF tho
average height dark featured speaks rapidly and in
decamatory style, aud has eyes that, no spoke,
flashed lorce glaces at the first speaker
'Judge," he said, ~ am a native OF st. Thomas and
am iorty-two years OF age. am bookbnder by trade
and tcacher-he did not say Of what" considerably
known, and every who made my acQuainta pco
respects mo and will speak we'll OF me- have ro-
gained possession OF my children, after years OF
| search The mohcr-that woman there--has Kept
them away from the, hiddcn them where father's
love could not Ind them and mas not been Is she
proper guardian for them. have been divorced
from her, out am married again. not thereby commit
ting wrong, since she who was once my vito proved
TO DO a v,le and unworthy OF my
love- The poor little boy and glrl been cruelty
treated by her. once she placed them charge Of a
ncsress IN Brooklyn upon whose charity the children
lived I'LL turned away. Then they San Fran
cisco where the other disrraced me- herself and
and compelled lily from that CITY. one OF tho
innocents under each arm. Once they IN
Charleston, where word came TO mo OF Neglect AMI
Senlf nj thpm undh ham hAro md oh.
again seeks 10 possess them Sho Is thoroughly
wicked woman She has had many lovers at diner
places Her neglect has resulted In injuring the hea
OF both children This common woman. whom oncc
honorcd as my wife, has been living nj different
places where cannot exactly state. but she
sided in Fourteenth street, and inquiry mado by me
revealed the TACT that the lady OF the had been
the asking Tor that woman by tho names Of Hoexter,
Curtis, &c. Now, Judge, l appeal 10 you more.
offer 10 make my children happy. am ready 10
Afford them medical assistance they VIII have good
homo they will receive tho oil my present wife,
highly educated and respectable lady, respectable
as that woman there Is lost and abandoned. And
they to be taken from me, earning sufficient Tor their
proper support. and gwen TO that abandoned person.
who leads wicked life God knows to be brought up
to follow IN her footsteps? save tho girl from life Of
shame; look TO the moral welfare OF my boy, and do
not decide against NO.
The husband spoke earnestly but co!dly, whilo the
| mother told her story with tears running her
cheeks, her lips qniverng and her frame shaken
ONLY AND EIGHT
During this time The children had been whispering
to each other ana watching the proceedings xousiy
u,
and they looked rs II they opged 10 ny TO her. Tho
girl was as pretty as picture but neither she
brother had any cloaks about thern did either
them wear any covering on their heads She was
neatly cIohed had bright eyes rosy cheeks and both
were quite intelligent The boys lace, pale and thin.
was half hidden by scarf which was wrapped about
his head but his eyes werc sparkling with
Little Josephine Is ten years old, and Alfred, her
brother, only eight
| JUDGE BIxBY HEARS ALL sIDKs
Judge Bixby decided 10 hear tho little oncs'
stores SO two chairs placed the witness nd
and Josie and Alfred mounted them. coming lace TO
face with the Interested magistrate Together they
told IL their mamma papa and of the scenes tn cir
little selves had passed through. Josie was born in
San Francisco and Alfred Ia Charleston They both
loved their mamma and wanted 70 stay with her
They did not wish 10 90 to their father. They had
been In Williamsburg, and then their mother visited
them every day; They had been 70 thor aunt, in
not want TO go back, they wished to be near their
mother Their father treated them well, but his wiio
did not The Judge asked what tho second Mrs. Cor
tissoz had done to them. The children could give no
more evidence OF cruelty than that they were both
The father who talked necessarily and dramatically
ngnln took the stand and abused Henrietta Cortissoz
roundy until at last no went lar enough TO receive
rebuKc from Judge Bixby, who said -"I do not feel
sorry tor you. Your life does not meet with my ap-
prevail" and turning 10 tho lady. Nor does yours
! either, madam But tho children they are the ones
If thsy did MT much Tor thor mother should
quickly them over TO the father but they iovc
her moro than him. and yet her lilo is spolcss
She admits she has fallen, and do know but what
she is now leading anything but an irreproachablc
| hte"
THE PUZZLED MAGISTRATE.
| The children were crying bitterly aud appealing TO
thor mother 10 come to lhem helr sobs hIling the
court room and Tears coursing down their checks
Tho mother holly denied many OF the charges against
her She honestly avowed she once had fallen. but,
she asked, had not the husband when he sought tho
companionshp Of another than she, his undvorced
wife, been guilty she when she forgot her duty
and II no could reform why not shey
Judge Bixby--But am not sure you are living well
now. You have no means OF support How do you
cat, drink and clotho YOURSELF
Mrs Cortissoz--I have friends who knew and
my family. They rich. They knew | stood well
at homo and that am lady l do call my hus-
band names | am too we'll educated 10 do that.
have stood bis unmanly abuse and even II have TO
give up my children shall do SO without telling what
know OF him. | am a mother, and as such would
work I'LL death for my own; but as "a mother can,
for my children leave them for their good and die OF
| broken heart
| DECISION THAT WAS KFcoSsDERED.
Then tho husband tried 10 explain neglect OF his
children by telling that theY had boon hidden ON