The New York herald., 1878-11-08

RE6ARxABIE SCENE IN PATERSON IN. ~ 70
LICE CoUBT-A FATHER AND MOTHER ALMOST
PULL THEIR CHILDREN TO PIECES.
''who takes the children r. asked Dennis Griffin.
an underszed Hbernian in the Paterson N J) Police
Court yesterday. The children In question: little
girl about three years old and boy Of Ave. both
pretty, blue-eyed, aaxen-haired little ones-were
Dennis own.
''The father has right to the custody Of his chill
dren." replied Judge Warren.
'.But he shan't ave them," exclaimed Mrs. Griffin.
the mother. brawny English woman. she darted
from distant corner Of the room and made her way
in front Of the Recorders desk. HE shant ave 'em
unless he passes my dead body rst" continued
the nercely. she seized the children by
their little arms and attempted to pull them away
from her husband
II shall have them." shouted Dennis. making dash
and pulling them away from his wife after hand-to-
hand tussle.
"You shantl You shan'tl" now fairly screamed
the mother springing ut her husband like enraged
tigress and scratching and beating him until her
strength exhausted
But Dennis held on and in the struggle that ensued
the little nearly pulled " pieces 30 that
they cried out with pain and fright. The was
ndescribable Several policemen finally interfered TO
separate tho combatants and the little
Mrs. Griffin made final attempt to seize therf, but
prevented by the police aud had to be forced out
Of the roon the children crying after their mother In
. heartrending manner.
When the woman was out OF the way. the father ap-
pealed helplessly to Judge Warren. "Jedge. what
will do with the childer; have to caro-,
for them 7"
'.That's your lookout" retorted His Honor; 'you
wanted them, you have right 70 thcm |; now take
care Of them"
THE FIGHT RENEWED.
The afraid to leave the court room with
his charge. but told nothing could be done
for him. and ut last moved Scarcely had the door
closed behind him than the confused noise OF astrug
gle, accompanied by loud and curses.
and tho shrr. piping tones Of children
heard from the hallway. Policemen, reporters and
mother had lain IN wait for the father and children
and upon their appearance had renewed the fight with
redoubled fury. The crimson fluid was running in
streaks down the face Of Dennis and the children,
wild with alright screaming at the top OF their
voices. Again the combatants were separated. and
this time the husband and his little
escorted out OF the building But there too
much sympathy with the mother to allow Of her being
locked up.
The trouble In this case was twofold Dennis who
Is an industrious fellow, hagman the New Jersey
Midland ailroad, is said " be triile too fond of
certain woman ut Rivcrside suburb of Paterson and
his wife. so he said to HERALD reporter had not
washed otherwise cared for the children for weeks
He was compelled to do their washing while the un-
natural mother lay drunk. The latter left home
week ago, and while she was in this city Dennis
moved the children to the home of the woman in
Riverside. The mother returning demanded the little
ones and, being refused, fought like wild beast for
found themselves yesterday before Judge Warren and
furnished tho highly dramatic scene of father and
mother fighting tooth and nail In open court for the
possession Of tnoir offspring.