The Worthington advance., 1879-04-17

from the second-story window to the pave
ment to head the man off. She failed, and
then followed, screaming with al her strength
1T every step for help. Ihe singular spectacle
attracted . large crowd, who followed the man
as he ran with the child in his arms through
the streets. The chase was continued in
this way until the western corner of Sixth
avenue and West Fourth street was reached
There Officer Doughty, of the ninth pre-
cinct, stopped MeQuiston, and, at the wo-
mans request, took him before Justice
Wandell. She charged him with stealing
the child, asked for its recovery, and said
she did not care to punish the man. Nc
Qoiston said he waa from Baltimore, an
had lived with the octoroon seventee
months as her husband. He was the fathe
of the child, and he wished to secure the lit
tie one in order to send it to its own mother
who lived in Baltimore. He had left the wo-
man, he said, because she kept company
with negro waiter, and he didn't wish his
child reared amid such associations.
The woman wept bitterly, and pleaded
piteously that the court would con-
slider a mothers feelings. She denied that
McQuiston was the father Of the child, and
said it was born two months after she first
met him. She never knew him in Balti-
more, but first met him in this city. He
knew her condition then, and that the father
of her child was still in Baltimore, and that
she had come to New York merely to be con-
fined and to save her reputation at home.
It was not true that sho had lover. She
lived with a respectable German family,
and would defy the world TOT prove anything
against her since she had lived as the pris-
oner's wife. He did not desert her, bat she
him, and because he had grown SO brutal
and drunken that she could not longer live
with him. She had a good home for the
child, and was willing to work hard for it.
Justice Wandell felt nonplussed, and
begged of the parties to go home and try to
settle their dispute amicably. Each refused
and stood upon the simple question of right
The court then said that the law in the case
interpreted, strictly was hardly on the side of
nature or sentiment. The child seemed con-
tented in its fathers arms, and to have no
desire to 90 to its mother. He should de-
eide, therefore, that, as the father had pos
session, and the mother did not care to pun
ish him for the manner of obtaining it, the
fa. .*her should keep the child. The mother,
if sh, = could not settle with him amicably.
oould o. '~tain redress through a civil process
by proving her claim and allegations.
The woma.e threw up her arms and
shrieked ont: 20, Judge for Gods sake
don't be cruel to I'aother; don't drive me
mad; don't give stra "ger my baby r. But
the man hastened from os court Win tne
babe. When he had reach>d "a the door the
mother sprang to her fet't, Wped ner
eyes with her skirt, .sl'd hurrled
from the place. .McQuiston hailao down
Sixth avenue car when he reached the street.
and he went to it. He had just reached
the platform, bearing the babe in his ar'nA:'
when the woman saw him. Quick as a
flash she darted across to the car, spraug
on to the platform, struck McQuiston q
powerful blow under the chin, sending his
face upward, pulled the child from his arms,
and sprang away with scream of triumph.
The scene produced great excitement, and q
large crowd chased the woman, who ran like
a deer. She was finally captured, however,
and Officer Doughty conducted her back to
the court. Being placed ut the bar, she said:
''Judge, could not help it-he was steal
ing my baby. I'll do it again. Forget where
you are and remem Der only that you are a
man, that I am woman, and that I am q
mother in your power. Judge, you just
dealt out some har,l law to me. What is law
for one parent ought to be law for the other.
stand here just 81 actly as he stood here q
few moments ago. Now i've him the Law
as you gave it to me-. Do it and be just.
could not see the jus tice them can see il
now, and beg for it n ,yself."
Judge Wandell .ss NIX back in his chail
amazed at the woman before him. He ther
said: "Mr. McQaiston the woman is right
The law I gave you uust give her. Yot
were glad to get it and considered it sound
and you cannot begru dge it to her. :lh'
child seems as happy wit b her now as it dig
with yon, and as little inc lined to 60 to yot
as is did to 60 to her 81 ,e has the posses
sion of Tire child; if you wish it You mus
o btain it through civil process. And re
the child being ill eg1timate, is NOR
the mothers and hess the fl theirs than other
wise. There can be no doubt about tn
paternity. is denied. Yo'
cannot obtain your wish es as readily as
the child was born irl wedtock. Woman, yo'
have the child; kee,1 1t until the law order
otherwise. Go and make up" Th
octoroon fairly dew out of the room, ant
many moist sye followed her to the door.