Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-02
Exciting Scene I'm the Equity Court.
A MOTHER FIGHTS FOR THE POSSESSION OF HEF


This morning, at 10 o'clock, Judge Cox had
before him, in the Equity Court room. the habeas
corpus case OF VIM. Edgar Thomas, the four
year-Old child of Mr.. and Mrs. j. P. Thomas IT
VIII DE remembered that the Child was, in last
July, In the custody OF Mr.. Samuel r. Gettings
and Mr.. j. p. Thomas sued out writ of
habeas corpus for its production. While this
case was pending, the child was taken from the
care OF Mr. Getttngs by Mr.. Thomas and placed
In the hands Of MIS-. Thomas. A rule was there
upon sued out by MIR. Getting5 against Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas and Mr. j. F. keenan, to show
cause why they should not be attached for con-
tempt for this proceeding, and last Saturday
they appeared without the child, and the mother
nled an answer that the Child was not now In
her custody, and she knew not its whereabouts,
Judge Cox thereupon said he would have no
hearing till this morning, he said the Child must
be produced.
This morning there were present at the hear
ing Mrs. Thomas and her child attended by
number OF the mothers female friends and the
other parties interested-Mr. Fay representing
Mr. n Ceilings, and Messrs. B. 7: Hanley and W.
keenan,. The child being In the court It was
considered for the time being In the custody OF
Mr.. Gettings, and his answer was read
MI; Fay explained that since the
OF the parties had changed, Mr.. Thomas, a
party to the petition having become satisfied
that the child should remain In the custody of
Mr. Gettings- Mr.. Meloy said that Mr.. Fay
was not the counsel for Mi. Thomas. The
court asked what were Mr.. Thomas wishes in the
matter Mr.. Thomas answered that owing to
some proceedings In the case, not now necessary
to state in public he was satifled that the child
should remain with Mr.. Getttngs. Mr.. Fay
suggested that the real party now was Mrs
Thomas, and he suggested that she should be
they were unable at this time to say what
means had been used to induce Mr.. Thomas to
abandon the suit. They proposed on the part of
Mrs. THOMAS to take issue on the return or Mr.
Cuttings.
The court said there was only one disposition
10 De made or this case. The father Drinla GLcip
mad the right to the disposition of the child
MI. Meloy suggested that the petition be dis
missed. The court 1ntimated that he would not
do so with the Child In the care OF the mother
1t was true that the child was In court but il
had been taken out of the custody of the party
TO whom the original writ was directed. Mr..
Fay submitted an order, that the petitioner
having abandoned the case, the petition be dis
missed and the child remanded to the custody
o1 Mr. Gett ngs. Mr. MelOy desired TO appeal.
and that bonds be liked. The court.-"Who is
there to appeal? The mother is not party to
placed In custody OF Mrs Gettings, In whose
possession the writ found it. MI W. A. MalIOy.
representing the marshal, was called, and MI
Fay pointing to Mr.. Gettings on one side of the
room, informed him who he was, and pointing
to the child sitting in the corner, diagonally
across, said that was the child. Mr. MallOy
w NIla,d over ito to MIS- Thomas Who placing
You can't have my child; it is mine. I'll de
before III give 1t up. Don't take 1t. Don't tax
it," Mr.. Malloy attempted TO take IL, but she
resisted, and MIR. Glass; OF the marshal's Office
going TO his assistance, took hold OF the child,
but she held on TO 1t, screaming, Don't take
my Child" &c. She fought long and hard, and,
holding TO the Child, was dragged within FEW
feet Of the judges chair, and It looked for
short time like there was to be a rough and
tumble tight; but finally her hold was broken,
when she turned On her husband. Mr. Gas5
succeeded In placing the Child In Mrs. Ceilings
arms, and its cries and sobS were soon hushed,
and clasping Its arms around Mrs. Gettings pas
sionately kissed her. Mrs. G. seated herself
with the Child on the judges platform. One OF
Mrs. G.'s friends directed the courts attention
TO the affection between them. By this time
Mr.. Thomas and his wife had got into an alter
cation: Mr. GettingsZand his wife walked out
with the child In her arms. Within half an hour
after the disposition.of this case, Messrs- Han-
ley and Meoy filed petition for Mrs. Thomas
for writ OF habeas corpus to Mr.. Gettings re-
quiTing him to produce the child. She states
that In september last she was abandoned by
her husband, who left the child In her keeping
and that the child Is now unlawfully kept and
detained from her by enc Samuel X. lettings
Judge Cox directed the rule to issue returna3Ie
on saturday next at 10 O'Clock,