The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1881-11-05
HER POUNp OF FLESH.
[San Francisco CALI

San Francisco Call
A most disgusting exhibition of in
humanity and grasping lo.e of money
was displayed in Judge Hunts Court,
yesterday afternoon, during the hearing
of habeas corpus case to obtain posses
sion of little Adam Cohn. 1t seems that
the child had been forcibly kept away
from his dying mother, Notwithstanding
her pleadings, and Rabbi Messing,
touched with the poor woman's tale, had
sworn out the writ The Bailiff of the
Court was sent with an order for Annie
Hickert's arrest In an hour or SO, he
returned with a tall, raw-b -boned woman,
clad in an old-time plaid silk dress, that
had not probably seen the light of day
for score years. A dilapidated red
shawl completed the attire, and made the
tall, gaunt figure seem gigantic. In her
arms, squeezed tightly to her, was a
pretty little boy, about two years and a
half old. She was mad. Every nerve
was in a tremor, and her head jerked
from side to side as if on a pivot. Her
eyes snapped and her mouth worked
convulsively. The first question asked
was if she refused to give up the child.
eyes, she did, unless she had money
money" Rabbi Messing was placed on
the stand to make out case. He, in
graphic manner, told how Lena Cohn, a
beautiful young Jewess, lay, deserted by
her husband, upon her death-bed, ex-
pecting almost any minute to cross the
dark river; how she continually cried for
her little one, that she might fondle it
once again to her bosom before taking a
last farewell, and how this woman re-
fused to let the child pass Tor one instant
from her care, unless $500, claimed to be
due for nursing the sick woman, were
paid her. He had, he said, agreed to
assume the guardianship of the child and
see to its religious training, while on the
other hand the captor of the child threat
ened to ALLEVIATE the child from its people.
The woman was then made to take the
stand, which she did, still clutching the
child.
"Don't you know" questioned the
Judge, "that this poor mother wishes to
see her child?"
eyes," muttered the woman.
"Why don't you let her have it then?'
Because I'm widow and have nc
time to waste with her." she snapped;
But why keep the child"
Because the mother wanted me to-
I spent 500 on her."
But, said the Judge, "if you knew
the mother was dying and that sh'
yearned to see her child, would you no
allow her tor
The woman pondered moment, thel
sulkily answered "No"
"Why," asked his Honor.
Because" said the woman, Ssh
owes me money"
SIS that the only reason?" persiste,
the Judge.
Eyes, I want my money!" shrieke
the woman.
"But my good woman" asked tn
Judge, "you must have some affectio
for the child that leads you to, wish t
keep it?'
mo; only want my money"
The bystanders were Mortified at tn
attempt of the woman to hold the chill
for debt against dying woman, esp
cially after she had been sued and beate
in the Courts; and more especially at I'll
hard-heartedness displayed. Thepudl
made out an order to deliver the chi
into the Rabbits custody, and when 81
understood her sweet revenge was balke
she became fury.
And won't anybody pay me?" 81
shrieked. Then she moaned out, so
isn't this hard to take the brat from n
and not pay me any money!" Even tn
she refused to give up the child, and
was found best to allow her to clutch Il
little one in her arms until they could
to the dying mother.