Nebraska advertiser., 1882-06-29
A Court Deaed.

A Court Defed.
A hearing before Judge Finletter yes
terday on the petition of Henry Ristine,
of No. 2,22l Frankford avenue, to OBJ
tain the custody of his child, ended in
an extraordinary scene, in which a
mothers love dciied and defeated a de-
cree of court. An order had been made
upon Ristine seven years ago for the
support of his wife and little one. He
had fallen S160 behind in his payments.
The present action, the solicitor for the
guardians of the poor suggested, was
possibly only shift TO escape the pay
ment of that Indebtedness. Ristne,
however, charged that his wife was not
proper person to have control of the
child Testimony was produced To
show that Caspar Shaw, a man who had
abandoned wife and six children, lived
in Mrs. Ristine's house, at No. 2,257
Memphis street. She had gone out rid
ing with him, sometimes alone and
sometimes with the child. She had ac-
companied him TO Atlantic City one
time, and once went with him to beer
saloon.
Mrs. Ristine on her part admitted the
carriage and the visit to Atlantic
City. She strenuously denied, however,
that she had been guilty of any greater
violation of the properties. She had ac-
cepted Shaw as a boarder, she said be-
cause the sum he paid her eked out the
little her husband was forced to give her
and the pittance she earned by sewing.
| Mrs. 3istine's brother testified that he
had occupied the room with Shaw up to
four months ago, when he left his sis
ter's house to get married A large
number Of witnesses, chiefly women of
respectable appearance, testified that
Mrs. Ristine was quiet, inoffensive and
industrious and treated her child with
proper consideration. A letter from "a
teacher said that the child was con-
slant and apparently happy attendant
at school.
Further testimony tended to show that
Ristine was given to drink. His coun-
sci said that he would not ask that the
child be given TO him direct, but that it
be awarded to its grandmother. Mrs
Ristine' $ counsel pleaded warmly against
the child being taken away from its
mother at all, and contended that a case
to warrant such a proceeding had not
been made out.
Judge Finletter replied that the cir
cumstances were not assuring, gnd Sc
verely commented on Caspar Shaw's S
absence. The people who put on the
by the constituencies - Hari sc thdss
is one here who can take proper care o
the child, and | therefore remand hel
, | 10 ha FOIL Of th.a Il Ath
'. The child--a bright-eyed little girl
prettily dressed-who had been crying
, bitterly during nearly the whole of the
: hearing, now threw her arms arouDc
her mothers neck. and burst into par
, oxism of tears. The mother, who haC
all along maintained courageous and
half-deiiant aspect, broke down com
pletely. "No, no." she cried, "they
shall not take my child" Court Office
OFT was at her side in moment, trying
3 to tear the little one away by mail
4 force. An ominous hum ran through
the room. The crowd were on thei
: feet, swaying backward and forward
: excitement in every face. The tip
!. staves pounded in vain for order. Mrs
Ristine' brother. with white face, wen
a to her defense. You shall not tax
I the child" he cried hotly to the officer
n "unless you shed my blood" II
n raised his arm; Officer OFT seized hin
o by the shoulder and hauled him up be
T fore the bench. The Judge dismisse
him with reprimand.
u The mother--a thin little woman, eS
J. cited TO the verge of hysteria-reache
the bar with the child in her out
!, stretched arms and implored mercy
y Her counsel at the same time was beg
% ging for time. ..Only till next week,
', he cried. 1--WE will have the man SHAY
u here; we win show there was nothin
>, wrong. will take the child myself.
y will rear her as my own until she close
70 her eyes in DEATH" The Judge woul
70 make no change.
70 The desperate mother turned away
- The throng opened before her and /
:. quickly closed behind her when she ha
!" passed. No court officer could hay
ps passed in safety through that crow,
" In moment the mother and child wei
out in the open air with the human ba
y ricade behind them. The mothers HI
~ had fallen back her hair was flying
y. y. the wind. The child in her arms ha
w ceased TO cry. She fastened as fast
m mio her strength would permit straigl
~ down Sixth street Only one man,
IN ~ friend, followed her. Nearly at VAIN
a. =, street the. driver of light wagon stan
~ ing there met her. He was dress,
~ much like her brother. He took Il
"a "a child and swung ii into the vehicle. 1
tn helped the mother in after, and jun
ne .s ing in himself he whipped up the hor
y, W. and they drove away.--Phiiadelph
-, Times.