The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-06-22
A Court Dehed.

A hearing before Judge Finletter yes
terday on the petition of Henry Ristine,
of No. 1921 Frankford avenue, to OBJ
tain the custody of his child, ended in
an extraordinary scene, in which a
mothers love defied and defeated 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 $3.50 behind in his payments.
The present action, the solicitor for the
guardians of the poor suggested, was
possibly only a shift to escape the pay
ment of that Indebtedness. Ristine,
however, charged that his wife was not
a 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 &C
companied him to Atlantic City one
time, and once went with him to beer
saloon.
Mrs. Ristine on her part admitted the
carriage-riding and the visit to Atlantic
City. She strenuously denied, however,
that she had been guilty of any greater
violation of the properties. She had &C
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. Ristine's brother testified that he
had occupied the room with Shaw up to
four months ago, when he LETT 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. $50. 5000.
Further testimony tended to show that
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 case
to warrant such proceeding had not
been made out
Judge Finletter replied that the cir
cumstances were not assuring, and Sc
verely commented on Caspar Shaw s
absence. The people who put on the
appearance of evil, he said, must abide
by the consequences. "Happily, there
is one here who can take proper care of
the child, and | therefore remand her
to the custody of the grandmother.
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 around
hermOther neck. and burst into par
oNi>m of tears. The mother, who had
all along maintained courageous and
half-a"tiant aspect, broke down COM
pletcly. "No, no. she cried, .thcv
shall not take my child.' Court Officer
OFT was at her side in moment, trying
to tear the little one away by main
force. An ominous hum ran through
the room. The crowd were on their
feet, swaying backward and forward,
excitement in every face. The tip
slaves pounded in vain for order. Mrs.
Rstine' brother, with white face, went
to her defense. 'You shall not take
the chld,' he cried holly to the officer,
"unless you shed my blood' He
raised his arm; Officer OFT seized him
by the shoulder and hauled him up be-
fore the bench. The Judge dismissed
HIM with Il reprimand.
The mOther-a thin little woman, eX-
cited to the verge of hysteria-reached
the bar with the child in her out
stretched arms and implored mercy
Her counsel at the same time was beg
ging for time "Only till next week.
he cried. 1--WE will have the man Shaw
here; we will show there was nothing
wrong. l will take the child myself. /
will rear her as my own until she closes
her eyes in dcath.' The Judge would
make no change.
The desperate mother turned away
The throng opened before her and as
quickly closed behind her when she had
passed. No court officer could have
passed in safety through that crowd
In moment the mother and child were
out in the open air with the human bar
ricade behind them. The mothers hat
had fallen back, her hair was flying in
the wind. The child in her arms had
ceased to cry. She fastened as fast as
her strength would permit straight
down Sixth street. Only one man,
friend, followed her. Nearly at Walnut
street the driver of a light wagon stand
ing there met her. He was dressed
much like her brother He took the
child and swung it into the vehicle. He
helped the mother in after, and Jump
ing in himself he whipped up the horse
and they drove away.-Phila1etphia
Times