Daily Republican., 1883-04-04
uABEAN CORPUS,
Contest for the Custody Of a Little
Girl,

The case for the custody of the child,
May Farrell, was heard this morning
before Judge Wales on, writ of habras
corpus, issued last Saturday, to which
the DeIingers made return that they
held the child by adoption from the
mother, and that SHE had been linden.
tured 10 them by her. Mr.. Davis for the
rtlator made return TO this, denying
the statement and called Susan B. At
kinson, who, after being sworn, testified
that she is the mother Of the child her
name is Mary n. Farrell and at the
time she was taken by the DelingerS
the witness resided in Gloucester, New
Jersey.
Had no acquaintance with Mrs. Del.
niger until August, 1880, when she
called at the house Of the witness in
search of child to adopt. At first told
her that they had none to adopt but
afterwards invited her in. After she
had talked awhile agreed to let her take
the child for couple of days, and then
agreed to let Dclingcr have the child on
condition she could visit it, Some time
afterwards witness went to Bristol, Pa,
where they resided, to visit her child
At first they refused TO allow her to
come IN, but on her solicitation permit
ted her to enter. At that time witness |
wanted to take May home with her on
VISIT which they objected TO on the /
grounds that she had no clothes good
enough They promised to bring the
chlld to see her in Il cOupleOf weeks and
as they did not dO so went back to Bris
'ol in Il few months in search of them
and found that they had moved away;
could not find out where they had gone
for some time and then ascertained that
they Lad moved to Philadelphia failed
to ma them in that city and did lot
know what had become of them until
about two weeks ago when she learned
they were in this city.
The witness WAS crosS-examinrd gy
Mr.. Bird and said that She had hr,n
married three times. The inthcrof tins
child was killed on the RaiIruad.
Lucy Farrell testified thai she is a
daughter OF the previous witness and Is
employed in the Gloucester gingham
mills.
Cross by Mr.. Bird; am now
IL years Old and remember when Mary
was taken away by the Dclingers did
not see her again until last week.
Lizzie Gberson testified, that in 1880
she lived at Gloucester and wa. visited
by her sister Mrs. Delinger who wanted
to adopt child; went with her to Mrs.
Atkinson as she hada child that she
wanted to adopt.
Went there first on the Sabbath and
afterwards went again on Thursday
when Mrs Delingcr obtained the
cmld on condition that she would treat
!, as her own. When Mrs. Atkinson
signed the paper she did it willingly
IN answer to "a question by the Judge,
'i'' Said that her understanding was ~
'hat time that Mrs. Atkinson sur
rendered all claim TO the child
'lar'"S Atkinson corrOborated the
testimony given by his wife, aud
laughter This closed the evidence for
he prosccution, and Mr.. Bird com
nrnrcd the examination Of witnesses
Tor the defence.
Annie T.. Dclingcr testified to the fact
II taking the child and adopting il asher
'"h, and how she had attended to !.
lhcr, and loved it better than she loved
Ter own life.
HtNclIl other witnesses were sworn
'nd testified that 30 the best of tIitir
'howlcd g. and bellcf the child was
ha'rd h" same as though it was 'heit
'Fh. Mcssrs. Waterman and DaVlS
'n'endrd that til" adoption was iIIeIal
mi void, and the child should hc re-
''nrd to her mother.
nr. Bird argued that as the mother
lad let the child be taken away ny
Strangers she had shown that she was
INIT TO have, her