The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-09-27
PARENT AND CHILD
A Fathers suite Recover His Little
Daughter.
Judge : Jurke's Decision In the Case Of
Nettle Mailer.
The Little One Restored to her Father;

Yesterday witnessed an effecting scene In
+ ne county court room, occasioned by
Judge Burke rendering his opinion in he
habeas corpus t.ial Of Rev. William Ftls-
ing, as to who should have the custody Of
little Nettie Mailer, her father, Louis
Mailer, or Mr.. Felsirg, who had adopted
her. AT the appointed hour Mr.. Felsing ap.
peared with the child. The father, and
friends of both sides soon put in their ap-
pearance. The judge ieelingy commenlei
upon the delicate TASK he had to perform,
and regretted the 9isagreeable duty OF hav-
log to take the child from either OF the con-
tending parties; that no matter how he de-
cided he knew 1t would be snspping heart
strings. He summed up the evidence ana
stated that after due reflection, however
much he otherwise might wish it, ne bt-
| leyed the law was with the father, and that
be would have TO award the custody Of
little N.ttie TO her father Louis Maher.
| As the judge uttered these words, little
closely to Mr.. Fesing, WHO
was weeping bitterly also. The grief of the
father next gave vent in painful sobs; mex
little Nettie's sister broke down then al
the lad .es an friends of both sides mingled
their tears and eVinced grief so intenst
| that but few dry eyes could be seen in the
audience. After a painful pause the father
went around to take his child from NJ
Felsing; she refused to come to him. He
took her by force and soon left the court.
room. The grief-stricken minister now
shorn of bis hearts last and only idol,
slowly arose and wendell his weary way
homeward. His friends followed. and soou
all was hushed into a solemn silence
Briefly recapituldted the facts of this case
~ H. al,
is q minister of the German Methodist
church. gentleman of culture ard good
standing. Louis Mailer and wife lived on
a farm about eight miles from
respectable, and had a family
of eleven children, the youngest of whom
was little Nettie. More than two years sgo
Mrs. Mabler Joined the Holmes band, be-
came insane and suicided by drowning her
Five Of the other children were small. Toe
father was unable TO proper care forthem
Mr.. Felsing and his wife, not having uny
children, had compassion and asked for
her. The father gladly gave her to the
minister and his wife. who have treated her
with the tel derest affection and were per-
fectly devoted to her. The next scene in
the drama, Mr.. Mailer marries agar. From
that period on Mrs. Felsing, the minister's
wife, began to entertain fears that the
father would want to take the child back
She importuned the father on the subject.
He assured her that he would not do 50,
and gave Mr.. Felsing an instrument OF
writing last June, conserving that Mr.. Fell
sing might keep Nettie and APP.
prentice her. Not long since Mr..
Felsing went 10 Palmer to fill an
appointment. During his absence Mrs
Felsing sicKened and died He was telegraph
ed for, but not getting the telegram came
home without knowing of his wife's SICK
ness, and found her corpse. The blow
was fearful one. and in his deep distress
he chung more closely 10 their adopted
child than ever b9fore. He adopted her as
his legal heir, and his very existence SEEM
ed wrapped up in her. The attachment be-
tween them was mutual. Neltle loved him
with all the devotion that child can have
for parent. But the strong, yet tender
ties must soon he severed. Mr.. Mailer
comes and demands his child. Mr.. Eel
sing begs reasons ,supplicates, but refuses TO
give her up. hr. Mailer sues out writ
of habeas corpus and after a warm legal
contest regains his child. Nettie. though
not quite i've years old. is q perfect little
lady in her manners. She is very pretty
and quite intelligent. Those who SAW her
intense grief over being taken awav from
Mr.. Felsing, witnessed a scene they 'llnever
forget. Mr.. Felsing leaves soon 10 preach
for ana assume a proiessorship in the
Methodist college at Ruteryille, Fayeite
county, Texas. He carries with him the
sympathy OF many friends.