Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-12
Respectfully
BLACK, BROTHER G. CO.
WHO OWNS LILA DORA Z?
THE TRIBULATIONS or Il SUN
DERED FAMILY.

A Sequel TO Geering's Galivanting-Writ
of IIabeas Corpus Issued-The sheriff
Resisted by the Child's Moth.r-Inter-
esting Case Mt the Court House.
From Morning Editionl
Mention was made in Fridays GLOBE. RE-
PUBLIC of little trip to Dayton which was
taken by a man by the name of T. F. Gear
ing, with Mrs. Hannah Brown and her
daughter, and Of Gearing's subsequent arrest
Tor overdriving the horse. The matter took
on new phase last evening when Thomas
Brown, who resides at Medway, and is the
father Of young Miss Brown, who accom-
panied Gearing on the trip, instituted pro-
ceedings to obtain possession of the child
from his divorced wife. A petition in habeas
corpus was filed in the county clerks Office
late in the afternoon, rec'iug the alleged un-
lawful detention of the child by her mother,
and asking the court to compel her surrender.
As was his duty, County Clerk Rsb-
bits issued writ Of habeas corpus
directed to the sheriff, and that
officer in company with Deputy Brsssfeld
proceeded at once to the residence of Mrs.
Hannah $. Brown, No. 0 West North street
News OF their coming bad no doubt preceded
them, as the house was locked up when they
got there, and everything wns quiet The
sheriff knocked repeatedly, but received no
response. Still having reason to believe that
Mrs. Brown and the girl, Lila Dora, were
within, he broke in the DIOR, only to find his
way impeded by three inner doors, which he
was compelled to break open, one after au-
other, before he could reach the room ocCu-
pied by Mrs. Brown. and the child
When the door of that room was reached the
stubborn woman was notified that the officer
would tIeak the door unless she would aumit
him. but she refused, and compelled him to
free an entrance. by this time the house
was surrounded by a large crowd, through
which the woman and the child were taken
on their way TO the court house. Judge
White had been notified, and he
as well as the petitioner and his
attorneys Messrs. Spence aud Arthur,
were on hand. Brown is an elderly, sharp
faced man, who seemed intensely interested
in the result OF the ca e. The mother is also
elderly. They were divorced in the Clark
county common pleas court on July 30, 1873,
at the suit of Mrs. Brown, on the ground OF
extreme cruelty on the part Of the old gen.
tlcmau. In the case referred to the court
awarded Mrs. Blown 81 800 almony and the
custody of he child in question and her
sister, Alice Cora. The husband was awarded
the custody OF the other children OF the timl-
ly. The child Lila Dora, is nearly ii teen
years OF age, rather pretty and well grown
for her age. She sat in the court room dur
Jog the bri { hearing of the case, beside her
mother. As Mrs. Brown had no counsel, she
was not ready for bearing of
the case, tut expressed her willing
ness to have it set for next
Thursday, which was done. A question then
arose as to the disposition OF the girl in the
interim. Each of the parties was unwilling
to have the child lett in the custody of the
other. Lila Dora said she wanted to go with
her mother. A compromise was arranged by
which Sheriff Baker took her to his own
house, where he said she would be treated as
one OF his own family.
The mother secured promise from the
good~natured sheriff that the girl should be
taken to Sunday school next Sunday, and
each was promised the privilege OF visiting
her. There the matter rested for the present.
| and the weeping Lila Dora was taken over
| to the sherih's residerCe. On the face OF the
facts, Mrs. Brown plainly is entitled to the
| custody OF the girl, as she was expressly
awarded it by the court. But the plaintiff
may be able to show good cause tor the pro-
| ceedings he has commenced.