The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-27

STILL IN DISS DEB ,RS GRIT.

Mr.. Marsh Champions Her Cause Again,
Appearing In Court to Help Her Regain
Her children.
". y. Tribune, De. q.
Ann O'Delia Diss Debar sat in the Su-
preme Court Chambers, before Justice
Andrews, weeping like Rachel for her
children, because they were not where
she could lay her hands upon them.
Her counsel, John D. Townsend, was
with her, and her friend, Luther r.
Marsh, was also present prepared to take
part in the argument on the return TO
the writ OF habeNs corpus requiring the
Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
Children to present the Diss Debar in
fants for the action OF the court. Mad
anne Diss Debar was arrayed in an old
black silk costume, profusely beaded.
She wore Il small hat OF great altitude,
with black ostrich plumes, and faded
tan-colored gloves, and, on the whole,
looked generally dilapidated. Elbridge
T. Gerry and John 3. Pine represented
the society.
Mr.. Townsend read Madame Diss De-
bars traverse to the return, in which the
society simply declared that the children
were legally committed to its custody.
In the traverse it was set forth that the
Diss Debars, up to the time OF their ar
rest, had lived at No. 166 Madison
avenue with Luther X. Marsh and others,
and that those who were bound to de-
strov the pleasant relations existing be-
tween her and them had interfered and
caused her to be thrown into prison and
to be separated from her children, Julia
Diss Debar and Alice Messant. She
denied all the charges that had been
made against her in regard to the i'm
position in the matter OF producing
spiritualistiC pictures, and offered TO pro
duce picture in court.
At this point in the reading of the
traverse, Madame Diss Debar, in dis
tinct voice, said, 81 can"
Mr.. Townsend said that Luther r,
Marsh wished to address the court. AT
this announcement the spectators Craned
their necks to catch glimpse OF the vic.
tim OF the woman, who sat near him and
from time to time wept at the court and
pressed her handkerchief to her eyes rs
the argument proceeded. Mr.. Marsh,
after complmenting Mr.. Gerry upon the
general work OF his society in aid OF the
helpless and oppressed, proceeded, in q
clear voice, us follows:
have been incidentally connected
with this affair, though not q party tc
the custody OF these children. / sup
nose that these children were taken into
the custody OF the society because thu
parents were temporarily separated non
them. The parents now desire the Gus
tody OF the children, andI am surprised
that my friend, Mr.. Gerry, will not al
low it; but | hope he will consent to dc
so, These parents are able to take cart
of these children. Shall the law, shall
any strangers, intervene to say: "WC
will not permit that to be done?"
What are tho grounds on which thi
position is taken against these parents
| A verdict that these two people had at
tempted to deiraud man who had neve
complained OF any fraud. 1t is q case o
the public intervening between two in
diyiduals charged with having tried t
deiraud another, when the one who, it il
said, had been defrauded had made NJ
charge. II there was anything wrong
about that--conceding that it was wronl
lis it not true that reform takes place il
punishment2 81 suppose itmay be statet
to be true that the public sense in thi
regard is that men cannot accept rs proc
spiritual manifestations in this morta
sphere. The carnal man Is at enmity
against God.
! Mr.. Marsh then proceeded tosoiemni!
reiterate his belief in spiritual NANTES
tations. He said:
on the question OF whether there wa
any fraud in the production OF picture
and writing, l am willing to assert, a
the undoubtedly clear evidence of m
own senses, that these things were pre-
duced without mortal inference. So ar
these manifestations to my own MIND
So, subsequent reflection and study hay
convinced me more and more, am N
more mad than Paul was ] have prat
tised law for tifty.two and half year,
have been accustomed to try case
! against my friend, Mr.. Gerry, and othe
distinguished members OF the bar, an
unless it has happened that have com
into second childhood, should be adj
I to Judge upon the question OF etteC
: Therefore ] pinoe reliance upon my ow
! judgment in this respect.
!; May it please Your Honor, II the IA
; thatthi woman claims to be medium
] that is, one through whom departe
= spirits may communicate with tn
worlds the basis OF any charge, thel
would be business for Your Honor. Nj
diums are in every city in the land.
do not regard that as a good reason VIII
this petitioner should be held TO be uni
T TO have the control and education
e these children. The verdict against Il
% Diss Debars was rendered upon infe