Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-03
SHE WANTS HER CHILD.
A Curious Habeas Corpus Case Before
Judge Montgomery.

Judge Montgomery.
MOTHER sKEKrSc TO GUT THE cUsroDY oy
HER CHILD IN TOLD ny TIE "BurrEncup''
IN rHE cAsE THAT IT rs DEAD AND rnAr TIE
BOY SHE CLAIMS Is A wAIF.
In obedience 10 q writ Of habcas corpus is-
sned by Judge Montgomery, seven-year-old
white boy, known as Eddie Fisher was pro-
duced before him to-day by Mary L. Fisher.
eolored woman residing near the upper end
OF 18th street.
The petitioner is represented by Mr.. J. McD.
Darlington. She states that her name ID
Amanda Devers and that she has resided here
since 1850; that previously she lived in FAIRFAX
county, Va, and was a chaste woman when she
arrived here; that after her arrival she formed
the acquaintance Of samuel Pettengill. who
became attentive 20 her and made, as she
thought an honorable proposition Of marriage.
| and after much persuasion she Yielded 10 his
| solicitations and the result was the birth of an
| infant: that she went 20 the Columbia lying-in
| hospital, where, in March. 1852. she gave birth
| 20 a son; that in April, lss2. George T. Hilton.
a friend of the father, requested the custody
| of the child, promising TO return IL, and that
not knowing his object. she yielded 20 his re-
quest and that since that time the child has
been kept from her. subsequently she made
| inquiry and found that the child had been
| taken TO the house Of Mary T.. Fisher. residing
| now at 2ll2 18th street northwest She states
that Fisher informed her that her child Was
dead, and she ceased 10 make inquiry about il
until February Is, when Fisher informed
her that the child was living. and she went to
said Fishers house and saw the child, but
Fisher refused TO deliver IL 90 her
and still refuses. She states that the father
OF the child has married aud the lad is growing
up in ignorance amid bad associates. She
states that she is able 10 properly maintain.
educate and care for the child and has since
her misfortune lived a blameless life. She
therefore asks the court that the child be
award ID 10 her.
The affidavit Of Hilton is fled with the petit
ton, IN which he states that in April, 1851, he
took boy infant from the arms of its mother
Cthe petitioner) and carried il TO Barnett Fisher
TO give TO his wife 10 care for and he did so,
and afiant paid it's board for three months. and
from that time the board was paid by its al
legged father, and the child is now with Ella
Fisher, and is known as Eddie Fisher.
THE CUSTODIAN OF THE cHnD.
The respondent is a portly yellow woman,
and she and the boy-a rather bright looking
little fellow-was accompanied to the court
house by quite a number Of both white and
eolored neighbors. She was represented by
w. II. II. Hart
THE BABE FOUND IN THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.
Mr.. Hart read the answer TO the writ. stating
the writ. is a waif; that it was found in the
Capitol grounds December 81, 1850. and was
taken TO the seventh precinct station. and was
given TO her 10y Capt Austin Of the metropoli-
tan police force. She admits that on or about
May 20, 1881, she received a boy child from
George Hilton, agreeing TO take charge Of IL at
IS per month but the child died in about three
months and was buried. and that the physi-
-cian's bill and undertaker's bill would show it,
and they were prepared 10 prove this.
MISS DEyERs' STORY.
Miss Devers testified that the child was taken
from her by Mr.. Hilton, who acted for Mr..
Samuel II Pettingale. the father, when
the babe was one month and seven days old.
he representing that he would return 10
when II got stronger. She testified positively
that the boy IN court was hers and that he was
seven years old the 9TH of March last She was
now able 10 take care of the child
On cross-eKamination she said she had not
seen il from the time Hilton took il till June
20 last The child, when taken from her. had
a full head of hair. When she heard that the
child was dead she went TO see Mrs. Fisher and
she said that It SO. She never saw the
child till June 20 last. when she saw il in the
mud with other children.
HLroS's TESTIMONY.
George I. Hilton testified that he took the
child from the mother from the old Hamilton
house, now kept by Mr.. Fitzgerald, aud
described the delivery of the child TO Mrs
Fisher. He paid the board of the child for
three months for Mr.. Pettingale. They agreed
that the child should be regarded ar dead, TO
deceive the mother. He had made three pay
ments-Sl per month being the price
On cross-examination witness said he ought
not to have taken the child from the mother
but having been mean enough 20 do 30 he was
gentlemanlv enough TO take il back. He denied
that he had paid the expenses of the child's
sickness and burial.
Mr.. Brooke testified that the petitioner was
Woodworking, industrious woman.
DEAD OR ALIVE
Mrs. Fisher, the respondent, testified that
Eddie Fisher was found by Jesse Meeks in the
Capitol grounds, and Capt Austin gave il to
her New Years eve night, December 81, 1881,
sending il by Officer Felt. Some four or five
months afterward another child was brought to
her. 1t had dark hair and eyes, and she was
paid IS per month for three months She sent
10 Mr.. Hilton when the child died and he came
and paid sic for the funeral Afterward
Amanda Devers called and she told her that the
child was dead, and she Miss Deyers) up
braided her for not having sent for her and
she gave her a dress of the child's. She named
parties who were present when the child was
brought to her and who were there at its death
She was a matron at the police station. IL was
about two weeks after the death Of the child
before she saw the mother.
Mrs. Josephine Norcom testified that she saw
the child Eddie the day after Miss Fisher got il,
and afterward Ga year or more) saw the child
called Willie. 1t a fat baby, with brown
hair and eyes. The Eddie child was then in
short clothes. She remembered the death Of
| Willie, and that he died of cholera infantum.
THE BOY QUESTIONED.
The Eddie boy was called up by the court
and questioned by the judge and said: s'They
tell me how old 1 am, but forgets it,"
David n. Felt testified that he was on the Do
lice force in December, 1880. and remembered
the child being taken 10 Mrs. Fisher's He
could not say that Eddie that child
Annie Wilson, colored, testified TO the Eddie
child being at Mrs. Fishers and was positive
that the boy produced was the Eddie boy.
Mrs. Nora johnson testified that there were
| three children at the house. Eddie, Willie and
little girl, when Willie died. Her mother
| baptized the child calling IL Willie.
Adelaide White testified that she came here
to see the Inauguration of Garfield, and Mrs.
Fisher had the two children, Eddie and the
| girl, and afterward the Willie child came She
remembered the death of the Willie child and
going to Mr.. Hilton and telling him Of the
death.
CONTINUED on mn paoe.l
The Sanguinary Sparrow.
/ To the Editor Of THE EVENING star: