The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-13
AT Law OVER A BOY.
A Legal Fight Between Separated
kather ann Mothar

Father and Mother.
Judge MacDonell had an interesting
habeas corpus case before him in the city
court last night which brought out a sad
case of domestic iufehcity caused through
the agency OF rum. 1t wac a legal fight be.
tween a separated father and mother for
the possession Of little 4-year-old boy.
At O'Clock in the afternoon Charles T.
Dixon went before Judge MacDonell, with
his attorney, Paul K. sieabrook, ESQ.,, and
took oath that his wife. Louisa, had
abandoned him without cause some time
ago, AID because of her dissolute habits
was not proper person to care for their
! child. He claimed that Mrs Dixon did not
have means 20 properly support and main
tain the boy, and was allowing him
to associate with class of chill
dren not calculated to improve
| his moral training Dixon also alleged that
he had information that his wife intended
| 70 remove the boy to some other point and
! prayed immediate process Of arrest and the
turning OF the boy over TO his custody.
Judge MacDonell at once issued an order
for the arrest Of the little fellow, and the
warrant was placed in the hands of Deputy
Sheriff Dohn. He found the boy at No.
25513 Bay street with bis mother and when
the warrant was read to her she at once
took the child and accompanied Deputy
Sheriff Dohn to the court house.
A hearing was set for $50 o'clock and
Mrs. Dixon secured the services of U. II.
McLaws ESQ.,, to represent her. When the
case was called Mrs Dixon. an attractive,
but sad-faced blonde, entered the court room
with the little boy and took a seat
good looking and bright and from the
manner he played around among the jurors
chairs, he seemed to enjoy the strange
situation in which ne was placed. When
his father entered the court room however
the boy became suddenly frightened and
ran to his mothers side. He wouldn't 90
within ten feet OF him and apparently
didn't want to have anything to do with
him.
Dixon was much the worse for LIQUOR
and when he stepped up to the witness
stand he appeared anything but proper
person co carefor of a child. In fact from his
actions he didn't seem to be a man who is
even capable OF taking care of himself.
He went into long rambling maudling
story about his wife having left him with
out cause and being seen walking with other
men and tried to say that she was not
capable of looking after their son.
Mrs. Dixon produced several female wit
nesses who had lived in the same house with
herself and husband, who testified to Dixon's
drunkenness and ill treatment of his wife.
Mr.. j. A. Bates of Ludden a. Bates South
ern Music House, at which Dixon had
worked, testified that Dixons great failing
was love for drink, and gave it as his opin-
ion that he would be very improper per-
son to have charge of any child.
Mrs. Dixon told the story of her troubles
with Dixon In frank and unembellished
manner. Her demeanor on the stand was
that OF modest woman whom IL panied to
lay bare before the court her domestic
troubles. She said she married Dixon six
years ago, and they lived happily together
for awhile. Then he renewed his old habit
of drinking and began to i'll treat her. The
| care of the baby didn't cause him to change
at all. She talked to him and endeavored to
reform him, but ell to no purpose. He
would begin drinking Saturday night as
soon as he got his wages, and keep it up for
several days until all his money was gone.
Dixon wouldn't give her any money to sup
port herself and child, and she was COM
PEELED to go out and do homework to MAIN
tain herself.
Mrs. Dixon said her husband abused her.
but she remained with him for the sake of
the little one. His drunken orgies increased
! aud he began to threaten her. life. Finally
things became unbearable, and six weeks
| ago, feeling that her life was in danger If
she remained with him any longer, Mrs
| Dixon took her child and separated from her
uufilial husband She tried to get the boy into
Bethesda Orphan Asylum, but the authori-
cured employment at the Empire steam
laundry, and hired colored woman to
look after the boy during her absence at
| work.
Regarding the charge made against her
| by Dixon about walking with men, Mrs.
Dixon said that the only time such thing
occurred was one night while at q friends
house rain began falling and Mr.. Symons
escorted her home under the protection of
| An umbrella
At the conclusion of her testimony, Judge
MacDonell instructed Mrs. Dixon to bring
the little boy up to the bench to him. Then
he called Dixon. AS the father approached
the bench the child began 60 scream
and began to run around to
see if he could find a place to hide. Then
he covered down in his mothers lap and
placed both arms in front of his eyes to
shut out the sight Of his father, who was
standing alongside, at the same time
crying. Judge MacDonell asked the
boy whether he wanted to go
with his father. Nesting as close as
| he could to bis mother, the little 10y whim-
pered: 81 want to stay with my ma
ThiS settled matters. The youngster had
evidently not had kind treatment from his
father. and didn't want to have anything 90
do with him. Those who saw Dixon's con-
dition In the court room didn't blame the
little boy for his aversion.
Judge MaoDonell dismissed the habeas cor
| pus and remanded the child into the custody
Of his mother. AS she left the court room
her eyes were filed with tears of joy, while
her husband looked after her witb'a counte-
nance not at all amiable at being check
mated in his effort 10 add a suffering worse
than all those he had heaped upon her dur
ing their married life-the deprivation of
| her child.
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