New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
THE CODDINGTONS IN COURT.
LITTLE CLARENCE WEPT WHEN ASKED
IF HIS MOTHER WAS INTOXICATED.

MRS COMMUNICATIONS 1NDIGNANT-TEsrI
MoNY CONCERNING THE CHARGE OF KID
MAPPING AGAINST MR. GOODWIN.
A large crowd Of people gathered yesterday morn
ing in the Yorkvi.le Police Court to hear the ex-
animation Of the charge made by Mrs. Alma Louise
Coddington- Fellows against Clifford Coddington
Goodwin. OF abductng Gladys Coddington. her
tbree-year-old daughter. Justice Feitner. however.
disappointed the curosty-seekers by holding the
examination in private Mr.. Fellows. the new hus-
band OF the complainant. was In court. Treadwe.l
Cleveland. OF the firm of Evars, Choate & Beaman.
appeared for the defendant. and Til!ey Thompson
for the plaintiff. Mrs. Fellows had with her her
two little boys-Carence Homer Morgan Coddng-
ton and James Ensey Coddington.
The first witness was young Clarence. who Is
twelve years OF age. In response to question
from Mr. Cleveland, the boy said that his sister
Gladys went away from home with his elder sister
Lulu on or about May or last. He asked Lulu
where she was going and she replied that she was
going for drive. Her mother upstairs at the
time
was your mother sickT' asked Mr.. Cleveland.
"she was not sick" the boy replied. ''but she
wasn't at breakfast that morning"
Then the lawyer asked him II he had seen
his mother intoxicated. Clarence became much
excited at this. and hesitated before he answered
He AZ first said no. and then broke down and began
to cry bitterly.
His mother Immediately threw her around
his neck and pressed the boy to her. She turned
with flashing eyes upon the lawyers and exclaimed:
"It is shame to question this innocent boy such
matters"
Mr. Cleveland explained that he wished to show
by the witness that on or about May his sister
Lulu found her mother intoxicated, lying the bed
with Gladys. and thinking that the childs life was
in danger she took her sister away with her to her
room.
Annie Johnson. the nurse OF the two boys, testi
fed that she saw Gladys taken away by Lulu and
nut I'm a carriage in which Clifford Coddington
Goodwin was sitting Il have never Gladys
since" said the witness.
Al this point Mr.. Cleveland sought TO bring out
the fact that the mother intoxicated Mr..
Thompson objected to this line OF examination and
the objection sustained.
Mr.. Cleveland then attempted to show that Lulu
was justified in removing the child
"Who gave her this authority" asked Mr..
Thompson
Then Justice Feitner said he would not allow the
character OF the mother TO show motive for
moving the child. II do not think" said he. ANY
one has a right TO take a child from It's parents
wlInout legal proceedings"
Christine Lynch. a waitress In the Coddlngton
family corroborated the statements to Lulu taxi
ing the child away She did not see Goodwin in
rlage after 1t had gone hal block In order to get
the chid's bottle.
witness denied that she had ever seen Mrs. Fellows
under the influence Of liquor.
was the daughter Of Homer Morgan and that her
father and her uncle left her considerable property.
She went on 70 tell that the last time she saw
Gladys was on the morning OF May The witness
taken 10 get possession o. The child and that she
did not consent to Gladys being taken away Papers