The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-04-10
A NORTH EAST
HABEAS CORPUS CASE.
Petition of Hiram Spence on Behalf of
Charlotte COSlett for Her Release
From the Female House
of Refuge.

On Tuesday, at 2 o'clock Judge Russum
took up the above case. which has excited
considerable interest in the town of North
East. On March 22nd Isaac Coslett of that
town applied to Magistrate John L. Shippers
for warrant for the arrest of his daughter
Charlotte Cosett, for being incorrigibe. On
the same day II hearing of the case was held
before the same justice and on the testimony
of her father, she was committed TO the care
and custody of the Female House of Refuge
at Baltimore, until she arrived at the age of
q years, or was otherwise released, she being
at the time of her commitment past the age
of fifteen years, having been born in January
1882 She was taken to the House of Refuge
under the commitment by George I. Murray
In the meantime John W. Falls, Esq, as
attorney for.H!ram Spence. of North East, an
uncle of the girl with whom she had resided
and made her home since her infancy, filed a
petition in the Circuit Court for Il writ of
habeas corpus. on which an order was issued
directed to Superintendent Wm. X. Blbb, of
of the House of Refuge, commanding him to
produce Charlotte Coslett before the Court at
2 o'clock on Tuesday, April 9th.
1t seems that after the death of the mother
of Charlotte Coslett, which occurred when
she was few days old, she was placed by
her father with Mr.. and Mrs Hiram Spence
with whom she has since continuously lived.
In March, Mrs. Spence was called to Will
mington, to nurse a sick relative, and before
fynip t,, il,,,ip CHI fhnr ~,
her fathers house to remain during her
absence. and it was during her temporary
stay at her fathers that he had her committed
to the House of Refuge.
VIM. S. Evans, States Attorney read to the
Court the statute under which the commit
ment had been made, stating that the court
had the widest discretion in deciding to what
custody minor children can be committed.
John W. Falls, as attorney for the petit
TONER, Hiram Spence, stated the facts that
they proposed to prove in support Of his
petition. John HincLdey, ESD, represented
the House of Refuge.
Isaac Cosctt, the father of Charlotte Cos
lett, was the first witness sworn. Lottie was
seven days Old when her mother died. After
his wife's death her younger sister Miss Ella
Reed, had the custody of Lo lie, until Mrs.
Spence took her with his cons ut. and after
his second marriage. He had demanded her
return but Mrs. Spence refused to let him
have her. That Mrs. Spence had put her out
to service, and let her run the streets. In
February 1897. she came horle and was very
impudent and saucy Could not keep her Off
the street. He never struck her, but reasoned
with her. He was afraid she would get into
bad company, be being much away from
home, and for that reason had her sent to
the Female House of Refuge. He had visited
her there and believed her moral and physi-
cal welfare would be better secured there
than in North East. He married his second
wife about year after the death of mis- first
wife. After his second marriage he demanded
the child's return from Mrs. Spence, but she
would not return her. Mrs. Spence said she
would be responsible for the child. and Mrs.
Spence had full control of her. He did not
see Mrs. Spence when in February last. when
Lottie came home, and ber clothes were
thrown into his house. He very rarely visited
Lottie was with Mrs. Spence. When asked
by Mr.. Falls if he did not know that his
present wife had said that ''if Lotte came in
the front door, she would go out the back
door Mr.. Coslett said he did not know
that his wife had ever said that. He thought
he could take her out of the House of Refuge
when she had been reformed. and when he
went to Baltimore lately she said she would
rather stay there than go back to Mrs
Spence.
Minnie Coslett, Lottie's younger sister.
sworn. Mrs Spence said that her father
should send Lottie to the House of Refuge
that she could do nothing with her. Lottie
was very bad while she was at home and ran
the streets.
Mabel Coslett a sister Of Lotte Cosett was
sworn. Mrs. Spence brought Loitie's clothes
home, and said. 'tell your father to have
Lottie sent to the House of Refuge. as she
could do nothing with her, and if she staid
with her she would disgrace them all Lottie
was very disageeablc in her ways.
Mrs. Isaac Coslett is the step-mother of
Lottie They talked about her and Lotie
She never said she would leave the house if
Lottie came there to live. Lottie told her
she would take dose of laudanum before
she would let her father or any one else rule
her She could not say who Lottie kept COM
pany with. Sometimes Lotte used bad Ian
guage. She had nothing to do with sending
Lottie to the House of Refuge. She talked
quietly to Lottie, demonstrating with her
She did her part by the children, but there
was talk and trouble outside all the time.
Alfred Coslett, Jr., brother of Lottie,
sworn. When her father was at home Lo,tie
behaved we'll, but when her father was not at
home, then Lottie was disobedient and dis
agreeable to all Of the family and would
leave the honse. He never found her with
improper characters.
George Il. Murray, constable, sworn. Mr..
Coslett came to me and said he wanted to
send Lottie to the House of Refuge. That he
called to see Lottie and told her it was n
good home. He had written to Baltimore,
asking the proper place to send her When
the warrant was given him he went to her at
her home, and read it to her. He knew
nothing about her behaviour. always knew
her as Lottie Spence. Isaac Coslett in his
presence, offered to VIM. Cosett that he