The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-28
AFFECTING SCENE.
Mrs. Wangerstein Cries In
Court Over Her
Adopted Boy.
HABEAs CORPUS PROCEEDINGS
Father Seeks to Recover His Son
Who Was Sent to the
Almshouse.
ABEAs CORPUS PROCEEDINGS

Fourteen months ago Mrs. Wanger-
shein, the wife of Leo wangershein, q
prosperous saloon keeper. at No. LIS
Washington street, Hoboken, had child
IRON the Almshouse, at Snake Hill, in
dentured to her. The child was John
Jaeger, son of William Jaeger, a thrifty,
nalo-Working mechanic, who lives in Ho-
ooEen. The only reason why he sent the
BOY TO the Almshouse was because he
could not take care of him himself. The
boys mother was very dissolute wom-
an, habitual drunkard, who spent the
greater part of her time In Jail She
apparently had no motherly instincts
whatever, for when she was not in jail.
she neglected and abused the child until
he became wretched looking specimen
OF humanity. His eyes were sore. his
hair had all fallen out; he looked half
starved. and was nothing but living
skeleton Everybody who saw him said
it would be, a blessing If he should die.
Notwithstanding all these drawbaoks,
Mrs. Wangerstein took him to her COM
Portable home and nurtured him with q
true mothers love and affection Hav-
ing no children of her own, she Iavished
all her love on the little waif. The re-
suit soon began to show ITSELF The boy
thriyed and grew stronger and hand
semer every day until now he is sturdy
little urchin, a picture of health. strength
and ccntentment. Mrs. Wangerstein for
mally adopted the boy as her own. and
he was the delight of her heart
A short time ago Jaeger paid Mrs.
Wangerstein visit and seeing that hts
son was SO comfortably provided for
told Mrs. Wangerstein that she might
Ksep nim Lor All time. AIRS. Wangerstein
A few days ago, however, her delight
was turned into. CONSERVATION and grief
When John =. Neonan, assistant clerk
or the Board of Freeholders, served her
with notice that she must surrender the
boy to his father. Jaeger had applied to
the Board of Freeholders at their meet
ing last Thursday to have the indenture
resolution rescinded and the application
was granted. After q good cry Mrs,
Wangerstein summoned up her courage
and ana declared that she would never sur
Mr.. Noonan reported to the Freehold
ers and to Mr.. Jaeger the result of his
visit Jaeger consulted a lawyer and a
conference was arranged in his Office.
lIrs. Wangenstein, her husband. Mr..
Jaeger, Mr.. Noonan and the lawyer were
there.
Mrs. Wangenstein cried, in fact. she
has done little else but cry since Mr.
Noonan served the notice on her; but she
reiterated her determination not to give
a
In the LAWYERS office, but no argument
could persuade Mrs Wangenstein to re-
oede from her resolution
Yesterday Lawyers SkeIly and Weller
procured a writ. of habeas corpus from
Justice Lippincott requiring Mrs. Wan
genstein to produce the boy in the Su-
creme Court this morning at 10 O'clock.
She was there long before that hour and
spent her time in crying and sobbing.
Mrs. Wangenstein is a strikingly hand
some woman and she was richly and
he how oh,
tie fellow with rosy cheeks ahd bright
eyes, was evidently at a loss TO under
stand why his foster mother cried so
much. AT intervals he threw his arms
around her neck, patted her on the back
with his httfe fat hand and said appeal
ingiy. Don't cry, mamma, don't cry,
boy.
This, of course. caused a fresh OUT
burst OF tears and there was suspicion
of moisture in the eyes of everybody who
witnessed the affecting scene. Some of
the men who would never be suspected
OF ssntimentality We're noticed to pull
reptitiously and make pretence of blow
ing their noses.
|. Senator DAILY was informed of the pend
ing proceedings and his sympathy being
aroused he volunteered to asisst in aiding
Mrs Wangenstein to keep the child
When the case was called Justice Lippin-
colt said he could not hear argument be-
cause the return to the writ had not
been properly made. The hearing was
adjourned until tomorrow morning
An argument took place as TO who
should have the custody of the boy pend
ing the proceedings. Mr.. Weller sug-
gested that the father was the proper
custodian
Senator DAILY said he saw no risk in
leaving the boy with Mrs. Wangerstein
until the proceedings are settled.
Justice Lippincott said the Court could
designate some proper person TO have
custody of the child pending the proceed
ings but he would take the risk of leav-
ing him with Mrs. Wangerstein. provided
she would promise to have him In court
tomorrow morning. Mrs Wangerstein
gave the required promise, and as she
turned to take the boy away she beans
ed look of gratitude on the Court.