New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-19
ALICE KORTRIGHTs CUSTODY.
INTERESTING TESTIMONY IN rHE LEGAL
FIGHT BETWEEN THE CHILD's AUNT
AND sTTPMOTHER.

AND STEPMOIhEn
Another chapter in the legal squabble among tho
relatives Of Gouverneur kortrtght for the posses
ston Of Alice his seven-year-od daughter was
enacted before Justice Daily IN the Suprems Court
late Yesterday afternoon. Mlss Ada Phipps. Afce's
maternal aunt and the person whom MI kort-
right wishes to have the child. rs opposed by Mr@
f Therese Kortrisht. Mr.. Kortrfghrs second wne
Miss Phfpps took the stand yesterday at tho
hearing the return OF the writ OF habeas corpus
obtained for Alice. She began her testimony py
telling Of the wedding Of MI Kortright sno MS
second wife.
Were you not opposed to SLOWING Mr. Kort-
right to take Alice from you 70 live with him."
she asked.
"Oh objected to losing Alice. but could not
object 70 Mr. Kortr1ght taking his child was
the reply.
Miss Phipps said that Mr.. and Mrs Kortright
ON an extended wedding trip, and that on
their return they visited her at Roslyndale while
there Mr. Kortright taken Ill In June last
Mr.. Kortright was again taken III. and went under
the treatment OF DR. Garfield specialist IN
nervous diseases The witness questioned
closely to get her say what the matter with
Mr.. Kortright. and at first she successfully evaded
answering She said that She had visited Mr.
Kortright while he Was an inmate Of sanitarium
Boston. but that she was not allowed TO zee
him by order OF Mrs Kortright Miss Phipps SAID
finally that her brother-in-lew had suffered from
hernorrfage Of the brain, and had been confined in
several santariumA Specialists had told her that
he suffering from paresis. One OF these
specialists DR. Dana
The witness then told Of meeting Mr.. Kortr!ght
at the Aihemarle Hotel after he got better She
said she had not seen him for over a year at that
time At this interview ne talked 10 her about the
guardianship Of the child.
did he say anything TO you about Mrs kort-
right treatiag the child unkindly" she was asked.
7 don't remember anything Of the kind" re-
piled Miss Phipps.
Did he say the child not very weilY
We'll ne said something in that way
Miss Fhipps then told Of three interviews she
had with Mr.. Kortright relative 10 his appointing
her guardian OF Alice At the last one he gave her
a PAPER which he said gave her the guardianship
OF the child and power Of attorney over Alice
money, which had been left her by her mother.
The child at this time staying at Lenox. Mass
Soon afterwerd. Miss Phpps seid. she got a teie-
cram from kortright. IN consequence OF which she
went TO Saratoga, accompanied b. Mrs. Bradford.
her brother and a lawyer They went TO the Grand
linton Hotel an1 Mr. Kortright soon afterward
went to the hotel with Alice He told the witness
that the child had been out with her nurse FOR
walk and that he had left the nurse downstairs.
Miss Phipps said that she at once left the hotel
with Alice and said she did not leave by the
front door.
You said that you were satisfied TO keep the
child and devote your life and fortune 70 heT'
When you said go did you intend TO keep her away
frorn her former associates?" Miss Phipps was
asked
What do you mean" returned the witness.
From her childish friendships with proper per-
sons The little children she used to play with
for Instance
"Yes s'' retoried Mss Phipps ansrily. II DO
You never want her to see her ssepmother
again"
Mi Kortrisht recalled said he was forty-one
| wears cd and considering circumstances hH
! Sesith va very good RE wanted rest and quiet
His memory was he admitted. not very sVoo' ne
failed to remember the date or his marriage WIN
| Mrs Kortrtght and was not sure OF the cate o.
! AIce's birth He said ne was never sepaIa.eo
| from AIra Kortrght except when ne was III me me
ssn',a ri,,rn. % which he had been sent IN
Har.rrber iast he noticed that things with regard
/ IN Alice were not as he wanted he spoke 70 MIS-
/ kort-ight about the child not having Nurse ano
told her that he took great Interest IN me chuo
/ DO you remember tciegraphns 70 Mrs kors.
rlght saving that you thought the child was oea"'
| asked counsel - ~. 1yo-,-,ab,
"ii YOU not think she had been stolen away?
Il DID I thought lot or uihss. nau io'
| OF notions" . .orio,s tho
,ritress said they The moro he saw or ms
| daughter with her stepmother he continued, ING
NOR anxious he was 20 get hoo OF her ahi wan!
., ct rossession OF her peaceably Mrs. kortrgh,
nrorniseI 20 x1ve up the child but afterwaru WOu!d
10 do AZ In reply to several questions. MT kort-
riyht declined 10 discuss any sup)eoi III coioeS'i0
~. 'Ieartrg will be resumed to-day.