New-York tribune., 1898-10-30
MOTHER AND CHILDREN UNITED
A SCENE IN THE SUPREME COURT AT A
HABEAS CORPUS HEARING.

There was an affecting scene in Par: II of the
Supreme Court yesterday morning when the chill
dren OF Mrs. Augusta Sommers were brought into
court. The commoton was caused By George II.
Sommers. the father Of the little ones. trying TO
keep his eldest daughter May from rushing into
the arms Of her mother The Sommerses. father,
mother and their two daughters-May. five years
Old and Lillian. three-lived at No 90 Trinity Place.
Recently there has been "A misunderstanding be-
tween the parents and on Friday Mrs Sommers
complained 10 Justice Cohen that her little ones
had been abducted by their father and had been
placed in institution at Blauvelt. Rockand
county y. Y She secured writ OF habeas corpus
directing the father to produce them in cour; be-
fore Justice Cohen yesterday morning
A few minutes before the court opened. Sommerd,
with The two little ones entered the courtroom. He
took seat In remote corner and placed the girls
one each knee. Sommers hardly seated
before his wife. accompanied by a large party OF
friends entered the courtroom. AS soor she
saw her children she uttered cry OF delight. and
with open arms hurried toward the little party in
the corner. Little May the first to see her
mother She struggled to get off her fathers lap.
but he held her and tried TO keep her from the
mother. The little one began 10 cry, and finally
broke from her fathers encrcng arms. She ran
to her mothers side and moment later mother
and daughter hugging each other and min
Cling their tears. Several court officers rushed be-
tween the father and mother and succeeded in re-
storing order.
When the proceedings opened one Of the little
girls was seated on the lap OF the father while the
other with the mother. Counsel for Mrs.
Sommers told Justice Cohen that the father had
forcibly taken the children from their mother. their
natural protector. and without her knowledge
placed them in institution. The little ones.
the lawyer said. had not been regularly committed
by police magistrate.
w. j. A. Caffrey. who appeared for the father
and also for the Department OF Charities, said
that the had been referred TO Superintendent
Blair several weeks ago. The Department decided
Pfeifer. one Of the Department inspectors. Her
report was read in court by Mr. Caffrey. 1t said
that both the father and the mother were addicted
neglected her children Miss Pfeifer reported that
the children were allowed to remain In the street
until late al night. and that Mrs. Sommers had
sons over saloons. Miss Pfeifers Investigations
showed. however that the father was better fitted
TO have the custody of the children than the
mother
Counsel for Mrs Sommers yehemontly denied the
statements in the report referring to the mother
teaching the children TO dance before improper per
Justice Cohen called Miss Pfeiffcr up to the
bench and questioned her closely. He then asked
the mother questions
As a result the Justice said: while there is a
question of fact for determination in this case as
ones until that question has been determined on
account OF the tender and of the HIT
ones will give them into her charge. will direct
that all parties TO the matter appear In court on
Tuesday and give testimony to the fact for de-
termination. will decide as TO the ultmato
custody OF the children on Wednesday after the es-
timony Ia all in"
AS soon as the decision OF the Justice had been
made. Sommers allowed his little daughter to slip
from his lap and go over 10 where the mother was
her skirts Mrs Sommers then walked out Of the
courtroom. her face wrea thed in smiles.