The times., 1898-01-20
BERTIE MUDD AL Liberty
Released From the House OF tile
Coed Shepherd.
Judre Bradley Holds That she is
UnIawIuIiy 6elo and he.eases
Her From l. Prisun Bolts.

BERTHE Mudd. the ighteen-year-old
young woman who has been confined at
the house OF the Good Shepherd, in the
custody of the Board of Children's
Guardians. was released yesterday by
a decision of Judge Bradley, in the ha-
beas corpus proceedings instituted last
week by her mother, Dorinda Mudd.
Mrs. Mudd won her case and the girl
obtained her liberty, but the important
legal points which it was hoped would
be decided in the case were not touch
ed on by Judge Braaley.
The decision was on the question OF
the legality OF the original commit
ment. which was not touched on either
by Lawyer Smith for the petitioner or
MIR. Baher. Of the District attorney
office, for the Guardians.
BERTHE Mudd was committed 10 the
Guardians two years ago by the police
court under the clause of the Guar
dians' act relating to children of vi
cious and unfit parents and surround
ines An attempt was made soon al
ter that to obtain her release, but It
was unsuccessful. The girl was dis
satisfied at the restraint of the House
of the Good Shepherd and twice ran
away Her mother, too, desired her
release.
The present petition for habeas cor
pus stated that she was eighteen years
of age OH January 10. and argued that
the Guardians had no right to hold her
loneer. II stated that she was grown
woman and entirely able to take care
Of herself, and that her mother had
home for her.
At the hearing Attorney j. ii. smith
argued these points at length. Mr
la1A fhof the of ma1OlllN Ul
a woman is twenty-one for such pur-
pose as that contemplated in the Guar
dians' act.
Judge Bradley announced at the
hearing which occurred last saturday,
that he would give his decision in the
case Yesterday. and Miss Mudd was re-
manded to the House OF the Good Shep-
herd. much against her wishes.
The decision yesterday was sur
prise to all who have been interested in
il. not because it was in favor of the
petitioner, but because of the reasons
assigned He held, briefly, that there
should have been a definite order OF
commitment by the police court. He
said it should have contained the age
of the girl and the time for which she
WAS 10 be held by the Guardians.
Nothing of this kind was done, he
said, but simply in q very informal
manner she was handed over 10 them,
although she had committed no crime
and was not guilty in any way There
are other questions as to the age OF
majority and other matters which
might have made her detention lawful
except for the defective commitment.
These properly may be decided at an
other time II may be. too, that it
would be better for the girl to remain
where she is, but she desires her lib
erty. She is unlawfully held and is
given her liberty.
In commenting on the confinement OF
the girl at the House of the Good Shep-
herd Judge Bradley made the state
lnent that in his opinion such severe
ly close restraint as she seemed TO him
to have been under almost prison-like,
when she had committed no crime
ought not to be possible as an intiic-
ton by the Guardians. He inumated
that he had grave doubts that the
board has the legal authority.