The San Francisco call., 1899-12-28
His Parents Appear
in Cooks Court.
BOY IN SHERIFFS CUSTODY
EFFORTS BEING MADE To
EFFECT A COMPROMISE
Disposition Of Litigation Between
the Prominent New Orleans
People Near at
Hand.

The first scene IN what promises to be
a sensational legal battle for the custody
Of young Richard Dabney johnson was
enacted by parents and counsel IN Judge
Cooks court yesterday morning. The
child. who is just past u years Of age,
Is the coveted treasure OF his parents,
Albert Sidney Johnson and his wife. but
as they have separated there will be con-
siderable trouble before his custody ia
finally awarded by the court Late Tues
day afternoon Deputy Sheriff D. c. Mar
TIN went TO the Occidental Hotel In obedi-
ence or process OF court and took the
lad from the custody.of his mother Mrs
Johnson followed them TO the Palace
Hotel and took apartments adjoining
those In which the son retired, and in or
DER to see that the lad did not change his
residence the deputy and Mr.. Johnson
remained up all night and kept guard
Yesterday morning a writ of habeas
corpus sworn out by Mr.. Johnson In an
EFFORT 10 secure the custody of his how
was called by Judge Cook for hearing.
Mother father and child were In court a :
the hour set for the hearing. Milton E,se
ner represented the father, who filed the
writ, and General Barnes appeared TO
prosecute the interests Of the mother.
Mrs. Johnson, richly gowned and with
an intelligent, expressive face; Mr.. John
son, tall and refined, and the lad, bright
Wei groomed and beJeweled. took their
n.
General Barnes rose and said that he
was not ready TO proceed with the merits
OF the case: The contest over the child 5
troubles between his parents and II does
not seem proper that he should remain IN
the custody OF the Sheriff. / ask that un-
given into his mothers custody. We viii
give a bond for his appearance in court
this afternoon.
Mr.. Eisler objected to this proceeding
M har
boy remained in the Sheriff's custody for
g Few hours, and his client, the bows
father. would be better pleased II this
course was followed as the lad might be
influenced n'some way prejudicial 70 he
father. This Mrs. Johnson promptly de-
MED, but the court refused to disturb the
right or the Sheriff and the boy Remained
in his custody. AT o'clock In the after
noon the nugants were again in court and
hr. Eisner made a motion for a continu-
ance. General Barnes said that he had
ooubtless be Effected before this morning
and possibly the lad would be sent to
Texas In charge OF relatives
The case will again come up for hearing
this morning and in the meantime Mr.
ano MIS-. Johnson. who occupy an an
vlable position in New Orleans society.
Will prepare their points In event the
compromise falls through and the court
is left 10 determine the merits OF the
parents contentious.
Nhen court adjourned the ATTORNEYS
agreed 20 hold a meeting this mornIng T.,
the hope OF arriving al an anicahIa IN ~
uement. IL is understood that neither
parent viii allow the child to remain in
lhe custody or the other, but both are
perfectly willing that their son should he
sent 10 boarding school. II the rneetjne
IS successful the dispute for the custodY
OF the child Will come TO an end
IL was stated by one OF the atto-n.ys
last night that the wife will immedia teiY
Me suit against the husband for an sh,
solute divorce on the ground of crueity
and that Mr.. johnson would NOT offer asS -, /,
opposiuon 10 the granting of the decree
III ne ooes some sensational disclosures
Will be made by both sides %
The Johnsons are natives of TEXAS The,
were married in the Lone Star state ana
TOOK UP residence In New Orleans For
me past IVe or six years he has been en-
known cotton manufacturers OF the south
He was sent out to this coast a wear ago
10 introduce the articles manufactured Sv
his hrzn- A few weeks ago Johnson and