Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-22
REQUEST REFUSED.
Justice Whitehouse Denies Writ
of Habeas Corpus.
Remands Custody Of Armenian Girl
to Mr.. and Mrs. Clifford.
An Interesting Hearing Lasting
Throughout the Day.

The hearing on the application Of
Mrs. Margaret Geyikian of Summit,
N. j., for Il writ of habeas corpus
against E. Burton Clifford of Winthrop,
for the custody of her daughter
ZaErnie, took place at the Court house
in this city, yesterday, before Asso-
ciate Justice w. p. Whitehouse. The
hearing began at 10 o'clock and con-
tinued throughout the day and well in
to the evening. George C. Sheldon,
Esq, appeared for the complainant
and Thomas Leigh, Esq, of this city
and II. E. Foster, Esq, of Winthrop,
for the defence.
At the beginning Mr.. Sheldon stated
that his client would be able to show
that Mr.. Clifford had never been legal
ly made the custodian of her daugh-
ter beyond a period of five years; and
that that time had already elapsed.
She therefore desired the permission
of the court to take the girl with her
to New Jersey where she had a good
home provided and where the girl
might have the same advantages of
securing an education that she has
here.
Mrs. Geyikian was present and was
the first witness called. She can only
speak Armenian and her brother. DIR.
Oham Gadzakian of Boston, inter-
preted her testimony to the court. Her
story was in effect that her husband
was killed in Il massacre in her native
land in 1896; that he was a man OF
some means, owned his home and car
ried on business. When he was killed
his property with the exception OF the
house where his family lived was con-
fiscated. in 1897 she took her SIX
children with her and came to Bos-
ton, having sold her little home FOR 10
Turkish pounds. Landing in Boston
she found she had no place to go ana
she applied to Rev. NJ. II. Hitchcock
of the Congregational Missionary so
ciety, who agreed to obtain homes Tor
her younger children so that she might
have an opportunity to work ana pro-
vide n home FOR them in the future.
Through Mr.. Hitchcock Zahrnie got
n home at T.. r. Cliffor6's in winthrop,
where she remained short time ana
then went TO the home of his brother'
e. Burton Clifford, in the same town,
where she has been a little more than
five years.
on the 9TH of July, Mrs. Geyikian,
ACCOMPANIED by her brother, came TO
Winthrop for the purpose OF taking
her daughter away with her, put she
did not want to go. She then appealed
| to counsel and the habeas corpus pro-
ccedings were begun.
DR.. Oham Gaidzakian. an uncle TO
the girl, followed in support OF ms SIS
| ter's testimony and said:
INV sister came to me in Boston and
asked me to come to winthrop with
her and see Mr.. Clifford and ask him
| IN have Zahrnie go home with her. we
| did so on the eth of July. Saw Zahrnit
! and she said she did not want to return
with us. Saw Mr.. Clifford at Mr.. Eos
| tors office in Winthrop, and he told u:
! if the girl wanted to go she could. TheS
! chanaed her name to Zoe Clifford. | dt
not think they had a right to change
that because she would forget hel
! mother when her name is changed IN
n next day when we went with the OH
/ GERS the girl had been taken away an'
! we could not see her. They never sait
1 ANYTHING about paying her mother
fare once q year to come ana see th'
girl They did not say they would pa,
her fare back to New Jersey at thi:
! time"
Il On account of the fact that the plain
tiff could only speak in Armenian AM
!; the brother spoke rather imperfec
; English there was more or less della.
caused in getting the testimony befor
the court Shortly before noon. how
| ever. the counsel for plaintiff rested TIL
case and the defense began The fol
!, lowing witnesses We're called: f. Bur
ton Clifford, Mrs. Eva Clifford. A. I
Clifford. Mrs. Flora Clifford, Z. T. Cliff