The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-05
Charges Petersburg w O.
m an W it h u sin G
Forged Document.
FIGHT TO SECURE
CUSTODY OF CHILD
Father Was Once Arrested for
Abduction-False Certificate Of
Record in Washington Court
Claimed-Warrant Issued
by Judge Wat
son.

Behind the issuance of a warrant
yesterday by Judge Walter A. watson
for the arrest OF Mrs. Amy L. ormsby
in Petersburg, lies a. long story of do
nestle infelicity and of struggle for
the possession OF child, involving
members OF prominent family in
massachusetts and Ohio. The warrant
which was seen iii The Times Dispa tch
office last night signed b. Judge Wat
son at his home in Forest Hill, just
outside of South Richmond. was Issued
on complaint of George L. Ormsby. the
husband OF the defendant.
me complaint as presence TO the
Judge. who prcsidcs over the Circuit
Court of Petersburg. sets forth that
Mrs. Ormsby. on March l6. 1911, in
the Cockade City, did utter or at
Tempt 70 employ as true forged pub
nc record. knowing tho same to be
forged consisting or a pretended
decree fraudulently cntere~ without
authority In the records OF the Su-
preme Court of the District of Colum-
Dla. This was done. it is CHARGED
LOT the purpose of attesting a feigncd
and forged certificate or seeming to
attest same and uttered to defraud tho
shild OF hearing on q petition of
go. corpus as REQUIRED by section
go u lhe CODE of Virginia"
Got Divorce In ohio.
II Is stated that Mrs. Ormsbv So
cured decree Of divorce at Xeni, n
Dy methods which her husband de.
ciares TO be illegal. Later. he says the
part or the decree giving her cust odv
OF the four-year-old child. Woodhnry
Beverly Ormshy. was set aside. ana the
iather took the child TO Newburyport.
Mass. near Boston. There the father
Vas arrested on a charge OF abduction,
me VIE securing the child. When he
sued out writ OF habeas cornus tn
procure the production of the child IN
court he lost Ivy means of what he
declares TO have been a forged certi0-
cate of public record which record
was not In existence. Evidence was
adduccd TO show that no such record
was made In the District of Columbia.
Inc decree was rendered in Washing
ton by Judge Wendell Phillips Stat
ford. III.
y somewhat pitiful story Is told from
the fathers side. It is 10 the effect
that the four-year-old child was
taught TO smoke. and that the Judge OF
court could see for himself that the
boy would eagerly secure scraps of
cigarettes. Again. IL was said that If
In court the child would manifest his
affection for the father But public
appearances have been defeated By
legal decisions.
Tried In Petersburg.
Recently George L. OrmsDy applted
TO Judge j. NJ. Mullen. of the Corpora
lion Court Of Petersburg for 4 writ
Of habeas corpus 10 compel the wife
who has been residing there as a
teacher for some time. TO produces their
child. l''T''
1t appeared to Judge Mullen that the
respondent was temporarily employed
in Petersburg. but that her home was
In Washington. and that the child
was not with her, but in the District
of Columbia with Its grandpar rents.
Further, It was shown to the judge
that the matter of the rishtful custody
of the child had been decided in Wash :
ington under habeas corpus proceed
ings instituted by Mr.. Ormsby there,
to determine who was entitled 10 its
custody. 1t was then held that he
was not entitled to the child. but that
Mrs. Ormsby was Upon this show
ing, the haheas corpus proceedings in
petersburg were dismissed.
The father now claims that the al
legged records as coming from Wash
inston We're employed against him he
fore Judge Mullen. and that these re-
cords We're forged.
An involved series OF legal questions
enter into the case, among them as to
whether a court in one State can ap-
point guardian or custodian of a
child when the divorce decree has
been granted in another
1t is presumed that the warrant for
the arrest of Mrs. Ormsby Will be
served to-day She is TO be taken
before the Petersburg Police Justice
for preliminary hearing