Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-10-29
HABEAS CORPUS
CASES
Two Parents Seek Custody OF Children
ia Superior Court
Five Year Old Harold Hammer TO Re
nam IN Woodstock

For the first time in twenty years a
writ of habeas corpus has been served
in Windham county. There were two
IN fact and both were heard by Judge
Gardiner Green at Willimantie Tues
day. The case of interest TO this end
of the county was one in which Wood
stock parties were interested.
Henry Hammer of Schenectady, \.
Y, sought to recover the custody of
his five year old son Harold who has
been living with his grandparents, Mr..
and Mrs. August Danielson, Wood,
stock, since the father and mother sep
arsted last July.
Mr.. Hammer testified that he WIS
employed by the General Electric
Company and received SO to S26 a
week. He married Mary Danielson
Aug. 30th, 1907, and they had four
children, two having died. His wife
left him last July and New York
court gave him decree emitting him
to the custody lof the boy which was
all he asked. About a week ago he
/ went TO Woodstock with Deputy
Sheriff HoIbrook of Putnam and Mr..
| Danielson refused TO give up the child
| giving as his reason that he was afraid
charges of kidnapping might be
brought against him. He remained
over night and told of various terms of
affection his boy used, saying among
other uhings, "Papa l want you to
take me on The train with you
On cross examination he admitted
that his brother in-law was bar tend.
er but said he was not drinking man
and said his sister would take care of
the child as her own.
| Mr.. DanieIson " as the first witness
for the other side. He denied telling
Hammer that he thought he should
have the custody of the child but did
/ say he thought the entire family should
| get together. He told of his daughter
coming home and saying that she
! could not get along with her husband
/ and that he would not give her any
money. He did not want any board
paid for the care of the children as he
| loved them. His daughter was work
/ ing in Providence earning So week
besides her board and contributed that
amount for the care and clothing Of
/ the children.
| Mrs. Mary Hammer said that she
| did not think her sisteT-inlaw would
/ treat the child as her own as she had
| three small children herself She had
never seen her brother in-law intoxi-
! Gated but he had drunk whiskey in
| front of her and the children. On one
occasion her sister in-law had said,
! "There's another little devil heard
/ from,u when one of witness children
began to cry. Her husband had not
given her any, money for eight or ten
weeks prior TO her leaving him. 1t was
not her intention TO keep The father
| from the children.
Deputy Sheriff Holbrook testified to
the good name the Danielsons bore in
the community saying he had known
them about twenty years.
Mrs. Dsnielson also told of her will
| lingness to care for both children.
Judge Green thought that the child
should remain where il was, with its
grandparents, for the present, at least
until he was 10 years old, but he
thought the attorneys should get to-
gether and reach some agreement AS be
| thought the father had some rights in
the child.
In the afternoon a similar case in
which Willimantic people were inter
ested was heard but was not finished