The Washington times., 1922-09-30
MOTHER IN.
T: A | n 7 AS
IS
RELEASED
Verdict Charges Immoral ReIa-
tions, But Names Professor
Father of Babe.
BY international News Service.

SOUTH BEND, Ind, Sept. 30.-
Harry Poulin, the campus haber-
dasher, today was adjudged not
to be the father of Mrs. Augusta
Tiernan's baby, born last Novem-
Der. The decision was handed
down by Judge Chester Ducomb.
Decision Shocks Tiernans.
The decision came like thunder
bolt TO the Tiernans and their
friends, for IL was clear-cut.
1t comprised six typewriter pages
of legal paper.
Judge Ducomb made il distinct
that he found Poulin mot guilty"
of the accusation made against him
by the wife of Prof. John =. Tiernan,
of Notre Dame University, in ner
confessed story OF a scarlet love
romance with the haberdasher
Judge Ducomb stated, however,
that he believed there had been init.
mate relations between Mrs. Tiernan
and Pourin.
The fact, however, that Prof.
Tiernan had lived with his wife
throughout the entire affair created
the reasonable doubt that made 1t
legally compulsory to find for the
defendant, the decision stated.
II was pointed out that. although
Mrs. Tiernan testified she had not
lived in the relation Of husband and
wife with her husband during the
period Of her confessed clandestIne
love affair with Poulin, the coupe
had lived together and had remained
together. This fact created the rea-
sonable doubt as to whether Poulin
was the father Of the child.
Strange Case, Says Judge.
This is an unusual case" Judge
DuComb stated in his decision, "du
to the fact that the relatrix and The
mother Of the child 10 a married
woman and was living with her hus.
band when the child was begotten.
and alleged in her complaint that
Harry Poulin, who is not her nus.
band, is the father thereof.
This case has been given d
great deal Of notoriety and the tes-
timony has been Of the most sensa
tional character and has shocked
the morals of the court as we'll as
the entire country: and ] regret this
incident in my life that it became
my painful duty and that I was
compelled to give the time in the
trial Of a case Of such a degrading
nature.
There are two views by which
| to consider this case. One is the
| immortality and the other lis: Is
Harry Poulin the father OF the
| unfortunate child?'
Public Eager to Blame.
The public is looking upon this
case purely from an immoral stand.
point and is endeavoring to place
the blame either upon the mother OF
| the defendant for the notoriety and
shame that has befallen the families
of these parties and our community.
This court has but one duty TO
| perform, and that is TO determine
| from the evidence and the law ap.
| piled in the case. whether Harry
Poulin is the father of the child
| irrespective OF the immortality or
who is to blame for the conduct Of
| the parties.
"It might be we'll to say at this
time that the court is of the opinion
that the only real innocent party 10
the case is the mysterious baby, who
has been foremost in the mind Of
the court during the entire trial, but
| in the clamor and the cries of the
public the child has been almost
forgotten"
| Iferndn HAPPY Al bTtn.
The decision, after pointing out
that the intimate relationship be.
tween Mrs. Tiernan and Harry
Poulin began about February IS,
1921, and continued for a period of
about six months, states that a baby
boy was born on November 9S of
last year.
John p. Tiernan, a professor Of
law at the University OF Notre
Dame. with whom the relatrix was
living during the entire time, was
delighted with the fact that a boy
had been born to him." the deci
sion stated. "and had the baby
baptized and named William John
| Tiernan.
THAT on the eighth day OF Janu.
ary, 1922. after the birth OF said
child. the defendant. Harry Poulin,
refused to recognize the relatrix,
and she confessed to her husband
the relations between her and the
defendant.
Afterwards the husband OF the
relatrix demanded OF the defendant
a sufficient sum OF money for the
maintenance and support OF said
child. which the defendant refused
and which resulted in the filing Of
this case OF action"
Pointing out that the evidence in
the case was in direct conflict. the
opinion stated that the case OF Mrs
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