West v. Ofe

Letton, J. This is an application for a writ of habeas corpus brought by the father of Mae West, a child about 8 years of age at the time of the trial. The petition alleges that, while she was in the lawful custody of the father, she was taken and carried away by persons unknown to him, and she is now unlawfully deprived of her liberty by Dora Ofe, the respondent. The evidence shows that since a few days after the [444] birth .of the child, and until June, 1921, her care and custody were with the respondent, who is her mother’s sister.;:- that respondent, has the same; affection, for her that she would have if she were her own child;, and, that her. mother died' a short time after the birth of the child.. ... . . . Respondent. testifies that, just, prior to, her death, the mother requested respondent to take,and-care,for her and act as a mother ,to. .her,; but relator has produced testi.ipouy as to the statements,made by. respondent t.o¡others,! which seems to cast doubt upon this testimony. _■ For two .years . of this time respondent kept house for the relator, receiving nothing for her services and very little for the maintenance of the child. She. also testifies that she told relator when she took the..child that, if she was not- to be permitted, to keep , her permanently, they must lake her then and not wait until she had formed an affection for her, and under, these conditions the child was .left. with. her.. ... , .. , ; , , Respondent is a seamstress,,she ; haS' ..a , comfortable hpin.e, ..and. if the child, remains ,with her, , she is willing to waive any question of. compensation for, what board and clothes she has already supplied. The child would rather remain with her than live with her father and step-mother. The evidence on behalf of relator shows that he was married the second time.in February, 1920.;, that he, is 40 years old, living upon a farm which he owns;-That he has been a farmer all his life; that his home, is about two and a. quarter miles from a schoolhouse, and five miles from a church; that the school is the. ordinary country school • of eight, grades... The mother of the child died eight days. after her birth. He testified that, after respondent decided not to keep house for him any longer, he wanted to take the chilü, but respondent objected and wanted to keep her, and that he finally agreed to leave the child with her for an indefinite time; thatjbis mother at • that time offered to take the child and was in a [445] position to have-kept her; that he contributed-.-all the. money respondent said he owed her for the . care: qf-dbechild;. $95 in all; that some times it was quite a long period between his visits to the child, once in six months in 1920, but that- be has seen her probably once in every ■two .or three months during the last two years. . He has no other children. The court found that the child was not- unlawfully held in custody, and that the respondent is entitled, to. fyer care, custody '.and control. ;. The law is well settled as., to the respective, .rights of these parties. We-hare, said that tlie right of a:.parent to the . custody of a. .minor child of .tender ...years., is., nqt lightly to be set aside, and that-.the court may .not deprive a parent , of-such custody unless he, or she, has forfeited the right, or is not a proper person, or.no.t living under such .conditions that it is for the best welfare of the .child that.it be kept in his, or her, custody. Our earlier decisions laid, rather more stress on the rights-of the.parents than the later.. The rights, of the parents must not be (Unregarded, but-if- a parent lias surrendered .the..care and custody of a child while it is a mere ,babe in- arms to its maternal aunt, who-has exercised a mother's. care, over it, whose love for the-helpless infant has grown with its growth, and strengthened .with its strength, whom the child regards as a mother, and who at the same time is able and willing to furnish the child, a good home,- care for and educate her, while the parent-, by his own admission, has failed adequately to provide; for the; child, and only visited it.- at- intervals of several months, it seems to us that the -welfare of the; child can better be subserved by leaving her with the aunt whom she love;s and looks upon as a mother and who is lavishing upon.her maternal affection. Furthermore;, while there is nothing to show but that the siepmeitheu* is an estimable woman, there is evidently a coldness of feeding existing between the child and her, Avhich tends to unhappiness for both. The trial judge had the adArantage of seeing the parties [446] and hearing their testimony. We find that his judgment is suppoi*ted by the evidence. Affirmed.