Hunter v. Dowdy

28 S.E. 387, 100 Ga. 644, 1897 Ga. LEXIS 122

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: March 22, 1897
• Status: Published

Opinion

Lumpkin, Presiding Justice.

An elaborate discussion of the facts of this case would be unprofitable. The law of it is free from doubt. We-simply hold that a habeas corpus court, in deciding a controversy over the custody of a young girl between her* mother and another, commits no. abuse of discretion in* awarding the child to the latter, if there is evidence to warrant a finding that the mother is a lewd woman. It makes-no difference who the other contestant may be. Any fate ■ would be better for the child than the disgrace and ruin which would follow her prostitution. Do place could be-a worse one for her than the home of a wicked and shameless mother.

We do not undertake to adjudicate that the woman who-was contending in this case for the custody of the girl was, in fact, lewd; but the judge before whom the case was heard evidently entertained the opinion that she was, and there-was ample evidence to support such a conclusion. There-was testimony to the contrary, but we would not, of course^ be authorized to say that the finding of the judge upon -this disputed issue was incorrect. Assuming that the mother was lewd, the danger of the girl’s becoming so, if committed to such a woman’s care, would be so great that no ■ eourt would be justified in subjecting the child to such a risk.

There was a contention to the effect that, under its charter, the orphan asylum, to which the child was awarded, -could not lawfully take into its keeping any child who had ;a living parent. But we do not care to go into this matter. The authorities of the asylum were willing to receive this particular child, and we do not think the question of their legal right to do so is one which can be raised by an -outsider, in no way connected with or interested in the management of its affairs.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justioes concurring.