Case Summary

Hermann Reiter alleged that his wife, Johanna Reiter, had left him and taken their four children, Johnnie, Hermann, Rosa, and Lilly. They ranged from 2 1/2 to 12 years old. He said that Johanna could not care for them, and was a woman of "vicious and vulgar habits." Both accused the other of infidelity. He asked the children be returned to his custody. When Johanna presented her case the judge could see no issue with the state or cleanliness of the children and reported they chose to stay with their mother initially. In the courtroom, Johanna threatened to kill Hermann's new lover, Lena Peters, if she and Hermann got custody of their children. The case outcome was that Hermann regained custody of the four children after the final day of trial. However, Johanna tried to take the children with her after leaving the courtroom. She said in her defense: "Judge, you may send me to jail if you want to, but I must have my children. I love them and cannot be separated from them."

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

New custody arrangement reached

State

• Nebraska

Tag(s)

• Children

People

• Reiter, Hermann Jr. (bound party)
• Reiter, Lillie (bound party)
• Reiter, John (bound party)
• Reiter, Rosa (bound party)
• Scott, Cunningham R. (judge)
• Reiter, Hermann (petitioner)
• Reiter, Johanna (respondent)
• Reiter, Johanna (holding party)
• Reiter, Johanna (responding party)
• Battin, John W. (petitioner attorney)

• Additional parties

  Sweeney, Mortimer (Witness)

  Peters, Lena (witness and Hermann's lover)

  Rick, Mrs. (Witness)

  Henderson, B. (Reporter)

  Frank, Albyn L. (clerk)

  Harris, J. D. (deputy)

  McDonald, John (sheriff)

  Finch, Nellie [friend of Johanna Reiter]