Case Summary

George Taylor said that Raymond Taylor, his five year old son, was taken from his house in April by his ex-wife and Raymond’s mother, Gertie Taylor. Gertie had sued him for divorce in September of 1903, accusing him of "cruel and inhuman treatment," such as when he threatened to shoot her. George alleged that Gertie took him while he was away at work and that she refused to let him talk to or see their child. However, George had already kidnapped the child once, according to the Omaha Daily Bee. He also alleged that Gertie told several people that this was her plan and that she even told George the afternoon when it happened that she was going to leave immediately with their child for Colorado. While the case was in session, Raymond Taylor was given to Mrs. Grace Ingram to care for. On May 29, 1903, there was an order issued, giving the custody of Raymond to Gertie Taylor and George was allowed to visit. Then on June 1, there was a motion for a new trial where the fate of Raymond Taylor is unknown. However, on July 11, 1903, George was accused with kidnapping his son, as he claimed that Gertie was not properly taking care of the boy.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Outcome

Writ denied

Fate of bound party

Unknown

Case Citation

Douglas County District Court, Criminal Appearance Docket Books, Vol. 7: ca.1902 - 1903, p. 311; Douglas County District Court, RG230 Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Roll 13: Doc. 7-302 to 8-3, Apr. 14, 1903 - Sep. 23, 1903, No. 7-311 (microfilm)

Source material(s)

Docket | Case File

Length of case file

Between 51 and 75 pages

Repository(s)

• History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska)

State

• Nebraska

Tag(s)

• Children

People

• Taylor, Raymond (bound party)
• Taylor, George (petitioner)
• Taylor, Gertie (holding party)
• Taylor, Gertie (respondent)
• Taylor, Gertie (responding party)
• Estelle, Lee S. (judge)
• Hodder, E. O. (petitioner attorney)
• Pritchard, Charles B. (respondent attorney)

• Additional parties

  Albert, L. J. (constable, witness)

  O'Hanley, Robert E. (notary public in Pottawattamie county)

  Vien, Ovide (witness, real estate and collections and insurance)

  Capel (conducted witness examinations)

  Miller, George T. (witness, overseer of the Poor in the Kane Township)

  Tucker, E. M. (witness, neighbor)

  Forsythe, E. E. (witness, neighbor)

  Lumen, Nancy Jane (witness, neighbor)

  Green, S. S. (witness, employer)

  Power, John (sheriff)

  Dickinson, Charles T. (judge)

  Mrs. Luman [George Taylor's mother]