Case Summary

Mrs. Bessie Pfiffer filed for habeas against Charles H. Codding and Elizabeth A. Codding over custody of her daughter, Dorothy Pfiffer, a 10-month-old baby girl, on December 13. The Coddings said that the baby had been left on their doorstep with a note from "Mother Stork." Bessie said that this was only meant to be temporary, while the Coddings assumed that this meant they were adopting the child. A writ was issued by Judge Estelle and Mrs. Pfiffer was granted custody of her daughter.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody

Case Citation

Douglas County District Court, Criminal Appearance Docket Books, Vol. 14: ca.1909 - July 1911, p. 507; Douglas County District Court, RG230 Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Roll 44: Doc. 14-492 to 14-580, Nov. 19, 1910 - Mar. 16, 1911, No. 14-507 (microfilm)

Source material(s)

Docket | Case File

Length of case file

5 or fewer pages

Repository(s)

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

State

• Nebraska

Tag(s)

• Children

People

• Estelle, Lee S. (judge)
• Pfiffer, Bessie (petitioner)
• Pfiffer, Dorothy (bound party)
• Codding, Charles H. (respondent)
• Codding, Charles H. (holding party)
• Codding, Charles H. (responding party)
• Codding, Elizabeth A. (respondent)
• Codding, Elizabeth A. (holding party)
• Codding, Elizabeth A. (responding party)

• Additional parties

  Brailey, E. F. (Sheriff)

  Foster, W. A. (Deputy)