Case Summary

Rachael (Ray) Cohen claims to have married Albert Rosenbloom (petitioner) on 7 April 1908 in Russia. Rosenbloom stated that he was pressured by force and threat by “matrimonial agents” to consent to marriage. The marriage was completed according to the Jewish rights and customs of the area and was in violation of Russian law. The petition stated that the marriage had no legally binding force and was never consummated. He paid Cohen 400 rubles soon after the ceremony and then left Russia for America. While he lived in America from that point forward, he remained a citizen of Russia. On 20 February 1910, Cohen followed Rosenbloom and filed petitions which led to his arrest in New York. He was compelled by reason of the arrest and imprisonment to pay Cohen $5/week in support. Cohen continuously harassed and annoyed Rosenbloom in his place of work, so much so that he decided to stop paying her support, left New York, and became a resident of Missouri. On 11 November 1911, Rosenbloom moved to Douglas County. On 9 December 1912, Cohen filed a complaint against Rosenbloom at the solicitation of the Jewish Society in Omaha. In the petition, she claimed to be Rosenbloom’s wife and used the name “Rachael Rosenbloom.” She claimed that Albert had neglected his duties to her beginning on 1 March 1911. A warrant was issued for his arrest in Douglas County, he was taken into custody and placed in jail. On 16 December 1912, Albert Rosenbloom was sentenced to 90 days in county jail. This petition asked for a writ of habeas corpus to be issued to release him from his unlawful imprisonment, it hinged on the claim that Nebraska had no jurisdiction over the affairs of Rachael Cohen and Albert Rosenbloom as they were both Russian citizens and were residing in New York at the date listed in the complaint. Judge Leslie allowed the writ on 16 December 1912. The Appearance Docket for the case notes that the application was denied on 18 December 1912, there is no reason stated.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Carceral

Petition subtype(s)

• Wife desertion

Sites of significance

• Douglas County Jail (Omaha, Nebraska)

Outcome

Writ denied

Fate of bound party

Remained in custody

Case Citation

Douglas County District Court, Criminal Appearance Docket Books, Vol. 15: ca.Oct. 1911 - March 1913, p. 552; Douglas County District Court, RG230 Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Roll 51: Doc. 15-528 to 15-675, Nov. 23, 1912 - Jan. 17, 1913, No. 15-552 (microfilm)

Source material(s)

Case File | Docket

Length of case file

Between 11 and 20 pages

Repository(s)

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

State

• Nebraska

People

• Rosenbloom, Albert L. (petitioner)
• Rosenbloom, Albert L. (bound party)
• Cunningham, M. O. (petitioner attorney)
• Cohen, Rachael (Ray) (respondent)
• English, James P. (respondent attorney)
• McShane, Jr., Felix J. (F. J.) (holding party)
• Leslie, Charles (judge)

• Additional parties

  Palmer, Ed W. (Deputy Sheriff)

  Smith, Robert (Clerk)