Case Summary

Carl O. Nelson is the father of Georgia Catherine Nelson, a three-year-old girl in the custody of her grandmother, Pearl Nelson. Pearl was Carl's mother, but Carl filed for a writ of Habeas Corpus against Pearl, claiming she is holding his daughter illegally. Pearl stated that young Georgia has been under her care since Georgia's mother passed away because Carl had consented for Pearl to adopt Georgia; however, the adoption was never done. Carl recently remarried after the passing of Georgia's mother and argued that he and his new wife would provide a stable and loving household for Georgia. The courtroom debate got heated: Carl's sister, in the audience, stood up and said "He is not entitled to this child. Look at what he did to his first wife," after which Pearl burst into tears.The judge agreed and granted Carl a writ of habeas corpus, ordering Pearl to release the child from her custody.

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, Omaha, NE, RG230: Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series: Criminal Appearance Docket Books, Vol. 22: ca. 1919 - 1920, p. 203; Douglas County District Court, Omaha, NE, RG230: Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Reel 89: Doc. 22-51 to 22-210, Dec. 30, 1919 - Feb. 26, 1920, No. 22-203

Source material(s)

Docket | Case File

Length of case file

Between 11 and 20 pages

Repository(s)

• Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska)

State

• Nebraska

Tag(s)

• Children
• Domestic violence

People

• Nelson, Carl O. (petitioner)
• Nelson, Georgia Catherine (bound party)
• Brungardt, A. F. (petitioner attorney)
• Nelson, Pearl (responding party)
• Nelson, Pearl (holding party)
• Hascall, Vincent C. (respondent attorney)
• Troupe, A. C. (Troup) (judge)

• Additional parties

  Smith, Robert (clerk)

  Steere, Jr., Asel (deputy)

  Clark, Michael L. (sheriff)

  Chirstensen, Chris (deputy)

  Marcomint, Fred P. (notary public)

  Shotwell, A. V. (county attorney)

  Nelson, Georgia C. [Georgia Catherine's deceased mother]