Case Summary

In September 1920, Harry L. Hunsaker filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of his daughter, Genevieve Hunsaker. The petition stated that Harry L. Hunsaker was awarded the custody of Genevieve in 1919 after the divorce to her mother. Harry entered an agreement with Walter W. Hamilton, where Hamilton agreed to keep Harry's three children together in his home. Hamilton violated this agreement and gave Genevive to the Nebraska Children's Home Society, which gave custody to respondent Pearl Beck. The petition alleges Pearl is a woman of bad character and unlawfully restraining Genevieve in her custody. The case was dismissed for want of prosecution in 1922.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Sites of significance

• Nebraska Children's Home Society (Unspecified, Nebraska)

Outcome

Writ dismissed for want of prosecution

Fate of bound party

Unknown

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. 768; Douglas County District Court, Omaha, NE, RG230: Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Reel 93: Doc. 22-638 to 23-15, Aug. 13, 1920 - Oct. 2, 1920, No. 22-768

Source material(s)

Docket | Case File

Length of case file

Between 6 and 10 pages

Repository(s)

• Douglas County District Court (Omaha, Nebraska)

State

• Nebraska

People

• Hunsaker, Harry L. (petitioner)
• Hunsaker, Genevieve (bound party)
• Beck, Pearl (respondent)
• Beck, Pearl (holding party)
• Beck, Pearl (responding party)
• Mossman, Harland L. (Harlan L. Mossman) (petitioner attorney)
• Troupe, A. C. (Troup) (judge)

• Additional parties

  Shotwell, A.V. (County Attorney)

  Thomsen, Arthur J. (Notary Public)

  Walter W. Hamilton (Gave Genevive to Nebraska Children’s Home Society)

  Smith, Robert (Clerk)

  Clark, Michael L. (Sheriff)