Case Summary

Frances Anzalone, the bound party, is the wife of Sebastino Anzalone and the daughter of Joe Valendi. However, her status as a minor and first cousin to Sebastino Anzalone led to her forceful removal from her home to the Riverview Detention Home for Juveniles. This arrest was made under the claim that she was bound to an illegal marriage for her age and consanguinity with Anzalone. The petitioners argued that in Italian culture, it is normal for young girls to be married at her age and that the couple is only related as half-blood first cousins. Additionally, the marriage was consensual and had the approval of Valendi, the wife's father. According to the appearance docket, the case was dismissed for want of prosecution.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Institutional
• Carceral

Petition subtype(s)

• Juvenile detention
• Spousal custody
• Marriage within legal degree of consanguinity

Sites of significance

• Riverview Detention Home for Juveniles (Omaha, Nebraska)

Outcome

Writ dismissed for want of prosecution

Fate of bound party

Remained in 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. 101; 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. 22-101

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

• Anzalone, Frances (bound party)
• Anzalone, Sebastino (petitioner)
• Valendi, Joe (petitioner)
• Vosburg, August H. (A.H. Vossburgh, A.H. Vosburgh, A.H. Vosberg) (holding party)
• Vosburg, August H. (A.H. Vossburgh, A.H. Vosburgh, A.H. Vosberg) (responding party)
• Sexton, John (responding party)
• Sexton, John (holding party)
• Lovely, Joseph M. (petitioner attorney)
• Lovely, William E. (petitioner attorney)

• Additional parties

  Shotwell, A. V. (county attorney)