Case Summary

On May 11, 1921, a writ of Habeas Corpus was petitioned for by Harry H. Schiffler on behalf of his child Kathryn Elizabeth Schiffler against Walter N. Halsey. In his petition Harry presented that his daughter Kathryn was in custody of Halsey, a Presbyterian minister in Omaha and dean of UNO, without his consent. In his response, Halsey claimed that his daughter who had passed earlier in the same year was the wife of Harry and mother of Kathryn and that when she died, she requested that Halsey keep and care for Kathryn. It was also stated in his petition that Harry had remarried and together with Erma Nelson had a comfortable and safe home for Kathryn. He had traveled all the way from Los Angeles to be in Omaha for the hearing. It was January of the following year that the petition was dismissed for want of prosecution. In the 1930 census, Katheryn is seen living in Los Angeles with Harry and his new wife, Florence.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Outcome

Writ dismissed for want of prosecution

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. 23: ca. 1920 - 1920, p. 572; Douglas County District Court, Omaha, NE, RG230: Douglas County Records, Subgroup 10: District Court, 1855-1972, Series 7: Criminal Case Files, 1897-1920, Reel 97: 23-447 to 23-587, Mar. 1, 1921 - May 21, 1921, No. 23-572

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

Tag(s)

• Children

People

• Schiffler, Harry H. (petitioner)
• Schiffler, Kathryn Elizabeth (bound party)
• Halsey, Walter N. (holding party)
• Thomsen, (petitioner attorney)
• Standeven, (petitioner attorney)
• Dill, (petitioner attorney)
• Troupe, A. C. (Troup) (judge)

• Additional parties

  Clark, Micheal L. (Sheriff)

  Johnson, Charles T. (Deputy)

  Bearse, Nellie (Notary Public)

  Smith, Robert (Clerk)

  Steere, Jr., Asel (Deputy)

  Shotwell, A. V. (County Attorney)

  Halsey, Charlotte Eleanore [Kathryn Elizabeth's deceased mother]