Case Summary

Minnie Sprouse was a young girl born to Carrie Sprouse and Edward Sprouse. Emma Voorhes was Minnie’s maternal grandmother, and one day Ms. Voorhes took her away from her parents and brought her to the Voorhes residence to stay. Minnie’s parents became frustrated and demanded that she be returned to them as soon as possible but Ms. Voorhes refused and stated that she would kill both Edward and Carrie if they ever tried to take Minnie away from her. It was speculated by the Parents that they must act fast or Ms. Voorhes will flee with Minnie out of the jurisdiction and to the state of Missouri making the case harder to navigate. In June of 1896 both Sprouse parents filed a petition of habeas corpus in an attempt to regain custody of Minnie. After the processing of the writ and hearing of the petition, Minnie Sprouse was found to belong to the legal custody of her parents and ordered to be returned.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Sites of significance

• The Superior Court of the State of Washington for King County (Seattle, Washington)

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody

State

• Washington

People

• Osborn, Richard (judge)
• Tipton, F.B. (petitioner attorney)
• Brass, D.W. (respondent attorney)
• Sprouse, Minnie (bound party)
• Sprouse, Edward (petitioner)
• Sprouse, Carrie (petitioner)
• Voorhes, Emma (interested party)

• Additional parties

  Smith, H.S. (deputy); Gordon, T.W. (Clerk);