Case Summary

On June 28, 1898, Edson Sturgeon was awarded a divorce with his then wife Emma A. Harrison. In addition, Sturgeon was awarded the sole custody of his child and minor Zeta Myrtle Sturgeon. On March 13, 1901, Emma Harrison “enticed” Zeta from Edson Sturgeon, and was holding her in Ballard, Washington. On April 1, 1901, Edson Sturgeon filed a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of his child Zeta, claiming that he had a legal claim to his child as well as that Emma Harrison was unfit to have custody of said child. Within his petition, he also urged the court to move quickly in their action as he was concerned that Harrison would move Zeta out of the jurisdiction of the court. A warrant was issued, Zeta was removed from the custody of Emma Harrison and placed in the House of the Good Shepherd while the court concluded its proceedings. On April 6, 1901, the court awarded full custody to Edson Sturgeon as well as ordered Emma A. Harrison returned to Sturgeon all of Zeta’s personal belongings that she took with her when Emma came into possession of the child.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Sites of significance

• House of the Good Shepherd (Seattle, Washington)
• King County Superior Court (Seattle, Washington)

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody|custody transferred to third party

Case Citation

King County Government, Judicial Records, Superior Court, Case No. 31953

Source material(s)

Case File

Length of case file

Between 21 and 30 pages

Repository(s)

• Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue, Washington)

State

• Washington

People

• Sturgeon, Edson (petitioner)
• Sturgeon, Zeta Myrtle (bound party)
• Harrison, Emma A. (respondent)
• Harrison, Emma A. (responding party)
• Harrison, Emma A. (holding party)
• Noon & Noon, (petitioner attorney)
• Booth, Robert (respondent attorney)

• Additional parties

  Sherman S. Frye (Notary)

  Edward Cudihee (Sheriff)

  William Cook (Deputy)