Elizabeth Erdine (Erda) Morton

Newspaper Date : 8/17/1893 12:00:00 AM
Volume : 17
Number : 20
Page : 1
Column : 5
Newspaper : Review
Description : Death of Elizabeth E. [Morton] Johnson, wife of John Johnson (married July 25, 1891); custody battle for child.
Transcription : CAN HAVE HIS OWN CHILD. Possession of His Offspring Restored to John Johnson by Habeas Corpus. A few weeks ago the wife of John Johnson of Haynes township died leaving a child some two or three months old. The dead woman was the daughter of Mrs. Emily Morton of the same township, who after her daughter's death claimed possession of the child on two peculiar and somewhat unusual grounds. In the first place she claimed that Johnson was indebted to her for board of himself and his deceased wife. In the second place she claimed that prior to her daughter's death the latter had given her the child. Johnson's efforts to gain peaceable possession of the child did not meet with success so he sought legal advice and retained O. H. Smith. Habeas corpus proceedings were begun last week and service was made on Mrs. Morton on Friday. The writ was returnable yesterday at Tawas but on Monday attorney Smith was informed that the case would not be contested but that peaceable possession of the child would be given to Mr. Johnson without further ado.