FATHER SEEKS CHILD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18389, 3 May 1923, Page 7

FATHER SEEKS CHILD.

EXTRAORDINARY STORY. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST WIFE Allegations suggesting astonishing peculiarities on the part of a mother were associated with an application made to the Chief Justice, Sir William Irvine, in I the Practice Court in Melbourne. Patrick Edward Flanagan, of Garden Street, Maroubra. near Sydney, sought an order nisi calling upon his wife, Ellen Jane Cragge Flanagan, proprietress of Coop's lead works. Melbourne, to show cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not be isssued, calling upon her to produce their son, Edward Flanagan,* aged two years. In support of the application an affidavit made by Flanagan was read, in which it was staled that the parties were married on February 14, 1920. At the request of Mrs. Flanagan the marriage was not; advertised, and she had ever since consistently retained her maiden name (Coop). The* child, Edward Flanagan, wits born in 1921. After that Flanagan said his wife seemed to take a dislike to him, and also disliked the child. Mrs. Flanagan said that her life had been spoiled, ' and that she would not keep the child as j hern, but would put it away in a home. J In May. 1922, she took the' child away, and declined to tell Flanagan where it j was. About a week later Mr?. Flanagan returned home with the child. In July, j 1922, he told .Mrs. Flanagan that he intended to take the child to Sydney and j leave it with his married sister. That [ night Mrs. Flanagan returned home, and i an agreement was reached whereby ho I was to engage a housekeeper. Mrs. j Flanagan stayed away until July 29. On J the following day. when Flanagan was j about to take the child for a walk, Mrs. j Flanagan ran away with the child to a motor-car, which was waiting in the! vicinity, and drove away. Next morning '; she refused to disclose the whereabouts of the child, said that he (Flanagan) I would never see the boy again, and that j she was merely waiting an opportunity to remove the child to a place where 'he j could conceal hi* identity. She added j that she would do «o if if cost £1000. I Flanagan ha* sine* ascertained that the ! child had been baptised as .lame? Coop, ; He {Flanagan} did not know where the j child was. j Sir William Irvine granted an order i nisi. j