MOTHER AND CHILD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 6

MOTHER AND CHILD

BATTLE FOR CUSTODY "SHE IS MY BABY." ft AFFECTING SCENE IN COURT. A pretty child of seven years, Mabel Florence Annette Clift, for months past has been the subject of a contest for custody between her father, - Richard Joseph Clift, grazier, of Bald Ridge. Breeza, New South Wales, and his wife. Laura Eileen Clift. Before Mr. Justice Davidson recently Mrs. Clift defiantly declared that she would not hand over the child to her husband under a writ of habeas corpus which had been granted. The child had been for some time ii the custody of Mrs. Phyllis Mary Riley, of Randwick, mother of Mrs. Clift, anc during his efforts to,, secure .the child th» husband alleged that service of the ordei of the writ of habeas corpus had beer evaded. Mr. J. H. Studdert, on behalf of th< husband, stated that in view of the facl that the service of the, order had beet impeded, he would ask foi:, an ordsr foi contempt of Court against the motlioi ol the child. He was willing to waive that right in the event of Mrs. Clift forthwith handing the child over to an officer of tlic Court to place it in the Brigidine Con vent, Randwick. Mr. Justice Davidson (to Mrs. Clift): I order you to hand tne child over, anc should you fail to do so you will place yourself in a serious position, and you will be liable to be committed to prison for contempt of Court. Mrs. Clift: I shall not give up the child. She is my baby, and 1 will not obey the order of the Court. The mother than glanced appeahngly in.the direction of the little girl, whose hand was held by Mrs. Riley. There was an affecting scene as the mother approached the child and the officer of the Court look the little girl into custody t<? place her with th» Sisters of Mercy at Randwick. It had been explained to the Court on previous applications that the reason of the husband's desire to obtain custody'of the child was because of the breakdown in health of the mother. He had always been willing to permit her to have reasonable access to the child. When the sheriff's officer took the child along the corridor of the Supreme Court, the mother in tears followed closely, protesting that the child should not be taken from her custody, but apparently resigned to compliance, with the order of the Court. The mother and Mrs. Riley and the child were in a taxi to the Brigidine Convent, accompanied by a sheriff's officer. At the convent the mother passionately embraced her daughter, but submitted to the officer handing the child to the custody of the Mother Superior.