In Re Hamilton.

• Decision Date: 21 September 1921
• Docket Number: (No. 23.)
• Citation: 108 S.E. 385
• Court: North Carolina Supreme Court
• Parties: In re HAMILTON.

108 S.E. 385

In re HAMILTON.

(No. 23.)

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

Sept. 21, 1921.

Walker, J., dissents.

Appeal from Superior Court, Beaufort County; Allen, Judge.

In the matter of the custody of Rosa Gray Hamilton, an infant. Petition for writ of habeas corpus by R. H. Hamilton against George D. Davis and wife. From a judgment for respondents, petitioner appeals. Affirmed.

This is a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to determine the right to the custody of a child then about 15 months of age. The petition was filed before one of the judges of the superior court, who transferred the same to the juvenile court. The judge of the juvenile court heard the affidavits and evidence, and made his findings of fact, and adjudged that the petitioner, who is the father of the child, was entitled to her custody. The respondents, who are the maternal grandparents of the child, appealed to the judge of the superior court, who heard the evidence and affidavits, and reversed the findings and order of the clerk, and adjudged that the respondents were entitled to the custody of the child. The following are the facts found by his honor, and his order thereon:

"(1) That the petitioner, R. H. Hamilton, in November, 1917, married Aleen Davis, daughter of respondents, George D. Davis and Bettie Davis, against the will of her parents, and that, in the fall of 1918, the infant, Rosa Gray Hamilton, was born. That in January. 1919, the said Aleen Hamilton contracted influenza, and in February, 1919, was carried, at her request, by the said R. H. Hamilton, her husband, to the home of respondents, the father and mother of Aleen Hamilton, where she and her child, Rosa Gray Hamilton, then 4 months of age, remained, the said Aleen Hamilton continuing in poor health and requiring care and medical attention. That, following influenza, and as a consequence thereof, the said Aleen Hamilton developed tuberculosis, and on December 26, 1919, died at the home of her parents.

"(2) That during the time the said Aleen Hamilton and her infant child, Rosa Gray Hamilton, were at the home of her parents, the respondents herein, the said R. H. Hamilton, petitioner, furnished nothing for the support and maintenance, medicine, or medical attention of said Aleen Hamilton or the infant child, with the exception of one bottle of Wampole's Cod Liver Oil and a small quantity of fresh meat, both of which were furnished in February. 1919, notwithstanding the request of said Aleen Hamilton of her husband, the said R. H. Hamilton, that he contribute to the support of her and their child, nor did he visit them after February, nor show the personal attention which indicated any interest in them and their welfare, living at the time not more than one mile away, and that his conduct and attitude during the year 1919 constituted an abandonment of his wife and child.

"(3) That on the 6th day of August, 1919. the said Aleen Hamilton, wife of petitioner, realizing that she could not live, made her last will and testament, which was prepared by her in her own handwriting, and without suggestion or influence from others, wherein she directed that her child, Rosa Gray Hamilton, be left in the care, custody, and jurisdiction of George Davis and Bettie Davis, the respondents, during their lifetime, and at their death to her sister, Ina Davis, which is set out in the record.

"(4) That during the entire time from Febru-ary, 1919, until the death of Aleen Hamilton, respondents, George D. Davis and Bettie Davis, provided for and supported the said Aleen Hamilton, providing for her medical attention and medicine, and paying all of her funeral expenses, except $25 on a coffin, upon which the respondents paid $75, and the petitioner paid $25.

"(5) That the respondents rent a comfortable home in the town of Pantego, have educated all of their children in the Pantego High School, their two daughters having held certificates as teachers. That respondents are members of the Christian Church, and are people of good character, and able to provide for the tuition and education of the said infant child, Rosa Gray Hamilton.

"(6) That the said Rosa Gray Hamilton is afflicted with spinal trouble, requiring the treatment of a specialist, and respondents are ready, able, and willing to provide this treatment for the child, and have frequently offered and endeavored to do so since this cause has been pending.

"(7) That the petitioner, R. H. Hamilton, is 35 years of age. has no property, and is unthrifty; and should said infant child be awarded to him, it will be in effect awarding her to the custody of his father and mother, at whose home he lives, while, if the custody of the child is left with George D. Davis and Bettie Davis, the parents of the dead mother, she would have the advantage not only of the care of her maternal grandmother and grandfather, but also of the sister of the dead mother, Ina Davis, whom the court finds to be a young woman of character, refinement, and education, and whose influence will be an advantage to said infant in her upbringing.

"(8) That the petitioner, R. II. Hamilton, is not a fit, suitable, or proper person to have the care and custody of this infant girl child, now a little more than 2 years of age, and that the best interest and welfare of the said child will be subserved by leaving her in the custody and care of respondents; and it is so ordered. The order of the clerk is reversed."

From this judgment, awarding the custody of the child to the respondents, the petitioner appealed.

Tooly & McMullan, of Belhaven, for appellant

Ward & Grimes and Small, MacLean, Bragaw & Rodman, all of Washington, N. C., for appellees.

STACY, J. [1] The juvenile court act (C. S. 5039 et seq.) provides that the superior courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of any case of a child less than 16 years of age "whose custody is subject to controversy." By this same law, juvenile courts are established as separate parts of the superior courts for the administration of the act, and the clerk of the superior court of each county is made the judge of the juvenile court. It is also provided in a later section that the term "court, " when used without modification, shall refer to the juvenile court, and that an appeal may be taken from any judgment or order of the juvenile court to the superior court. It thus appears that the act confers jurisdiction upon the superior courts, and that the juvenile courts, as separate parts (but not necessarily as independent parts) of the...