Item #23369 Report of the D'Hauteville Case. Law, Pennsylvania, Gonzalve D'Hauteville, Ellen Sears d'Hauteville.
Report of the D'Hauteville Case.

Report of the D'Hauteville Case.

Philadelphia: Printed by William S. Martien, 1840. Wraps. An important early high profile child custody case between a Boston textile heiress and a Swiss nobleman, which helped establish the precedent in American courts of making the determination of custody based on what is in the best interests of the child, with a strong presumption that maternal custody is best. The sensational trial ignited a public debate over the legal rights of mothers and fathers. Ellen Sears d'Hauteville won temporary custody of her child, but would be subject to "continuous judicial surveillance".

title continues, ... The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, At The Suggestion of Paul Daniel Gonsalve Grand D'Hauteville, Versus David Sears, Miriam C. Sears & Ellen Sears Grand D'Hauteville. Habeas Corpus For the Custody of an Infant Child."

In the original printed wrappers. Tall 8vo, 295pp. Wrappers slightly toned, rubbed, slightly chipped at spine, slight loss to title. Slight foxing at margins. OCLC: 886895447. Good + overall. Item #23369

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