Halstead Ex Rel. Lee v. Halstead

By habeas corpus proceedings plaintiff-mother sought custody of her then 12-year-old son who had for ten years resided with defendants, his paternal grandparents. From decree by the trial court adverse to defendants they appealed. Each case of this nature must be determined according to the circumstances peculiar to it alone.

Katie Halstead Lee, hereinafter sometimes referred to as petitioner, dropped out of school while in the tenth grade. About six months later, at 16, she married James Welford McGowan. A son James was born as issue of that marriage which was terminated in 1951 by a divorce…