Lydick - Todd case - paternity
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Thursday, 27 December 1894
The Lydick vs. Todd habeas corpus case came up before Judge Harney this morning and took a rather unexpected turn. The Lydick’s side of the story pictured by the elder Mr. Lydick’s statement which The Journal published yesterday represented the Todds in a pretty bad light but today they rather turned the tables.
Ab Jones served the writ on them yesterday at Waveland and today they were in court with Mrs. Lydick and the infant. Lydick and his father were also present. Before the case was taken up Lydick walked over to his wife and they stepped to one side and engaged in a conversation. The wife said but little, most of the talking being done by Lydick, who spoke in a short, incisive manner for some five minutes. Then they separated, he going over to his father and she to her mother’s side, where she put her head upon the back of the chair and wept as though her heart would break.
The Todds were represented by Judge Thomas, who, when the case came up made their answer to the suit. He stated that Mrs. Lydick had separated from her husband voluntarily, sending for her father to come and take her home. He had shamefully treated her during their married life by cursing and abusing her in other ways. On one occasion he assaulted her. He was drunken and worthless. She remained at home of her own free will and was content. On Christmas day she met her husband at Brown’s Valley and became to some degree reconciled. When her parents started home she stood irresolute and as she would not enter the vehicle of her own accord, she was picked up and placed in it by force. On reaching home she talked the matter over and agreed that it was best for her to remain.
Judge Harney ruled that the wife go where she wished and take the babe. The costs were divided between the parties to the suit.
At the conclusion Mrs. Lydick crying bitterly, was assisted down stairs by her father and brother and taken to the home of John L. Goben. Later they returned to Mr. Todd’s where she will remain. She has chosen her father as her proper protector and t__e conversant with the facts think she’s dead right.
The Todds were doubtless over zealous on Christmas day and used force when they had no legal right, but they knew they were acting for the best and that the girl would agree with them after sober thought.
The feeling in the Todd neighborhood is very bitter against young Lydick and he is condemned in very strong terms. He is good looking but he never treated his wife well, it is said, but made her life miserable. The affair was a most unfortunate one and it is to be hoped will lend right where it is. - thanks to S