New York Court of Appeals
The People Ex Rel. LaFayette E. Pruyne, Appellant v. Charles H. Walts, Respondent
October 7, 1890122 N.Y. 238
Summary
The Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal, holding that the lower court's dismissal of the habeas corpus writ— which temporarily placed the child with another family without prejudice to future proceedings— was within the court's equitable discretion and not subject to review absent an abuse of discretion. The decision rests on the principle that child welfare, not the guardian's legal right, guides such custody determinations.