Ellis v. Doherty

334 Mass. 466 (1956)

136 N.E.2d 203

MELVIN B. ELLIS & another vs. MARJORIE J. DOHERTY (and companion cases[1]).

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Norfolk.

May 8, 1956.

July 24, 1956.

Present: QUA, C.J., RONAN, WILKINS, SPALDING, & WILLIAMS, JJ.

James Zisman, for the appellants.

John F. McAuliffe, (John J. Sullivan, Jr., with him,) for the appellee.

*467 QUA, C.J.

These are eighteen appeals (not counting four that have been waived) by Melvin B. Ellis and Frances V. Ellis, his wife, from orders or decrees of the Probate Court for the County of Norfolk. These appeals are brought here in two separate records, and all relate in one way or another to the adoption, guardianship, or custody of the illegitimate minor child McCoy, also known as Hildie C. Ellis.

For present purposes it is sufficient to begin with the decision of this court on February 14, 1955, reported in 332 Mass. 254. In that decision this court affirmed a decree entered in June, 1953, dismissing the appellants' petition for adoption of the child, which had been filed in 1951. At the time of the dismissal of the petition the child was about two years of age. She has been in the possession of the appellants almost from birth. The mother at first consented to the petition of the appellants to adopt her, but later was allowed to withdraw that consent by decree of the Probate Court which was also affirmed in Ellis v. McCoy, 332 Mass. 254. Further facts are stated in the opinion in that case and need not be repeated here.

It appears that on April 12, 1955, after the rescript of this court affirming the decree of the Probate Court dismissing the appellants' petition for adoption, the Probate Court, acting under the authority of G.L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 201, §§ 14, 15, appointed the appellee, the mother of the child, temporary guardian with custody. The powers of the temporary guardian were not suspended by the appeal. § 14. Compare G.L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 215, § 22, applicable in the case of a permanent guardian. Upon the appointment of the temporary guardian with custody it became the legal duty of the appellants to turn the child over to her. This they did not do. Instead, as is shown by affidavit filed with the appellee's motions to dismiss these appeals and not controverted, the appellants "disappeared," and a guardian ad litem reports that they are not at their residence, and that he has been unable to locate them or to determine the whereabouts of the child. At the argument in this court the appellants' counsel stated that he did not *468 know where the appellants and the child were. The inference is irresistible that the appellants have spirited the child away to evade the decree of the Probate Court. It is plain that the appellants cannot have their appeals heard here as of right while they persist in flouting the decree of the court. Henderson v. Henderson, 329 Mass. 257.

It may be possible to understand that affection now exists between the child and the appellants, and that giving up the child would be a distressing experience; but it is not possible for the law to sanction the conduct of the appellants.

If within thirty days from the date of the rescript the appellants deliver the child to the custody of the appellee the motions to dismiss are to be denied and the appeals are to be decided. Otherwise the motions to dismiss the appeals are to be allowed.[1]

So ordered.

[1] All of the cases relate to the adoption, guardianship, or custody of the minor daughter of Marjorie (McCoy) Doherty referred to in the opinion.

[1] On September 27, 1956, it was ordered as follows: "It appearing that the appellants have not returned the child to the custody of the appellee in accordance with the rescript[s] dated July 24, 1956, the appeals are dismissed." REPORTER.