Solomonic

Three years ago, Julie Goosen 32 of Detroit gave birth to a daughter. Julie Goosen had never married. The child was named for her mother's sister-in-law, Mrs. Irene Goosen, who acted as foster-mother after the first few days of her niece's life. Julie Goosen departed; found a man named Pryzbla, who married her. Julie Goosen Pryzbla came back and demanded her child. Foster-Mother Goosen refused. They went to court.

Having read of a similar case in old Hebrew documents, Judge Vincent Brennan of the Detroit Circuit Court called mother, foster-mother and child before him, and announced, falsely, that little Irene would be sent to an orphan asylum. As the two women received this intelligence, Klieg lights flared up, concealed cinema cameras whirred and clicked. Judge Brennan, assisted by psychologists, studied the resulting films. Calling the women back, Judge Brennan awarded custody of the child to Foster-Mother Goosen because the film showed "a much more biological emotional reaction on her part" (tears, sobs, quivering lips). Julie Goosen Pryzbla had stood as if unmoved, unconcerned where her daughter went.

The New York World: "There have been quite enough of such publicity stunts upon the bench. They do not add to the respect and esteem in which courts are held. . . . Hollywood has nothing to teach a court of justice."