In Re Dupes

The facts are as follows: On February 25, 1916, T. W. Dupes filed a complaint in the superior court of Kern County, wherein he prayed for a decree of divorce from Eugenia N. Dupes and the award to him of the care, custody, and control of Janice and Bernard Dupes, minor children of the parties, who it appears were at the time living with their mother. By answer and cross-complaint, Eugenia N. Dupes asked that she be awarded the decree of divorce and likewise awarded the care and custody of the children; each of said parents alleging the other’s unfitness to have control of them. Pending the trial an order was issued to Eugenia N. Dupes requiring her to show cause why an order should not be made awarding the custody of the children to their father, and this matter coming on for hearing, the court, pursuant to stipulation of the parties, on March 6, 1916, made an order, subject to such further order as might be made, awarding the custody of the children to the mother. The case was tried and, on July 22, 1916, the court made findings in said action upon which, as a conclusion of law, it found that T. W. Dupes was entitled to a decree of divorce, and that Eugenia N. Dupes was unfit to…