19th-century divorce case made U.S. custody law

19th-century divorce case made U.S. custody law

It was a domestic battle as ugly and as publicized as Mel Gibson's this July.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapman were an ill-matched couple in New York state with three small children. She was loud and brash. He drank. The whole town knew their troubles. Once financially secure, their home was lost to foreclosure. The Chapmans played out this familiar story with Jerry Springer—style gusto.