The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-14
A CHILD-STEALER.
DRAHA PROM REAL LIPB-FoUR ACTS All,
READY GIVES.

A DRAHA PROM REAL LIFB-FOUR ACTS Al
| READY GIVES.
The Chicago Inter-Ocean of the 10th inst
gives a condensed melodrama of real life.
The Commercial Hotel, or the sidewalk inn
mediateiy in front of il, was yesterday the
scene of highly dramatic episode. The
actors were William B. Hotchkiss, deserted
husband, Lizzie Hotchkiss, his runaway
wife. and their daughter, a little seven-year-
old child. A policeman also figured in the
play, bur only as a "supe." Add to
these number Of by ISLANDERS, and the
bill is complete Now for the plot.
The brst act is laid IN New Haven, Conn.
VIM B. HOtchkiss and Lizzie - meet be-
come eDamored, marry, and for a time all
goes merry as wedding bell. A child is
bern TO them, a fair haired, blue-eyed
dsughteT, and the whole world. reflected in
their happiness seems beautiful Between
the first and second acts a period of six or
seven years has elapsed. The scene is still
in Hew Haven, bat it is by no means SO
pleasant. Incompstibility of temper has
stepped IN to mar their hsppi-
ness. Lizz5e has begun to think VIII
liam srute, and perhaps she
is right. She claims that be abuses
her. In the arst scene they quarrel In the
second she resolves to fly with her little
daughter. and packing up the necessary
clothing, etc., carries out her resolution. She
enters the train and is gone, her destination
Chicago. In the third scene William has
discovered her flight, and Is pacing up
up and down his parlor, trying to
devise plan to recover his wife and daugh-
ter, or at least the latter. A happy thought
occurs to him. He rushes to the chief of
police, charges the deserter with larceny.
and asks the official to telegraph TO
Chicago and have her arrested. The sele-
gram is sent, and William takes the next
train for the Garden City, The curtain again
drops. The third act takes place in Chicago.
In the first scene Sergeant Joe Dixon, is ne
rusing telegram describing lady who is
charged with larceny in New Haven He
dispatches an officer in search of the alleged
offender. In the next scene the arrest has
been made, and the prisoner is confined i'm a
cell in the CentralPark station. Her narie
is Mrs. Lizzie HOtehkiss A tall red faced
man, clad in linen duster of abnormal
length, enters and enquiries if his wife has
been found. His name is William B. Hotch-
kiss. YES" replied Joe Dixon, .'she's-
here"
"wHAT DID SHE sTEAL?"
''She didn't steal anything" was the re-
ply; "she has run away from me and taken
our little daughter with her, and want
them to come back" The third scene is in
Justice Boyden's court. Lizzie Hotchkiss
charged with larceny, is called to answer
She pleads 'Not guilty." Hershusband tells
his story. The prisoner is dismissed. As
they leave the court room, he mutters, 'I'n
have that child il have to cut your heart
ont" The last two scenes occar
tain rises on the fourth act. The scene is
IN front of the Commercial Hotel. A little
| tair-haired, blue-eyeG girl, dressed in suit
of dark blue, trimmed with white, steps out
on the street. A tall man, with linen
duster, rushes up and seizes her. The child
screams Mamma, come quick; papa has
got me-! A woman rushes out and at.
tempts to recover the-little one. 1t is Lizzie
Eotchkiss. The man is her husband. A
crowd gathers, policeman rushes up, and
| the trio are taken to the Armory station
| followed by a long train OF boOtblacks. In
the second scene Station-keeper Hays is ez-
amining the parties. The child is seated on
her fathers knee, crying bitterly and strug-
in tears. William Is requested to empty bis
pockets. He does so. They contain foul
knives, two of which are perfectly new and
furnished with blades of the bowie pattern
One is open and ready for use. AS he hands
over his personal property, he says
me-" She replies, II never Will
You may take my dead body, but cannot
take me alive" He smiles sardonicsliy
and SAYS he will take the child. "You may
have the child" says the mother, ''if she
will 90 with you. ~ The child shirks away
from HIM and hides her lace in her mothers
dress. The entire party are then escorted
below. The curtain falls on a number o
policemen sittin 2 at the door of the station
discussing the strange occurrence. The fftl
act will take place this morning at Jastie
Boyden's court.