The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-11-03
an,hn,it for Kidnapping.

At q late hour night before last, Jug'
tice Peak wac called on by Mary Bal
ley, lately from the neighnorhood oil
Palestine, where her husband now ~,
with the statement that she wished 90
make complaint against Nellie Col
Inns and Julia Greeley, both inmates
Of the b0guio near the Central depot
for kidnapping her two children, aged
respectfully eight months, aud four
years. The women were arrested and
hearing set for saturday,
While The reporter was obtaining tLe
particulars from His Honor, the w0-
man Nellie Collins cNme into the Of
fee and gave the neutrality-suspicious.:
The mother Of the children came to
Dallas about month ago ina perfectly
destitute condition, and finding no
means OF support, and her children
starving, tried to give them nwny to
some one to teke care Of. But the
children were 40 dirty and ragged Tint
no one would have them. She finally
applied TO tie narrator, hut the latter
refused until application had first been
made to the mayor The woman de-
clned to see the mayor any more, If
iirming that shc had interviewed him
once, and that he was unable to give
her any relief. She was then inform
ed OF the character of the woman with
whom abe wished to intrust her OF
spring. She said she knew it very well
hut they had had nothing to ent for
several days, Nellie Collins then con.
scented, provided she were allowed To
go before Il magistrate and regularly
adopt the child. 10 this the mother
consented, aud the oldest little girl was
accordingly formally adopted. Julia
Greeley, being persuaded to take u like
course with the youngest. The papers
were drawn up before Justice Mcclure.
Nellie Collins Immediately cleaned the
child up and fitted her out with II
wardrobe in lieu of tho filthy rags
which had barely hidden her naked
ness. She refused to take her to her
own tainted res deuce, but placed hor
To board in n respectable family, for
which she was paying five dollars per
week, and whore the child
now is. The adopted mother
claims legal right to the child, and
refuses TO give Ter up to the natural
parent, who, she says, is only attracted
10y her improved appearance, but who
would bring her to the same condition
she was IN before IN very short time.
She expressed perfect Willingness,
however, 10 surrender the little girl to
any respectable family or lady who
will take care OF 1t; or if there be- any
public institution which could receive
1t she is willlrg to let 1t go there. She
says she has already paid out forty five
dollars in the little girls behalf. Her
expressed intention yesterday morn
ingwos to place the child, az soon as it
was old enough, in u convent, and
give her Il sound education, hut to
have no further connection with her
than to pay her board and tuition.
The woman told the story in u simple.
straightforward manner, and the great
er part OF 1t was cOrroborated by JUS
tice Peak and other officers. The
adoption papers seem to be drawn up
without II flaw, II this be so, there
can be no ease Of kidnapping made
ont. This Nellie Collins is the same
woman who relieved n destitute immi-
grant family, aud sent them on their
way rejoicing, who were left without
money or food on the platform about y
year ago. Whatever her sins she has
n goodly share OF human charity, judy
ing 10y her works.