New-York tribune., 1877-06-25
MABEL LEONARD AT HOME.
IN HOBOKEN WIrh HER MOTHER.

III II pleasantly situated l1ttlc cottage on tae
outskirts Of Hoboken TRIEUSE reporter yes
terday found Mabel Leonard, the child actress
who has been brought prominently before the
public OF Late Upon knocking at the door Of
the cottage the reporter was admitted by tall
man. VINO, when asked II Mrs. Leonard Rogers lived
there. carefully closed the locked IT, and then said
"She does. What your business Are you oicer'
After being assured that the visitor In
search Of information and not of prisoners.
lie invited the reporter ~ take scat in the paor whe
he spoke To Mrs. Rogers. c1mmoton was at once
ated cn ono OF the upper floors and words OF remon
STRANGE uttered In a female voice audible to the
expectant reporter below After n time second man
appeared who asked the reporter 10 show bis authority
as newspaper representative On being ngoonyinced that
harm Intended, lac excused himself, and said
that much Irecanhon was necessary 10 make sure
that tho officers OF tue Society for the Pre-
veution OF Cruelty to Children did not take
away mother and cnild. In few minutes
The TRIBUNE reporter conducted up stars. where
he found Mira Rogers and her daughter cnging 70 each
other fearful lest the harmless scribe should prove at
the last moment to be terrible mnion Of the law For
a time Mabel and her mother gazed earnestly into
tho face OF the visitor II to read ms very soul, aud
then reassured, Mabel exclaimed, Mother, l believe
him; he's reporter. Don't be frightened any
know he won't harm u.s." Tho mother passed her hand
over her forehead and with sigh. exclaimed, "This
persecution is driving wild Every knock at the
door, every ring the bell, and the sound OF every
foo'fa sarte mo strangely, and bring cold drops OF
pcrspiratiOn out on my brow. few days more and /
shall go crazy"
"What do you want TO ace mamma for Mr.. Paper
man r. said little Mabel as the reporter took proEered
chair ' would like to get statement from you and
pothrr concerning recent abduction from Mr.
HarrioD' 81 WAS not abducted away" replied
the child "Yos." said tho mother, 4" Mabel ran away
hut would like to make clear statement to YOU III re-
gard to this matter" Mrs Rogers then gave the follow
ing account:
In February last as had TO go to Philadelphia to ul-
fill engagement In one OF tire thcsrTs these, and as
Mabel had finished her playing AT the Union square
determined 20 place her In some Institution where she
her to the Childrens Fold. placed her there
for month received seySa, lg;ioTS ter ,noni II. N
ment she receiving. Wnen tie month expired
sent for my child. but refused much 10 ny SURPRISE
letter to tho natron Mrs Skinner begging hex ~ inf
me what was matter. In reply receiVad these 'ow
cold words: 'When last saw your daughter she vas
well. Mabel has been taken from the F0id"
While PLAYING at the Union Square Mabel formed he
made hitsclf particularly obnoxons TO me by the
tions he pd to Mabel and his persistent efforts to G3h
my cosGnS to his taking ner out 10 suppers and intro
ducng her 10 his malo friends Not wishing TO seem
ungrateful to him for his many KIND acts to my
child did on two three occasions permit hn' 10
do So but regretted 1t aerward, aud by the advice
OF friends forbade him Gazing on Mabel altogether
Being advised by several prominent theatrical gentle
men to place Mabel In the Fold while was travelling
dd and left particular instructions thal no genealeh
were 10 call VIII! she in the Fold received
letters from Mr. Norris stating that they would not per
mt aim to s1s Ts S Ian ad per aSSs yn s se i Whep y
received the letter from the matron OF the Fold, ny
thoughts al once reverted 30 Norris AID wi6 driven
almost Wild and, p the climax ot my trouble. was
taken sick. aud While confined To MY room Tor three
,v.els iid NOT know whpro NV clba was nor whether
she was dead alive, and the thought was nacdening
S 80 rar,oved fron thc Fold and taken to the shel-
ierng Arms and asking mo to take her
away, sho was VIZ UNHAPPY l was also
PREY OF
transfer OF abc and had taken her before Judge
Smith in the Ftysoyentb Street Court where she was
comeed e. sign paper stating t6at her mother had
abandoned her one week later, ana as soon rs was
allie To travel, f.uni III Nev-iork, and went
directly to the Shcering Arms. applied 90 the matT0n
for Iny child aud tod tat could not see er r
Je, ks was telegraphod fOr and when lie came pleaded
With him as only mother plead but he abused mo
shanefy. saying that was bad woman, unlJ 20 Lave
tho gnnriiansap Of my child, and emphatcally as
serte that never again shoGd possess my htto girl
IL also said that the Socoty was rlch, powerful aad had
S' osi paacSy Ge mnaner ns he he aided taat IL
| made any attempt to SEQ maboi ne wouie
cause Jiyarrcat went down on ny knees before tnat
man and woman and prayed tna thcy might lot me see
m cm!d. fonly to kss hor ana see that she was well
But mute and motiOncss marble they both stood
lonklng down on me with contcmptuous glanOcs aud
ilnaliy turned me OF doors that cold Aprl day
sr. n mother, was turned into tine street
~ those two people because wanted to see my own
nesh aud blood, my own child, who was confined III
dark COON without cause, without justice, equity law
order consulted ar. Howe, lawyer ana 10 promised
10 sue writ Of habeas corpus 10 produce the child
iva court. Tue WAS ADJOURNED nine times.
nave not been permitted to say word IN
have never paper in the to TIE cause Of
removing Mabel fron my care and DON understand MT
tel tine judge that she wanted to 20 with nm
lMoTris,, and not with me- he would gTatifS
TO do at last obtained permit t. see ny
oh,ld and in company with clerk Of Mr., Howe's
would not let mo her until the clerk, in the name oi
the law, demanded that she be produced aud served
Hss Richmond with the writ Mabel then told me about
the letters from Morris. aud have them IN my poss son
and shall offer them evidence IN court wnen am
or two friends OF Mr.. Morris "a guardians but
50 strongly objected that they we're rejected: t IL i
wished have one of three weknoTn s,ntien&sn zen
Of the dramatic profession apponted iley were m oo-
eced to by Mr. Jonkins and finally as MaDei was as e %
gagcd TO appear in the play OF MISS muitom a. .io %
Union Square. Judge DOnohre placed her nn1or mo
care OF Mr. Harriot, Mss Morris,s husband, while
$50 pcr week be turned over to the court. Clara
Morris played only one week ana then wen, 40 b9sto, ,
way While visiting my child ut Mr Harriots Mss Nor
IFS and I the best OF terms, ana nave oi'oi
Went thsre to my daughter, and ne7er cohycrsed
with the cOachman or any othcr SERVANT
while Mrs Rogers was making this statement Mabel,
who stood by her mothers side, appeared deeply inter
ested and listened with sympathy and emotion Occa-
sionay her great dark eyes filed with tears and her
lns Guiyered as the reporter questioned her
mother concerning the treatment which Mabel
had received. When asked IL she wrote the
letter which was published over her name
few days ago. Mabel replied quickly. Yes, did every
word; and It's all true too" Mrs Rogers said that she
had not the slightest knowledge that Mabel intended to
leave Mr. Harriots house. and was hrst made aware OF
It by the receipt of telegram rom MaDei asA6 nol !"
meet her at the Grand Central Depot 4, .
When Mabel was asked to describe the manner in
which she left Mr. HarriOts house, and to tell what we're
her reasons for taking this STEP she said: ON WedneS
dly mother come up me, and when saw the way
i'm which Mr. Harriet treated her olyed to run away
The next day. could not put on my best clothing, as
they wond suspect that something was up, Dut .skeu
permission to take walk and gather 1eriS hs "is III
the habit of doing for Miss Morris then
went, to the depot and bought a ucket
t,r NewYork and when / arrived at The
Grand Central Depot elegraphed for mother 10 come
= - raiind nhnnl two hours for her 70 COZ e ana