Daily globe., 1878-04-08
FIGHT FOR a CHILD.

FIGHT FOR a CHILD.
The Harmony Of Married life in Chicago
The Father and Mother Struggle for Pos
sessio',, bat the Mother Wins.
[Chicago Tribune, 9th
The people living on Paulina street, near
Lake, were surprised yesterday afternoon by
sight which is unusual on that quiet thor
oughfore. They saw man rushing along
the street carrying in his arms, head down
ward, little child about two years old. and
woman and another man in hot pursuit.
The chase lasted but a few moments. Pur-
suer and pursued came together; the woman
both the men, and there was every indica-
tion Of a lively contest. But the combatants
were disarmed the lady and the man who
accompanied her got into hack with the
child and drove of, while the man from
whom the child had been wrested jumped
up behind the carriage, and was also whirled
away by the same conveyance.
The explanation of these occurrences,
which thus agitated this peaceful neighbor-
hood, is very brief. Mr.. Frank L. Rockwell
has for some years been an artist in this
city. He painted several portraits, which
have been on exhibition here, and was also
one of the parties who, during the last fire,
helped to save Armitage's "Chicago," which
was then on exhibition in the Academy of
Design. He has been living at the corner
of Walnut and Paulina streets. He married
half-sister of the late wife of Mr.. Fl. G.
Ballard, who was the Republican candidate
for assessor of South Chicago. The
women were daughters of Mr..
John Mitchell, an old resident of
this city, whose death was noticed few
weeks ago. Mr.. Mitchell and his wife were
living with Mrs. Rockwell at the place above
mentioned There boarded with them the
only child of Mr.. Ballard, a boy of about 10,
his mother having been dead for some years.
It is alleged that for some time back the re-
lations between Mr.. Rockwell and his wife
have not been of pleasant character. The
causes which led to this enlargement it is
unnecessary to state. It is enough to say
that it is claimed that the wife is not at
fault For some time prior to Mr.. Mitchell's
death, it is alleged, Rockwell had done little
or nothing for the support of the
household, and that whatever money
went to meet current expenses was contribut-
ed by Mr.. Ballard. After the death of Mr.
Mitchell, the alienation between Rockwell
and his wife grew greater. and she finally de-
cided, for reasons which seemed satisfactory
to her and to her relatives, to leave him, he
having, it is alleged, done nothing for her
maintenance. So few days ago she took
her child, boy 219 years old, and left the
house. Mr.. Ballard had hired rooms for her
in the Adams block on Wabash avenue. She,
however, fearing that the husband would
| take active measures to recover the child,
told her brother law that she was going to
take the boy to some house on Twelfth
street, the number of which she would not
state to him, and she did go there.
! Itappears, however, that the husband had
| put detective upon her track, who has
ascertained her whereabouts. About three
o'clock in the morning, three days ago, a
brother of Rockwell's, it is said, went to the
house where she was staying, aroused her
from sleep, and told her that her husband
was in hot pursuit with officers to take away
her child; that he had discovered her place
of refuge; and that the ouly thing for her to
do was to get up Immediately, to take the
child and go with him to hotel, where she
would be in safety. She took his advice and
left the house. She had gone but little
men came up to her and took the child away,
and carried him over to the house on the
| corner of Putnam and Walnut streets.
! Efforts made to induce Rockwell to give
| up, the child voluntarily proved unavailing.
and yesterday Mrs. Rockwell determined to
get him back any way. At the same time
she wished to get her clothes, which he had
refused to send her, and which she needed,
since she had to wear but the calico dress
which she had on when she left the house.
| So she got out repleyin writ, which was
| handed over to Constable A. K. Hall. That
was sufficient for the clothes. AS for the
boy, she made somewhat different arrange
! ment. She persuaded Mr.. Ballard to take a
i hack and to wait for her near the house;
she to go into it, take the child,
and bring him to the carriage, and then
drive off. The programme was carried out
! in part. She did go in and snatch up the
child and rush out, but the father saw her,
hurried out after her, and tore the child
| from her before she was able to reach the car
riage. Mr.. Ballard got out, and was about
to interfere, when, it is alleged, Rockwell
drew revolver. Mr.. Ballard had gone at
that time. Then Constable Hall came out.
He had hunted through the house and found
the clothes, which were in another place
from that IN which the wife had left them.
Ballard asked Hall to lend him his revolver,
which he did, and Mr.. B. stuck it into his
| pocket.
In the meanwhile Rockwell had rushed of
down Paulina street, carrying the child in
his arms, the mother in pursuit. Ballard got
into the hack and drove after them. They
all met little below Lake street on Paulina.
Here Rockwell again drew his pistol. Bal
lard asked him if he was going to use it.
BE is said to have replied that he was. Then
Ballard drew his, at the same time catching
hold of the child and trying to wrench il
from the fathers arms. Other people came
up at this time, and Rockwell's revolver was
taken from him, and Ballard, who had nc
intention of using his, and who kept cool
throughout the entire affair, handed his over
to DR.. Earle, who happened to be present.
The child was extricated from Rockville
arms, Mr.. Ballard, the mother, and
boy got into the hack and drove
off. Rockwell, who had lost his hat, jumped
up behind, thus accompanying them. They
drove to the armory, where Mr.. B. wanted
Rockwell arrested, but it was not done. Their
they went to Mr.. Ballard's boarding house
on Harrison street, and there got out
Rockwell renewed his demands for his child,
+ III L lad X