Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-02-20

As THE evening train on the N. G., Mon
day, was about TO leave the depot in this
place, contest inside the car between man
and woman over the possession of little girl
about eight years old, attracted the attention
of passengers. The facts as obtained from
the woman in regard to the matter are about
as follows Samuel l.. McClelland is brick
layer, residing ordinarily with his family
about mile south of New Athens, in Harri-
son county, and was the contractor for build
ing the brick work on the house of John
Borof. About nine years ago he was mar
ried to Ann E. Kinisen, of Wheeling, then a
widow lady having three children. The little
girl over which the contest arose is the only
child of hcClelland. The family were kept
together by the mother for a number of
years and until some of the first stock had
grown up. Recently MIR. Nc objected to the
children of the first husband remaining at
home, but the mother insisted that they
should remain as long as they desired. Out
of this, probably, together with somewhat
erratic disposition, (to put it in its mildest
form), shown by Mr.. Nc, grew family diff
culties. According to Mrs. McClelland's ac-
count her husband left home four or five diff
ferent times and remained away several weeks
or months. After one of these periodic alb
sences, he returned home on last Thursday
and remained until Friday morning. The
little girl accompanied by an older girl, went
to school in the morning at Oak Hill, s. NJ.
Bentley teacher, as usual. No intimation was
given by Mr.. Nc. that he wanted the child,
although he had frequently spoken before of
taking her on visit to friends of bis ia this
county. In the meantime he had ordered
Duggy from the livery at Athens, which ar
rived about II o'clock, and he placed his
trunk, &C., in it, and saying goodbye" to
his wife, started off,. 1t appears that during
the noon recess he went to the school house,
and under pretence of giving the child
buggy ride, he brought her to this place. The
alf-sister at school became alarmed because
the child did not return, and fastened home
to acquaint the mother of the facts. Little
time was lost in notifying her son John, who
was some distance of working at a coal bank,
and he quickly secured a team and with his
mother pursued the husband, arriving here
about three O'Clock. They did not make
their presence known to McClelland, but en-
deavored to get law to secure the child. This
proving too slow a process, as the train was
to leave at 4:15, they put in an appearance at
the depot after the passengers, among whom
was Mr.. McClellsnd and the child, had taken
their places in the car. Just before conductor
White pulled the bell-rope, a woman and
young man entered the car and the woman
grasped the child, and was about taking it out
of the car door, when its father Noticed the
and began to resist. Father and
mother, one hold of each arm of the child,
pulled in opposite directions. Passengers
knew nothing OF the merits of the controver
sy, but the cries of Mammal Mammal from
the child. enlisted their sympathies in favor Of
the mother and be was finally compelled TO
relinquish 1t, and the glad parent returned
home with her treasure the same evening.