The New York herald., 1879-10-15
FIGHTING FOR HER BOY.

A DISTRACTED MOTHER CREATES 4 SENSATION
on BEoADwAY--A SYMPATHETIC cEowD-rHE
CHILD PLACED IN HIS FATHERS CHARGE BY
THE POLICE
An exciting took place ut the corner OF Broad
way aud Twenty fourth late yesterday after
noon. The agonized appeals OF mother. whose ap-
pearance and attire those OF lady. for the
possession of bright handsome boy forcibly de-
tanned in stylish carriage by two gentlemen. drew
to her support crowds Of male and female sympatniz
who it seemed at time would tear the chilo
from the man and restore it her arms The facts
i'll the case are as follows:-
At twenty minutes TO six O'Clock last evening .
carriage rapidly driven up broadway. In 1t
were seated two gentlemen and child. As-t turned
into Twenty fourth street and was between the Aibe
marie and Fifth Avenue hotels. a woman's voice was
heard crying "Murder. murder!" richly dressed
lady was seen running up Broadway after the car
riage. She cried. "Oh. help! they are killing my
child!" broadway was crowded and the woman's
cries rang the of hundreds. Accompanying her
was another lady. older. as richly dressed. and
scarcely less frantic in her appeals for assistance.
As the crowd collected the carriage was suddenly
stopped. Two young gentlemen. unknown adj
herents in the lady's cause. had run forward and
caught the The two ladies, regardless Of their
surroundings or the scene in which they were so
prominent. running toward tho carriage crying
out to the multitude at their heels to see that justice
was done them "Make him give me back my child;
am his mother" cried the younger lady.
THE SYMPATHY
Soon the street blocked. Hundreds of we'll
dros sed men and women pushing eagerly for
ward. The windows of the hotels either side
her her child" Don't rob her OF her boy followed
one upon the other. The multitude worked itself
into II frenzy in behalf OF the mother.
"Break open the carriage DOORS" cried man
wildly waving cane. This was greeted with
vehicle pulled wide open. despite the efforts OF
the occupants. The two gentlemen maintained
iive years With blanched face. While the lady
reiterated her demands Tor the chilu. VINO VINO
sh asserted s hqr tried nrg: a1n the
driver to extrcate the vehicle from the crowd. One
OF them cried out that the lady had been his wife.
but was divorced from him. and that he had papers
moIested by strangers. ana demanded to be allowed
to proceed on his way. The crowd. however con-
| tinued to espousc the Of the lady. and when
the driver attempted to whip up his horses he mar
rowly escaped violence.
POLICE ARRIVE.
At this critical moment an officer of the Twonty-
fifth precinct arrived. He pushed his way through
| the crowd. A gentleman said, "Officer this
'Bnt I'm in the Twenty-htth" answered the
"No matter" said the gentleman. "Ths is
serious matter. The crowd is almost beyond con
troll. Get into the carriage. Take the ladies with
you Drive to the Twenty-ninth precinct station
house"
ratified off the crowd. before separating. cheered
again and again Many followed it TO Thirtieth
street There the oecnpants entered the stason on
mother, and as the father held 1t back tho crowd
hissed him.
The matter was submitted to Captain Williams.
| The gentleman said his name George w. Bick-
nell and that that Of his wife was Genevieye Bickne
| The other lady was his wife's mother His gentle
man companion was his lawyer.
''what right have you to the child?" the Captain
asked him. ''Why do you keep him from his
mother?"
| has any claim to the boy
'.Can you prove what you say?"
In reply . decree Of divorce was produced 1t
that at minneapolis Mimi. Oh the Goth Of Sep
his wife, Genevieve. and that the document was
certified copy of the ruling OF tho Court.
Another at this moment diverted the atten-
ton of Captain Williams. and Mr. and Mrs. Bck-
nell her mother the lawyer and the boy wero
ken e the iMs Soy oeled in h
The child. pretty boy. very becomingiy
dressed. with dark hair and large expressive hazel
fathers grasp and ran. crying into his mothers
She picked him up. pressed him to her heart.
kissed him passionately, again and again, and wcpt
Historically.
''AIadame," said Captain Williams, II cannot
rest your husband. can return you your son.
| Your husband has decree OF divorce against you.
Ny duty is plain. This matter has already been sot.
tied for There is complain that can enter
tain against Mr. Bcknell He is free to so and take
| the boy alon1.'
eyes," she said sobbing bitterly. che has the
right. have to give up my boy. God help poor.
| brokcn-he rted mother!'
She made no further outcry. Tho father and law
yer left the station house with the child, and tho
crowd yelled as the carriage drove away: The lady
aud her mother shortly atterward walked sorrow
fully toward broadway.
| A gentleman, VINO was eyewitness to most of
the curroncc said that from what he heard it ap-
poared that Mr. and Mrs. Bdcknl were both in Min
| neapois when tho divorce granted. The mother,
| he believed, took the child away and started tor
New York. The father discovering his wfes destna-
ton, followed and upon her and the boy in
this city. lie tore him from her arms got into the
carriage which awaited him and drove away with
| the frantic mother i'll pursuit. Then came her
screams the sympathzing crowd and the rest or the
scene above described.
| TRuTHFuLSEss A DISCOUNT.
Word OF the above occurrence reached the HERALD
| Office shortly after it took place. and ID reporter
VISITED the Twentynin.h precinct station house in
search of ino nation. He called there about
| quarter to eight O'Clock. The door of Captain
| Williams private open, and the room
itself darkened. Two of his sergeants were ut the
desk coivcrsing.
..welly' said of them the reporter adj
vanced.
"Ihlve been sent by the HERALD to learn tho par
| ticulafs OF u child stealing said to have taken
| place i'll this precinct this afternoon"
mo such case" said the sergeant.
''Wc word that there was" said tho reporter.
| "Was there such case here today"
| ''No, nothing like it,.
"could You. then. tell me where Captain Williams
| isY'
| Hos gone out"
| "Can you tell me where?
"No"
| Yet when the reporter convorscd with different
| policemen attached to the Twenty ninth precinct,
who were OH duty outside the station house, they
all knew that Captain Williams ut the walk III
Madison Square Garden.
|