Daily Republican., 1879-05-08
A FATHERS IspIscRETIoN.


fug un Opportunity to place him
under Arrest.
Our citizens will recollect the publ
cation of articles sometime ago in r-la,
ton to the abduction of beautiful
child from this city by its father
Norris Pass, to which he, while un-
der the influence Of liquor in New
York City, endeavored to sell for the
sum of five hundred dollars. The child
was the off spring of this man aud his
name is Norris Pass. Pass IS about
thirty-three years of age, OF engaging
manners with features regular and
general appearance of one who had
been raised in refinement. About ten
wears ago he married young lady
whose parents resided on the Avenue,
named Miss Jennie Lee. AT that time
he was everything that could he deslr-
cd in husband. His married lille was
happy one up to about three or four
wears ago when he left this city to go
to Houston, Texas, in search OF employ
ment.
While here he fell in with riotous
companions whose examples led him
into evil habits and engulfed him in all
the excesses which dissipation is capa
BILE of. He left at home two beautiful
children, one Robert Leo Pass, the little
how whom he aftervard abducted and
a little girl somewhat older. During
the time Norris was away, nothing was
done Ly him towards tho support OF the
children, and his wife under the neces-
stiles ofthe occasion was compelled to
90 to Philadelphia and seek employ
m.nt as a governess. The two children
were left at home with their grand
mother Mrs. Agnes Lee. This was in
1877. In the absence of the mother the
husband and father suddenly made his
appearance in this city.
A short time previous to this a mu-
tual separation had taken place, owing
to the impecnnious condition OF that
father who had before this lost all self
respect not only for himself but tor his
family. In the summer of 1877 this
visit to this city alluded, to above took
r place. In the absence OF the mother,
Pass put in his appearance about four
: o'clock in the morning and demanded
0 admittance, and the custody of the
child Robert. N, Lee, the grand
mother of the c | II, refusing, he
gained forcible adr.i -ion. and gaining
1, possession of the boy took him
to New York.
While in that city the action of Pass
u excited such general attention that the
Z Society for the Prevention Of cruelty tc
=, children, and through some informa'
u ton the Society learned that Pass had
endeavored to sell the child for about
It five hundred dollars. Possession o
8 the child was obtained by this Society
l. and was afterward made over to thu
& mother, through legal order by th'
y court of that city, upon certain intor
= nation gained from Austin Harrington
ESQ.,, Secretary of the Delawar. So ,isty
j. At the time the order was put in exc
= cution Mrs. Pass resided at No. 222
,s Mt. Vernon street, Philadelphia.
of This was thought at the tims to b
ID sufficient to prevent any attempt upo
g. the part of Mr.. Pass to regain the pos
session of his son. Yesterday he cam
!, to this city, and the knowledge of hi
= presence was at once made known
!" Mrs. Pass who, having moved fror
IL Philadelphia avenue, resided with he
so so mother at the S. L corner Of Eighth an
DO Madison streets. knowledge was ais
given at the Office of United States
y Commissioner Smith who upon the Dc
D. position of Mrs. H. l.. Tatnall issued
OF warrant for Norris, upon the charge
10 endsavoring to sntice the child ava
IN from its mother. The warrant VIZ
made out under section 5525 otthe r,
j. yised Statues of the United States whic
is says:
J. "Every person who kidnaps or c'
P ries away any other person, with II
intent that such other person be sol
OF into involuntary servitude, or held
OF a slave; or who entices, persuades
H. induces any other person to go @
board any vessel, or to any other pls'
n with the intent that he may be made
ne held as slave, or sent out of the coul
Oh try to be so made or held or who i
any way knowingly aids in causing an
NJ. other person to be hold, sold or carrie
nd away TO be held or sold as slave sha
in be punished by fine Of not less tha
five hundred dollars, nor mora tina
. five thousand dollars, or by inprisol
- msnt not more than five years, or both.
" This warrant was handed over
~ United States Deputy Marshal Gallahe
but before the official could serve it tt
IT, City authorities had taken action.
IN When Pass put in appearance at tt
home of his wife he was done up in Il
ng height Of fashion, with his f-et enca
'29 ed in patent feathers, and with q bu
ton hole bouquet inserted in the lap
of his coat. His actions upon reachil
the home of Mrs. Lee as related by tt
-, witness in the trial last evening are
~. follows:
NJ Mrs. Jennie Pass, the wife Of the pri
an onsr testified that about one O'Clock I
in Wednesday morning the prisoner a
p,s piled to her house for admission b
m was told by her brother that he cou
.r. not come in, but he still persisted. Wi
inv ness stated that she had not seen Il
,nr prisoner since last November. Wht
ED he came yesterday morning he act
nm orderly. When her brother refuse
of him admittance he opened the parl
,ep window and jumped in the windo'
, or She with the children were locked
,ht in one of the second story rooms.
~, came up and bursted open the door, al
nd threatened that if "any interference "
mad. some one would be hurt
"a didn't offer any violence to the witnes
,rd James w. Lee, brother Of Mrs. Pas
.rs stated that the prisoner came to tt
a re- house early in the morning AMI war