Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-15
I'm Pursuit of His Child.

CLERGYMAN S CHASE AFTER HIS DIVORCED WIFE
AND LITTLE DAUGHTER.
telegram from Rochester, NY, last night
says: Early yesterday morning a well dressed,
good looking lady and a little girl eleven years
old hastily aiighted from a train that arrived at
the Rochester depot of the New York Central
Railroad and hurriedly purchased tickets direct
to Chicago. They then took the next train for
the west. The woman was Mrs Julia Bates. the
divorced wife of the Rev. Henry O. Bates a Bap-
fist minister Of Sodns NY. In the afternoon Mr..
Bates arrived in the city in pursuit of tine woman
and his child. His story is that he dscov-
cred, While living in Chicago in 1862 that his
wife was nnfaithfu, and that he removed to
Sodus year ago, after having obtained a
divorce in Chicago from his wife on the ground
OF marital infidelity. On November 20 the
divorced wife came on to SOdus and stopped at
the place in which the little girl. Minnie. was
taken care of by a Mrs Sands half sister of
Mr.. Bates. In the latter part of November
MIS- Bates attempted to take the child surrep-
tltlonsiy from the SOdus church during a ser
mon by its father, which created great sensa-
ton, and on which occasion she struck man i'm
the face. Since then Mr.. Bates, who has a
legal guardianship of the little girl watched her
carefully and gave Mrs. Sands orders not to let
the child go out of her sight. Yesterday, Mrs.
Bates told Mrs. Sands that she wanted to bring
the child to this city to be photographed. Mrs
Sands consented, and Mrs. Bates went off to
Chicago, as stated. Mr.. Bates intends to follow
his divorced wife to Chicago On the first train
Tomorrow"
Mrs. Bates has created a sensation BY a letter
giving her side of the story. She saws the Chi
cago divorce that Mr.. Bates claims to have oh
tanned will be set aside, as she never anpeared
AS to the custody of the child it was awarded
to Mr.. and Mrs. Alexander Sands, of Lakeside
New York, and Mr.. Bates himself abducted her
from her legal guardians Hearing of this. She
travelled from Chicago to see the child. and
went to church for that purpose only. She
entered the church, aud seating herself beside
the Child, kissed her. 1t was then that Mr..
Bates saw her and raised an cutlery and de-
manded her removal, which followed. She
declares that for fifteen years she supported her
family, including her husband, who refused to
work, and that finally, on getting a
for stealing money from his employer. They
went back to Chicago, and were supported by
an aid society. Then Bates went to Buffalo aud
opened saloon. but soon failed. She received
a legacy of 81 600 which he invested and lost in
q saloon In Chicago. after which he said he had
a call to preach. He talked much of the big
salary of Henry Ward Beecher and said he had
no doubt he would be more popular and get
bigger pay than Beecher. In pursuit Of this
idea. she says, he abandoned his family and
commenced to travel about the country. It is
asserted that q church council, called for the
examination and ordination Of Mr.. Batea1ae-
cided not to grant ordination on account Of The
doubtful character OF his theology and standing
NOVEL LAW POINT IN A BAIL-BOND SUJT
A dispatch from Dallas Tex, says the federal
authorities at that place have levied on the
property of the bOndsmen of the train-robbers,