Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-09

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Children On Long Island.
Thursday q man about 40 years of age,
who gave the appearance of q gentleman in
good circumstances, called on Marshal
Bridges of Portland, says the Press, and
requested his assistance in the recovery of
his wife and children. According to his
statement he was \ man of large property
several years ago and resided, as he still
does, in the city of New York. He said his
name was Blanchard and that he had a wife
and two children. Every year his wife visit
ed the leading watering places and summer
resorts, furnished with whatever sums of
money she required, and, in fact. was allow
ed her own way to go and do as she liked.
few summers ago she stopped at the Poland
Springs House where she was much admired
and with the means at her command was able
to be one of the leaI>rs. Another summer
she passed in Portland at the islands.
One day, two years ago, MIR. blanchard
returned to his house in New York and found
it a mere empty barrack. All the furniture.
with them his wife, children and large sum
of money. No explanation was given. The
wife on whom he had lavished his wealth and
the children that were his JOY and pride had
vanished he knew not where. He placed him
self in communication with the police and
hired detectives to hunt up his missing
family. For two years, he said, he travelled
South and West in search of the wife and
children but in vain. A large portion of his
fortune was sunk in the effort, and finally he
lately returned to New York with the feeling
that those he had loved so well were lost to
him forever.
The other day he received a telegram from
friend in Portland that his wife and children
were at Long Island He came at once to
this city. Yesterday morning he proceeded
to Long Island and, on arrival, walked up to
the boarding house, or hotel, kept by Mr..
Perry. Close to Mr.. Perry's is a cottage
owned by Mr.. Ernesto Ponce and occupied
by Mr.. r.. Emmerton Jones and family of
Portland. As he approached the cottage he
states, and so do others, Mrs. Jones caught
sight of bin and at once rushed back into the
house, double-locked and bolted the front
door. Mr.. Blanchard went on to Mr.. Perry's
piazza and asked Mrs. Perry who lived in the
cottage. She told him Mr.. Jones and family
Mr.. Blanchard asked how much of a family
there was and their names. Mrs. Perry said
the wife ardtwo children, and gave the names
Mr.. Blanchard then said they were his chill
dren, and that Mrs. Jones was Mrs. Blanch-
ard.
While this conversation was going on Mrs.
Jones-or Blanchard-let her little daughter
out by the back door, and told her to run to
the beach and tell her father - Mr.. Jones =
who was out in sail boat, but close by the
shore. to bring the boat to land. The child
did so. The mother then, taking her little
boy, ran out of the back door and down to
the beach, followed by Blanchard who had
kept watch from Mrs. Perry's piazza. When
she reached the shore she plunged into the
water and made for the boat. MIR. Jones. in
the meantime, had placed the girl in the boat,
and came ashore for the boy. He pushed
Blanchard away and seized the little son, took
him aboard and then Mr.. Jones made all sail
and put down the harbor with his own, or
Mr.. Blanchard's family, as may be. Marshal
Bridges told Mr.. Blanchard that he could on
ly allow an officer to go with him II the ON
Ger was willing, and see if he could help him
any. He however could not order the officer
to do so. Officer Gribben expressed will
ingness to go and the couple left for Long Is
land last evening, with what result we have
not yet learned.
Mr.. Jones came to Portland a year or two
ago, and was employed for some time as ed.
itor of the Item. More recently he has been
an agent for the Union Mutual Life Insur-
ance Company of Maine, but lately has had
no connection with that company. We are
informed by one party that he met his wife
in New York, and that they used to go to the
summer resorts together. If Blanchard's
story is all right. and the other gentlemen's
also, it would be safe to conclude that while
Mr. Blanchard was loading his wife with
money and presents, she was using them to
enjoy herself at the summer resorts with
Jones, and finally become so infatuated with
him that she ran away with all that she could
get her hands on. What Mr.. Jones answer
NAV be to Mr.. Blanchard cannot be told as
there was no way of communicating with him
at Long Island last night, even if he was
there. Mrs. Jones gave lessons in e'ocution
when she first came to Portland.