Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-11-16
A FIGHT FIR A CHILD.

attefazpG VI tH6 agent U the MuFAuRee
Humane Society to Secure Po~-essiun of
Bessie Belle Gray, at Il chester.
Rochester, Mum: Special: A case involv
ing some mystery aud causing much excite
meat has been developed during the past few days
Tho following facts have been learned up to
date: Bessie Bell Gray, now some nine years or
age, was born IN New Hampshire. Her father died
Two years ago. Her mother moved to Milwaukee.
and after suffering severe poverty and Distress she
applied to the Humane society of Milwaukee fer
home for tho girl while she went out as profess
sional nurse. Through the agency Of the
f Socssy' Rssss was a ado ', b one An
Catholic and court stenoerapher, After living
with tho couple short time, Bessie planned Of
cruel treatment By Mrs K.--c!aimine hat siies was
b-aten. starved, locked in dark closet for day
time, and misused generally. The mother resolved
to relieve the child. Through the help OF The
sons Of Mrs Thayer whom she was at that time
tue Thayers met her, ana shortly aft brought
her to RJchsseAr on Sept /. 1882. As
Thayer a I'D: Bessie loft the cars that
Of the city, was passing. Thayer asked him to
take care Of the child, and the next day cal cd in
Mr. Btooks and arranged for her board until u
and lis wife consented to take the chiid and have
kept her ever since, and cared for her as one of
their own family, becoming very. much at
of Richard .. henead is al aren't Of the Humane
society OF Milwaukee. Learning that Beesie had
been removed TO Rochester he went to Airs. Koe~
money for h,m to follow the child. He came to
Rochester. but Mrs. Brooks refused 10 deliver the
child to him, as he had received Bessie from
Thayer, and knew nothing of Waitehaad's author
iiy in the matter. Besides. the CIR. WAS opposed
Roep ss'f's To reS sesS' to
documents aud returned to Rochester to take tae
| chls3. Meanwhile the Milwaukee pap,rs got hold
of the story and published various versions OF it.
The Thavers saw them and telegrapael Dir.
Monday OF this week one OF ths TAayers came to
The city to settle for Bosse's board. take be aud
the child out, Of the way u1ul the danger
past, and on Tuesday when Whitehead
returned to Rochester, with app4rsnt authority to
take Bessie back to Milwaukee with him. she could
not be found. he sWore out q writ OF hlbeas Cor
pus before 0. O. Baldwin, court comm ssioner,
which was served the sam day GU Mr.. Brooks. who
made de- rstur1 thai he da not haye the chd BESSIE
under oath, and revealed the hiding place of Bessie
in the city About ,.h II os1oek last
night s,o the family with whom 49,. ss,e 10
force an entrance. He was refused admission, and
finally left after many threats of what m eht come.
He gave his name as Thayar, bal the way he took
to gain entrance throws doubt on this f4ct. ssie
had during the evening been taken from this houss
before the midnight prowlsr appea ed. and a,
present date nothing is known Of her whereabouts
by any one here Thayer produces letter from
Mr. Koenau, Of which the folio wing Is copy:
milwaukee,. Wis. Aug. 25. 1854 d. rhayer
has the custody of my adopted daughter, Bessie
Belle and has such charge Of her since June 1892,
by my consent and authority: but this consent of
mine Of bis taking charge and control of her not
to b construed as making me- liable for hr hoard,
clothing and education for any time while sae is
absent from mo and under the control of A. B.
Thayer. ANTHONY kOENEN.
The parties are all In this city. exc DIT sno most
interested one, the child Bessie The case will be
heard before Court Commissioner o. O. Baldwin
soon and more facts will probably come to iignt.