The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-08-21
WANTED BY WEST.
An Alleged Fathers Attempt
to Abduct His Little
Daughter.
Quite q Scene in Front of the JAY
Gould Hotel Yesterday
at Noon.


Main street, in front of the Jaw Gould ho-
tel, a crowd OF more than hundred peo-
pie being attracted to the spot.
AT the time mentioned Mrs. Minnie
Stevens, who resides on West Main street, was
passing along in front of the jay Gould, &C.
companied by the seven-year-Old daughter of
the notorious Mollie West, who placed the
child in Mrs. Stevens keeping something
like i year ago.
Just as she was about to pass the hotel,
and was holding Katie by the hand, she was
approached from behind by a man about
tramp in appearance, who grabbed hold of
the child's arm, and an instant later had
taken possession of her. The child's
screams attracted large crowd, all of
whom were eager to know what was the
matter.
Mrs. Stevens still retained possession of
Katies right arm, out seeing that she was
her erT right hand, delivering a tremendous
blow on the protoscis of the man who was
endeavoring to make off with the child.
At this stage a second man, evidently
partner OF The would-be abductOr, stepped
mp, and would undoubtedly have taken q
hand had there not been a large crowd
present.
During the struggle the little girl kept
up continual scream, and Mrs.
Stevens was getting in her work on
rhe stranger in 6rst-class pugilistic style,
until at last, tired of the hammering he
was receiving he dropped the child. and,
accompanied by his companion, who was q
man ABOUT fifty -ive years old, walked rap
idly away. while Mrs Stevens, whose
clothing had been torn nearly from her, re-
turned to her home, where she was seen .
few minutes later by BAzOo reporter.
"What was the trouble you were engag-
ed in, Mrs. Sievens?" asked the reporter.
"Well, sit down, and will tell you."
Accepting the invitation, Mrs. Stevens
related the following story:
This little girl. Katie, is a daughter of
MOllie West, who is pretty we'll known In
Sedalia as the wife oil John L. West, who
was hanged in Boonville more than three
years ago. Mrs. West gave the child to
me and told me to raise her, and have
provided for her ever SINCE.
"One day last week the man who caused
the trouble on Main street to-day came to
my house and represented himself as the
father Of the little girl and asked the priv
ilege OF seeing her. l told him she was
we'll provided with fathers, as he was the
third man who had claimed she was his
child. He talked with Katie little while
and then left and / saw nothing more OF
him until he tried to abduct her from me
a little after the noon hour to-day"
"What did he say when ne aeeosted
you"
HE did not say a word-he simply
h<l Ill 81 4
carry her of by main force. was too
much for him. though, and / guess he will
remember me for many day"
"Do you think he is Katie's father?"
"No, he Is not. Mollie West was the
wife of John /. West, who was hanged at
BoOnville, and have it from the mothers
lips that he was Katie's father.
"Do you know whether West is the right
name of the man who tried to abduct the
child %
mo, do not think it is. His name is
Bradley, think; and, if am not very
much mistaken, he is the same man who
stole horse and buggy up in Iowa, and
then broke Jail. He came 10 Sedalia after
wards and was written up at length in the
Dispatch. which was then being published
in this city"
Did he say what he wanted with the
child?"
"No, he did not, and I cannot imagine,
for, from his looks, he can hardly provide
for himself"
"Where is Mrs. West now ?"
"She is living at Pleasant Hill, be-
lieve."
"Do you propose having West, or Bradley,
arrestedw
"Yes, 1 am going out for that purpose in
few minutes"
Half an hour later Mrs. Stevens related
the circumstances to Marshal Shy, and .
warrant was issued for West, charging him
with disturbing the peace, but he managed
to elude the police and escaped arrest.
There are some In Sedalia who says John
/. West was not the husband of Mollie
West, and are firm in the belief that the
man who created the trouble Yesterday, and
whose name is Jim West, is the father of
the little girl whom he endeared to carry
away.
Mrs. Stevens is greatly attached to her
ward, and will not give her up unless COM
PEELED to do so by law.