The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-29

Arrested on nm Alleged Charge of Kidnap
ping.

Yesterday morning, Marshal Decelle receiv-
cd telegram from Officer Whittier, at Old
Orchard, requesting the arrest Of woman
and man charged with the crime of kidnap-
ping child. and stating the child was in
their possession. In the meantime, young
man who knew the parties had started for
Portland and discovered them in hack in
this city, on their way to the Rochester rail-
road station. Procuring an officer, the parties
were arrested and taken to the police station,
to Marsha, Decelle's office.
Here they asked for legal assistance, and
City Solicitor Looney was sent for. The wom-
an, well-dressed, lady-like person, gave her
name as Reeves, and said she is the wife of
r. j. Reeves, of New Haven, Conn. Her
husbands she stated, is civil engineer by occu-
patton, but has not pursued his calling for
some time. He has ample means. Her father
| is wealthy manufacturer-E. F. Toof-in
New Haven. Her husband, she said, was very
eccentric, SO much SO that she thought him in
sane, and that he had never treated her well.
| Monday last her husband took their daughter,
bright little girl about six years of age, out
for walk. protesting at the time much affec-
ton for both wife and child The first intelli-
gence she had of either after that was tele-
gram sent to her by her husband, dated that
afternoon in New York. Her father started
| for that city at once in pursuit, but failed to
| find them. Tuesday, telegram from her hus-
band said that father and child were we'll in
Boston. A young man acquainted with Mr..
| Reeves, went to Boston at once, and found
him at the Sherman House with the child.
go4h ~,
| went to Old Orchard, Wednesday, where they
took rooms at the Aldine. Here the mother
followed, (acting on a telegram FROM the
young MANI accompanied by her brother, Rev.
j. T. Toof of Quincy, Ill. Yesterday
morning, the husband was enticed away from
| the Aldine Hotel, and the wife and her broth
er, who were stopping at the Lawrence, close
by, on seeing the signal towel hung out of
the husbands window-went over and seized
the child, who gladly recognized its mother.
| A close hack was in readiness, and all three,
mother, daughter and brother, drove to Port
land, where they were arrested as stated.
At $50 p. m, Officer Whittier arrived from
| Old Orchard, and he said he saw no signs of
insanity or eccentricity about Mr. Reeves, the
husband, who appeared bright, quick, active
man, about forty years of age. When Whitti-
or telegraphed Portland, he and the husband
! took the train to Boston, thinking the parties
he wanted had gone that way. Whittier left
the train at Kennebunk, while the husband
proceeded towards Boston. On reaching Old
| Orchard, Officer Whittier learned of the arrest
| of Mrs. Reeves and Mr.. Toof.
Mr.. Looney and Judge Symonds both in
formed the officers that they could not arrest
mother for kidnapping her own child. No
such offence was known to the law. Both hus-
band and wife had the right to the custody of
the child, while in the possession of either,
and the child could only be taken on writ of
habeas corpus and brought before the court for
the decision of the judge in civil action as to
its custody. Consequently the parties were re-
leased and left the city. The husband was
telegraphed the news, at Saco, at his request.