The Portland daily press., 1885-02-13
A MOTHERS TRIALS.
A Strange Story Told by Mrs. Reeves of
New Haven. iu a Petition 20 the Chicago
Courts for she Custsdy of EEer Daughter.

CHICAGO, Ill, Feb. 12.-In her petition for
writ of habeas corpus, Mrs. Annie Elizabeth
Reeves tells the story of her unhappy life. She
was married in 1867, at the house Of her father
DR.. Edwin j. Toof, in New Maven, Conn, to
Rollin j. Reeves. A daughter, Mary T.
Reeves, now years old, is said to be at GIG
West Adams street, in this city, in the custody
Of the father, and concealed from the mother.
Since August, 1884, Mrs. Reeves he's lived
apart from her husband. Reeves is said to be
worth $4,000, and to enjoy an income Of from
$4,000 to $5, 1000 year, yet he has never done
anything for the support of his vile and child
except for short time, when he gave them an
allowance of from Sc to $40 month, the al
lowance never exceeding the latter figure
Mrs. Reeves says that soon after the birth of
Mary, her husband told her That he could ney-
or take the Same interest in the child that he
would have done If it had been boy, aud ne
would never do anything for her or have a
nurse 70 care for her. On Aug. 18th last, Mrs.
Reeves said her husband secretly took the
child away from her fathers house. She dis
covered where they had gone, and followed
them. She found them in Portland, 4de., and
succeeded in getting peaceable possession of
the child, while the father happened to be
away from her. Reeves, however, caused her
to be arrested for stealing the child, and for
half day she was shut up in the Portland
common jail Then Judge Symonds, of the
Maine Supreme Court, ordered her release aud
she was sent back to her fathers house with
the child.
The second abduction took place on the night
Of October 30th. That evening, Mrs. Reeves,
her mother, brother, child and several other
persons were seated at the supper table in her
fathers house at New Haven, the doctor being
absent, when Reeves made violent entry in
to the house, accompanied by one DIR. d. w
Stewart of Des Moines, Iowa, aud four other
msn. They knocked Mrs. Reeves down, struck
and severely injured her mother, and seized
and carried away tbs little girl. Reeves took
the child, without wraps and bare-headed, with
no other clothing than such as she wore ia the
house, put her in an open carriage, and drove
with her nesrly all night. Mrs. Reeves says
it was the intention of the abduotors to drive
from New Haven across the State line into
New York. which they could have done before
morning, if they had kept on the right road,
but in the dark and stormy night they missed
their way and wandered about through the
country, until Of 4.30 O'Clock the next morning
they reached the house of Archibald G. Mo
Artbars, in Newton, Conn.,, where they ap-
piled for shelter. Stewart told Macarthur that
if he had been obliged to go three miles fa7-
ther in the storm and cold be would have died.
1t WAS still cold aaG rainy, but no extra cloth
ing was procured for the girl. This was the
last that Mrs. Reeves saw OF her daughter for
months. Reeves frequently wrote 10 her, but
always Wrots that he intended to keep Mary
cenceale9. He also wrote that il she attempt
ed to get possession of the child through the
courts he would place her where she could
never reach her.
About two weeks ago, Reeves wrote 10 his
wife, requesting an interview at Des Moiues
Iowa, on JAN 31st, on neutral ground, either
without witnesses or in the presence of friends.
Mrs. Reeves with lady friend, went TO D9s
Mones, TO hotel, and sent message to
Reeves. He sent back word that he Wonld
come to the hotel after the noon dinner hour
that day. Between II and / o'clock Mrs.
Reeves and her friend, from the window of
their room saw Reeves pass along the street,
GO up into lawyers Office and go out again,
bat he never came near them. Mrs. Reeves
says that she has tho affidavits OF Archibald
Macarthur, of DIR. P. G. Skif, prominent
physician OF New Haven, of Leonsrd Hotch-
kiss, banker of that city, and Of numerous
others confirming her story She first learned
that her daughter was in Chicago at O'clock
on the evening of Feb. 7th. She says that she
is a continual sufferer from nervous prostra-
tion because Of the trouble, and that her
father and she have spent several thousand
dollars in employing detectives, travelling ex-
penses, and in other ways in trying to trace
her daughter. She has good home with her
father, who is man OF means and RESPONSE.
bility, and willing to aid her in the support Of
herself and daughter,