Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-06-18
ABDUorIxe HEB CHILDREN.
A Mother Carries Away Her Son and
DRuRhter-Pursued by the E,ntba.


A Mother Carries Away Her Son and
DnuRhter-Pursued by the Father
In Fridays Philadelphia Ledger H.. f.
hobeien OF this city advertises thathe would
pay q reward OF $50 for the arrest of James
sheppey, Mrs. Ellen Sheppey, Charles Rob
ellen aged years and Daisy Robelen wears
old. The two latter are children of IL. F.
hobelen and the mother Is the woman ad
yertised as Mrs. Ellen Sheppey, who was
divorced by the superior court from Mr..
Hobelen last November. BY the decree Of
the court the children were given into the
custody OF the father, and have since lived
with him. 'SN
iliLor the divorce was granted Mrs.
Robelen disappeared from this city, return
ing, however, ut intervals and expressing a
very strong desire to see her two young
children. A part of the property she In.
herfted from the Cleland estate was recently
turned into cash and shortly after this her
marriage to james Sheppey, q young man
about ~ years OF age WIS reported 1t is
stated that since the alleged marriage the
two have been living In Philadelphia
On tuesday, June I'd, they visited this
city and In u close carriage drove to the
house of an acquaintance. MIR. Robelen
was called away from the city that day,
leaving his children playing about the yard
and the store. The attendant who was In
the store was called upstairs for a few
minutes and upon coming down again
noticed that the children were missing
Just before the time the little boy and girl
were carried Off their mother entered CON
fectionery store at Seventh and King streets
and purchased candies, cakes, &c. Young
Sheppey stood outside the store while the
purchases were being made, and the two
started toward Market street. Though the
store stands directly upon Market street the
children were abducted without any one
seeing them being carried oil, but is quite
probable their mother induced them to ac-
company her and that they went away
together. No one has reported seeing them
together In the city and 1t is probable that
they were picked up In carriage and
driven outside of the city and taken TO some
OF the larger cities on the cars.
The once beautiful Mrs. H. F. Robelen,
but now the fading Mrs. James Sheppey,
sat in Magistrate Vandegrift's office ut
noon Monday and tried to unconcernedly
fan herself and read the New York Herald.
She made failure of both. She was
charged with the larceny of the
clothes of Charles and Daisy, the
children of Mr.. Robelen. When
EVERY EVENINGS reporter appeared
upon the scene, Mrs. Sheppey dropped
the fan with which she was dallying, ran
to Officer Pierson, who showed interest in
the case, and whispered in his ear. He
nodded yes. Ten to one the query was,
Isn't he reporter 2" Conversation
ceased in Magistrate Yandegrift's office,
pending his arrival from luncheon, until
fat, red faced man and tall lean, and
white faced man came in. They
were friends of Mrs. Sheppey. She
called the fat one Jim. and the other one
was Jim's brother. Mrs. Sheppy told
Jim in whispers that the press was repre-
sented there and it cast gloom over his
large and tlorid countenance. A few
minutes after IL o'clock Mr.. Robelen
the plaintiff, came in, walked tina length
of the room but not seeing the squire,
went out on the pavement again. Jim
arose and mimicked him, much to his
former wife's delight.
The magistrate arrived in time, and
Mrs. Sheppy extended her hand and said,
'How are you squire. want this
private" The fat man whom they called
Jim chung to the magistrates coat collar
and whispered an almost silent whisper
in his ear. They both looked at
the reporter, and the magistrate asked
the fat man how he was gong TO help it.
The fat man didn't know, but advised
Mrs. Sheppey to ask to be discharged
because the plaintiff was not present.
Mrs. Sbeppey asked the squire how about
it, and the fat man chimed in Hes been
here and gone" ave amt going to wait
here all day" added the long thin man in
sepulchral tones.
''What did you say, sir p sharply in
quired the magistrate. The thin man
ducked his head behind u newspaper.
"lIe didn't mean anything" said Mrs.
Sheppey. Hes my brother; he's deef,"
pleaded the fat man, whom they called
Jim.
II want him to understand / am judge
of this COURT said the magistrate, and,
walking over to Jim's brother, he thun-
dered in his ear 81 am sorry you're deaf.
You needn't stay here all day"
Then Mr.. Robelen appeared upon the
scene, and he and the squire held IL pri-
waite conversation, after which Mrs.
Sheppey and her former husband did
likewise. As result Mrs. Sheppey said
that she would waive u hearing. The
magistrate held her in $500 bail for the
court of general sessions. The fat man
whom they called Jim, became her bonds
man, and this is the name he put to the
official document, ''James r. Christy."
On Saturday night Mrs. Sheppey re-
lufntu lut cHlluItn vi IL ~ ie''Sich'
which she abducted one week ago, and
the charge against her is an outcome of
her kidnapping venture.
A warrant has been issued for the mr.
rest of James Sheppey, the husband of
Ella Sheppey, who was held in bail Mon
day,by Squire Vandegrifbfor the larceny
of clothing upon her two children ut the
time they were abducted from their
father, II. F. Robelen. Young Sheppey
is wanted for completely in the alleged
theft: The charge of larceny of child
ren's clothing is brought against Mrs.
Sheppey and her husband because the
Delaware law does not provide any pun
ishment for abduction. The only way in
which she has made herself liable to legal
action was, therefore, in the theft of the
clothing, and this was taken advantage OF
to prevent if possible any further attempt
to carry the children away. Officers
Pierson and Wingate, who were given
the warrant to serve, could not find MIR.
Sheppey MS he Ind safely secretcd him
self.