Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-16
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The Famous Abduction Case-Habeas
Corpus Proceedings Instituted In
Chicago and New York, But the
willy Father Manages to Get Away
Last Seen I'm New York.
Rollin J. Reeves is still at large and his
six-year-old daughter is still in his possession
despite all the effort that has been made to
capture him. He abducted the child from
the house of DR.. Toof on Wall street, August
%, the first time, and on October 80 the
second. On the second time he drove to
Newtown on a terribly cold night. The child
had no wrappings at all and was nearly
frozen to death. They stopped at the house
of Archibald 9. Macarthur and left at 6 the
next morning. 1t was still cold and raining,
but no extra clothing was provided for the
girl. This was the last Mrs. Reeves knew of
her daughter for months. Reeves frequently
wrote to her, but always wrote that he in
tended to keep Mary Reeves concealed. He
also wrote that if she attempted to get pos
session of the child through the courts he
would place her where she could never reach
her.
About two weeks ago Mrs. Reeves went to
Des Moines, Iowa, to meet RoIlin J. Reeves,
he having requested an interview. She saw
him the street opposite the hotel where
she was, and received a note from him say
ing he would be there right after dinner.
He never came.
Suspecting that her child was concealed in
Chicago, she made attempt to recover it
by legal process. While these proceedings
were in progress detectives had tracked
Reeves to Earl's Hotel, New York, to Wash
ington and then to Sweeney's Hotel, cheap
resort on Chatham street, New York. He was
travelling under the alias of dudley Wal
lace" Friday night Reeves was served with
a writ of habeas corpus, issued by Judge
Lawrence, commanding Reeves to appear in
court and show the whereabouts of the child.
Detectives were left to guard him, but he
managed to evade them and failed to appear
at the appointed time.
AS he did not respond to summons Judge
Donahue issued an order for him to appear
and show cause why he should not be COM
mitted for contempt.
The case is all the more remarkable from
the persistency with which the husband and
father holds to his idea of revenging himself
upon his wife and her father DR.. Toof of
this city, for Mrs. Reeves alleges that DIR.
Toof's unwillingness to take him into the
ruffie manufacturing business is the cause of
MS acGlOns. MIS-. Reeves alleges that her
daughter has been most cruelty treated; that
Reeves has often struck her so hard as to
leave the marks of his blows upon her body;
thaG he took her away without any warrant
or process of law and that the act was sim
ply kidnapping and crimes under the laws
of this State. She says he is a man of vio-
lent temper, totally unfit fer the care of
young girl. She and her father have spent
thousands of dollars in employing detectives,
travelling expenses and in other ways, in try
ing to trace and recover her daughter. She
has good home here with her father who is
man of means. Reeves is said to enjoy ar
income of from "a, 900 to $4,000 a year, yet
he has never done anything for their support
except for short time when he allowed
them from 81 to $40 month.
Mrs. Reeves alleges that Dr.. Paul G. Skiff,
of this city, says that Reeves admitted to
him that he Reeves)frst took the child away
in order to compel her to comply with his
wishes about getting into partnership with
DIR. Toof.
Reeves surely displays considerable agility
in lodging detectives.
A dispatch was received yesterday by DIR.
Toof stating that his daughter, Mrs. Reeves,
was seriously i'll with nervous prostration in
Chicago and that fears were entertained of
her recovery. The attack was brought on by
the excitement incident to her long search
after her child. Dr. Toof left for Chicago
last night.