The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-01-26
THE ACT OF A MADMAN.
Two Little Children Taken Out
for Sleigh Ride and a Fail
ure to Return.

Kansas City is usually prolific of
sensations but the one given to the
public Yesterday by the press of that
city is of such UNUSUAL nature that
the details are worth givin5.
At 1890 o'clock Sunday Mr.. s. s..
Baker, a well-known je~eler of Kan
sas City, drove up to Mrs. Neon
nelPs residence and said ne would ike
to take her two children, Harry, who
is nine years old. and May, who is
only six, out sleigh riding. As Mrs.
Baker lie an Intimate friend of Mr..
and Mrs Mcdonnell, the latter. in
the absence OF her husband, had no
hesitation In letting her children 60
with him. She did not know that
Mr.. Baker had been noticeably of
unsound mind for the past week, and
that arrangements had been made t.
send him to an asylum. Mr.. Baker
said he would only drive to the post
ufice. and back, and Mrs. Mcconnell
had 10 idea when she wrapped her
little ones snug ly In their warm cloth
ing that she was giving them into the
custody of an insane man. Mr.. Baker
drove off aud up 10 8 o'clock the
of bim or the children
Was unknown.
When Mr.. Baker left the house he
got in the sleigh without his hat,
overcoat, or gloves. A gentleman
who lives with Mr.. Mcconnell saw
him ard asked if he was going out
in that condition. Then he
went back in the house and got his
wraps.
At about 4 o'clock Mr.. Baker drove
up to the Merchants hotel in indie
pendeuce. His horse was covered
with foam and he was wild and ex-
,ited. He did not seem to know |
where he ~as, and thought he Was at
Kansas Cry instead of Independence.
He said he thought he was going to
Kansas CT y, aud that his horse had
,un away, upset the sleigh, and
ragged him some distance. About |
$50 o'clock be left the hotel and was
zen going out of Independence with
lis horse on a dead run.
AT the hotel the children seemed to i
We scared and the little girl remark ed
hat when she got home she would
lever 90 out sleighing again. Up TO
o'clock yesterday morning nothing
urther had been heard of him. No
ne knew whether he and the children
ad persisted or whether they were
till wandering about In an open cut
er IN the cold and snow.
When it became known in Kansas
,Ity that Mr.. Baker and the children
ould NO. be found the greatest excite
lent prevailed, and searching parties
'ere Immediately organized and sent
ut. Mrs. Mcconnell was almost dis
acted and Mrs. Baker wac equally
The latter, who knew of
er husbands condition, had just
JADE arrangements to send him to an
'ylum.
The search party from Kansas City
rove to Independence and back again
ut could learn nothing definitely. '
[r. Baker, at Independence, had
ked the way to the residence of I
Of. Vale, and Deputy Marshal Sill
ers drove to that gentleman's home, /,
It he had not been there. ,
The uncertainty in regard to the
tie of Mr.. Baker and the children
Gated the greatest sympathy for =
9TH Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Mcconnell :,
Kansas City. Mr. Bakers actions ;
Independence clearly showed that
9 mind was 30 badly affected that I,
, did not know where he was going,
ID this leads to the belief that he ;,
az have gotten on the wrong road. ,
be fact that be left Indepeud- 7
ZOE with bis horse on a run suggested I,
e more terrible supposition that a
IL aon;J,nt man have hafalIan fhaI