The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-05-07
A oAsE oF KlpNAPpINe.
The Sad story Of a Young Gitl-stOlSa b
her Mother.

Yesterday three women sppeRredo on the
Island, and going to the residence Of MIR.
o. P, Chambers, on Virginia street, they
attempted to induce a young girl, an In
mate Of Mr.. Chambers family for six
years past, to leave with them. At first
they were unsuccessful, but by dint Of
threats and force they accomplished their
purpose.
The story Of this young girl is a sad one,
Six years ago-in January, 1880, to be
more exact-her mother, Mrs. Devore,
eloped from berfather at Knoxville, Jefsr-
son county, Ohio, taking her daughter
Gertie, aged not quite nine years, with
her, and accompanied q man named Glen.
denning, who LETT a family at Knoxville,
to Steubenyille. There the child was de-.
serted, the guilty couple going to Ale
gheny, The poor authorities sent Gertie
to her mother there, but the heart
lees woman sent her back. Then
Mayor Irwin advertised for q family
to adopt the little girl, whoHwas .
bright, pretty child. Mr., Chambers an
swered, and the girl was given into his
custody, He desired to formally adopt
her, but was advised not to 90 to that for.
maIity, as 1t YVES not believed that her
parents would ever claim her, For six
years, however, Gertie Devore has been o
Contented and happy inmate Of the Cham.
bers family, was reared as II she were
their own child, sent to school, and re-
Gently was confirmed az member OF st.
Luke's Episcopal ChurCh,on the. Island, to
which Mr.. and Mrs, Chambers belong,
The giIl had grown to a very Womanly,
attractive girl OF 10, when her unnatural
mother appeared on the scene again,
This was last week, She attempted to
get control Of the girl, but failed. This
visit, however, alarmed Mr., and Mrs,
Chambers, and acting under the advice oil
q lawyer, MIR. Chambers had himself ap-
pointed Gertis's guardian, she expressing
her desire that this should be done. He
gave bond and complied with all the re-
Quirements OF law, and was duly ap.
pointed guardisn last Friday,
Yesterday MIR, Chambers, who is a car
penter, was at work in North Wheeling,
a cousin OF Gertie's who lives at IGtna-
vile, called at the house, and told Mrs
Chambers, who was sick in bed, that Mrs.
DevoFe-or as she now calls herself, AIRS,
Glendenning--the girls mother, was
here, and he cautioned Mrs. Chambers
not to let the girl go out OF her eight, The
caution was In vain. Mrs. Chambers was
unable to protect her adopted child, and
the mother and two married sisters, Mrs,
Stevens and Mis-. 0'Neal, carried the girl
oil by q combination OF cajolery, threats
and force, before her eyes. The girl CriOo
bitterly and did not want to 90.
Mrs, Chambers was greatly attached to
Gertie, and is much affected by her do.
parture. Chambers Is also considerably
worked up, and will take legal steps to re-.
cover the girl. He has been advised by
lawyers that the removal OF the girl under
the circumstances is a felony, and would
lay her mother liable 10 imprisonment In
the penitentiary. The worst feature Of
the case Is that 1t is feared her mother
will surround the girl with improper in.
auenCes.
Mr.. Chambers says a publication con.
corning Mrs. Dev0rs's irst visit here,
which appeared in last Sundays Register,
is false from beginning to end.