Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-15
AN ABDUCTION.
Arrest of the Parties by
Detectives.
A NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.
Names of Parties Mentioned on the
Streets for Office at the
Coming Election.
AN ABDUCTION.
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.

At little before half past seven O'Clock
last night, Chief OF Police Cuddy re
ceived telegram from II. w. G. Nelson,
Of Orland, Colusa county, asking him to
intercept at this point, on her flight,
Nettie McClenahan, aged IS, runaway
from home, and to detain her pending
the arrival Of an officer who would return
her to her home. The Chief at once
placed the telegram in the hands OF
Chief OF Detectives Harris, and that
officer, accompanied by Billy Hunter. at
once repaired to the Southern Pacific
depot and awaited the arrival of the
evening train. When it pulled into the
depot, Harris and Hunter boarded the
train and began their search. But for the
misleading character of the telegram
the search would soon have been ended.
Nelson, in his dispatch to the Chief, said
nothing about the runaway girl being ac-
companied by man. The officers had
their attention attracted to the suspicious
actions OF man, evidently farm hand,
by whose side was a very attractive
young girl, The mans actions caused
them to ask him his name. He answered
that his name was Henry G. Nelson, and
that he was from Orland. He also said
the girl was his wife. Detective Harris,
knowing he had found the girl described
in the telegram, took both parties to the
police station. Nelson admitted to Har-
ris that the girl was the one wanted, and
that he was not her husband. They
were escorted inside the Chiefs office,
and there the HERALD man was given an
opportunity to talk with both. Nettie
McClenahan, while but IS years OF age.
is well developed, pretty and talks ex-
cellent English. In response to ques-
tons asked her, she said:
"Mr. Nelson, the man who sent the tele-
gram, is my guardian. He is brother
of this Mr.. Nelson here. My mother
died in 1878 and | have lived with Mr..
Nelson, at Orland, ever since. This Mr..
Nelson has known me since | was baby,
and like him. He told me before we
started away, that we could not get mar
ried in this country, but we would have
to go to Mexico. Then we left home.
That was Tuesday morning last. We
came here by way OF Chico, Marysville
and Sacramento, and have been travel
ing together all the time"
"Do you feel glad you're going home ?''
asked the reporter.
eyes" sighed the child. She was
then separated from Nelson and passed
the night in the sleeping apartment of
the Police Office. Nelson, who is man
of about 40 years Of age, said, 81 lived at
Orland, on my brothers. ranch. He's
Nettie's guardian, and l have known her
since she was a baby. She's thirteen
and took her off to marry her. She's
poor, amt got cent and nothin' comm
neither"
"Don't you know you can not marry a
girl as young as she is?" he was asked.
"No, DON'T" was the response. II
knew l couldn't marry her there, SO
thought we'd go to Mexico"
Detective Harris informed Nelson that
he could see no more of Nettie. He then
charged Nelson with abduction, but al
lowed him to 60 on his own recognizance.
Nelson says he will go back to Orland
to. morrow. An officer is expected to
arrive Sunday to return the girl to her
home.