The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-11
A LITTLE CHILD,
And How Important a Parsonage
1t Turned Out to Be.
Even SHINING Mother Would Not
Lot the Infant Go.
An Eighteen Months Old Infant
Causes All the Trouble.
An Englishman and His wife Abduct
II, II Is Claimed-They Tell Their
Story in Chicago Station
House, Where They Are.


CHCAoo, ILL.,, March l0.-Goorge Henri
and wife, who abducted little Lucy SPELL
man, OF Kansas City, on February 20,
were arrested in Chicago today. They
were found in FURNISHED room" house,
No. 80 West Madison street, with the child
in their possession.
The case was first published an episode
likely to give rise to an international
question between the English Government
and the new administration at Washing
ton. Henri and his wife are English and
English subjects, and ii was thought they
left Kansas City for the old country with
the eightecn-months-old child, thinking
that II they could place the ocean between
1t and its mother they we've safe.
Daisy Spcllman, the mother Of the child,
Immediately notified the police in Kansas
City upon discovering that the Hcnris had
gone. Communication was telegraphcd to
intercept tho kidnappcrs aud descriptions
were sent TO all other American cities.
Secretary Blaine was interviewed in WASH
ington ~ to the international bearing OF
the case, and all the newspapers printed
his statement. Agent McAiillin, Of the
Kansas City Humane Society, came 20 this
city, but, after prosecuting an unsuccessful
search for the missing child and the ab.
ductors, returned late Saturday night 10
Kansas CITY.
Unmindiul Of all this hubbub, II appears
that for the last two DAYS Henri has been
repairing the door castings aud window
frame Ia the house at No. Sii West Adams
street, where Dr. Phillips lives. Shortly
after noon today Mrs. Y. NJ. Roundy went
TO the Desplnines street police station aud
gave information that the llenris were
ronming with her in Madison street. An
officer at once went with Mrs. Roundy,
aud placed the ahluctors under arrest.
Henri had registered his correct name
upon Mrs. Roundy's book, and promptly
admitted his identity 10 the officer.
Two hours later Mn. Henri was seated
IN the cell corridor at the station with the
baby In her arms. while her husband was
pacing back aud forth ON the other side OF
| the bars. Henri II n little fellow with
| typical British mutton.chop whAkcra lilo
| MAS greatly excited and burst Ont crying
during an interview. Ills wife is tall and
thin and dark She has black eyes, very
sharp and bright, thick black hair, and j.,
on the whole. good.lo0king, middlc.ngcd
| woman. Both use the cOckncy accent
! had iusl n,ad The pape0s Whcn ,llo
! officer came said lcnu, 30 when DO
commenced asking me questions, | told
him I knew what he wanted and was
ready 10 go with him. God knows tins X
the first time ! over was ia trouble. |
never meant 10 do any harm, and my wife
Is ~ good q woman M livca We love
the child aud have treated her ~ well ns
We could treat our own. That's all the
truth there Is In the story they tell about
u.s. Abduction or kidnapping never en-
tered our heads
"llit never hcntercd our 'cads," re-.
marked Mn, Henri. 81 came ~ this city
10 get work, just rs any working woman
would ccmc. ha been thinking about
Il somc time and came on the spur Of tho
momcut, just us anyone would Who felt
the responsibility oi a family"
"llow about the babyy' Henri was
asked
"Thc whole story is very easily told
am carpenter by trade aud did not have
good luck In Kansas City aud WIS glad TO
earn money In any honest way. Some
time in last July We read an advertisement
child. We answered bat heard nothing
moro until nearly two months On sep
tcmbcr u woman called upon ~.
Henri referred 10 a note book which he
had taken from his vest pocket On Il
was an iicmIzcd statement Of the boby's
board bill, with dates aud figures.
I'VE agrcCd 10 board the baby for g
week, and two days later, September 10,
the woman brought the dear little child.
The woman who brought little Lucy was
not Daisy Spilman, but Daisy Spillman'a
mother. do not know her name. Her
ilui husband was spillman. but she mar
RED again. We kept the baby till Ocio-
hcr 10, and during that time we grew 10
love H.. It's mother visited II once ortwico
q week, but not Oltcncr. She Is not mar
rcd aud receives lclicm addressed Miss
Daisy Spllman. Once she told my wife
that thc Child's father wanted 10 get Il, but
that II was not to be given up % him ON
any account. She would never tell the
fathers name"
"l don't think she cared very much for
the baby ns much as she should
care. broke In NlrH Henri.
"On October the child's grandmother
again called upon us She said sho was
starting Tor California and wanted 10 take
the baby with her. We gave her the baby,
but she returned with II In few DAYS, ON
October -, and begged aud prayed my
wife to keep H. We did not want TO doso
very much because there was so owing
on tho baby's board. She then told Us TO
take Il and keep il for our own, and TO this
We consented. So We left ON Thursday,
intending TO come 10 this city. We never
thought OF going to England. came
through Thursday morning on passenger
train and my wiio with the baby started
the next night
Inspector Elliott. Of the police, says that
the nenns will be kept confined until the
Kansas Cts authorities arrive. However,
no charge will be entered against them.
A nettsr outlook st Chattanooga.
g...af.f ftf.aatrh IN The Auuqal