Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-16
Mrs. Curtis Finds her Child.


A STRANGE sTAUNToN TRIAL RECALLED
BY THE MOTHER S SUCCESS.
In 1888, K. B. Curtis of this city who had
married highly respectable young girl III
Highland, with whom, after their marriage.
his mother became at bitter odds, suddenly
took his child without his wife S knowledge
and disappeared. The wife commenced a
suit in the Circuit Court of Augusta
against her mother-in-law for damages fol
alternating the affection Of her husband.
The jury gave her a verdict for $4,000 dam
ages, and the defendants property was
levied on and the verdict was realized. The
defendant left the city. Ever since, the
young mother has been hunting for he1
child. She discovered It's whereabouts last
winter, but for reasons deferred action TIL
now. The result Of that action is to be
found in thefollowing from the Lafayette.
Ind, Evening Call Of Friday last
Mrs. Lucy Curtis of Staunton, Va, has been
in the city since last Tuesday, in search Of he1
4-year-old daughter, Nellie. About eighteen
months ago little Nellie was taken from hel
home at Staunton, by her father, K. B. Curtis,
uuIlIS UIlt dUoCICC, dHl uHulA
brought to this city, where, with her father
and grandmother, She has resided at No. 80
North Fifth street. To secure possession of
the child, Mrs. Curtis yesterday afternoon
began habeas corpus proceedings, the writ being
night obtained possession of the child. Judge
Everett held night session of the Superior
Court, and had the mother and child before
him. Mrs. Curtis had retained Capt. W. DE
Witt Wallace, Capt. A. A. Rice and Will S.
70 hpr The father
not represented. The child was given into
the custody of the sheriff, to remain until
Monday, and Mr. Curtis given until tomorrow
to file an answer to the complaint. The Judge
mother to visit the child. The little one was
delighted at meeting her mother, and is
anxious to go with her.
Davidson & Davidson had been retained by
the father Of the child to defend the h06eds
corpus proceeding in the Superior Court,
which comes up tomorrow morning at 9
O'Clock. He promises to make an energetic
fight to retain the custody Of the child
The plaintiff, Lucy p. Curtis, in her petit
t bs segss ha a0 %a er sas her
self were invited out to dinner, but he excused
himself and said he would stay at home.
During her absence he took the child, and in
company with his mother, (upon whom she
only part Of his clothing, or the child's, left
for parts unknown. She accidentally obtain
ed clue, indicating they were living in
Lafayette, and a note addressed to Congress
man Cheadle, asking fol, the name of some
Lafayette attorney to whom to commit her
case. put her in Communication with Rice &
Potter She came here, but on their advice
and that Of Captain Wallace returned to Viz
ginia for certain papers, and again came back
and made wholly unexpected appearance at
the Curtis residence last evening with war
rant for the child.
To-day, U. S. District Attorney W. E..
Craig and Capt. James Bumgardner will
commence taking dispositions here for Mrs.
Lucy Curtis, and on Thursday next will
leave Staunton for Lafayette, taking with
them the dispositions and several wit
nesses in her behalf. The case is set for
hearing in Lafayette for next Friday
morning.