Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-18
A WOMAN AND A GUN.
Detective CouIson objects to the Com
bination, and Breaks 1t.
RESULT OF A HABEAs CORPUS SUIT
The Mother Loses Control Of Her Child and
Buys q Revolver.
CAUGHT ON THE STREET AND DlsARMED

keen judgment, in all probability prevented
highly sensational shooting affair yester-
day afternoon.
Coulson was passing gunstore on Woed
street, when he noticed well-dressed, hand
some little woman coming out. Something
in her manner attracted the detectives atten-
ton, and he walked into the store and asked
what the woman had purchased. After some
hesitation he was told that she had bought .
32-caliber revolver and a box of cartridges.
Coulson Immediately hastened after the
woman, and overlook her near the postofice.
He laid his hand upon her shoulder and
asked abruptly: 'sMrs. McKain, what are
you going to do with that revolver"
The woman turned pale, but denied that
she had weapon.
''Oh, yes, but know you have. You
bought revolver and cartridges just now,
and you have them in your pocket"
"Well, was the reply, Suppose have,
that is none of your business. and will do
as like with them"
Must Not Carry Concealed Weapons.
"No, but you can't" said the officer.
''There is law against ladies carrying re-
come with me to the Inspectors Office"
Mrs. McKain declined to go. saying she
would give up the revolver, but would do no
more. Coulson. after she turned over the weapon;
insisted that she should accompany him. and
after some parleying she consented.
The little scene was the result of proceedings
in Judge Whites court yesterday morning. A
nearing was had in the habeae corpus case OF
A. j. MckaiD, well-known steamboat captain,
against Ida, his divorced wife, for the posses
sion Of their only child, Annie. bright and
McKain and his wife had not lived together
for long period previous to the recent divorce
decision In his favor. The child, in the mean
time, had been taken by Mrs. McKain to the
home of her father, William l. Kirkpatrick,
No. 50 Rebecca street. Allegheny. but recently
the mother OF the child took her to Martins
Ferry. The father went TO Martins Ferry. and
upon his request that the child be allowed to
go down street with him until he could get her
some clothing. he got possession OF the little
one and brought it to rhis city. where he kept
it at his boarding house on Carson street. Soon
afterward the divorce suit came up in court.
and the testimony against Mrs. McKain's char
acter being of very damaging nature he had
no trouble In securing decree.
Fighting for the Child.
At the conclusion of the trial. which was
marked with sensational features, Mrs. McKain
claimed possession of the child, alleging that
an agreement with her husband provided tnat
If she made no defense in the trial the child
should 60 to her. The little one was gwen to
her, and the husband entered habeas corpus
proceedings to recover her, on the ground that
the mother, as shown by the trial. was not a fit
person to have the child. and that he, being in
position to cothe and educate the child,
should be allowed control of her.
The tale of marital infeliclry had just been
related to the court yesterday morning, when
pathetic scene occurred.
Judge White had taken the prattling little
girl up on the bench beside him. When the
lawyers had concluded he turned to the child
and asked in kindly way:
Annie. which would you like to do. 60 and
papar'
The little one hesitated a moment b hefore an
swenng. and then looking up into tho venera-
bic face Of the Judge. simply said:
Papa"
THAT'S my opinion exactly" answered the
Court, and an order was made at once tutning
tne little one over TO the fathers care.
A Sensational Scene in Court.
Mrs McKain had stood without the railins-
smiling and beckoning to her little, one bur
when she heard the decision of the Court she
burst out In frantic cries that she was being
robbed of her darling. Captain McKain az
once took the child up in his arms and was
making his way through the crowd to the door
when the mother ran up and, throwing her arms
around her. hugged and kissed the little one,
weeping bitterly all the while and calling upon
the child to think Of her and love her ALWAYS
The Captain finally succeeded in freeing him
self and left the building with the child in his
arms. prattliEg and talking. all unconscious of
the real nature of the scene she had inst
passed through. Mrs. McKan remained awhile
with her parents and friends, and left the
building with them. 1t is not known whether
she returned to Allegheny with them or not,
but it was not long before o'clock when she
was seen Dy Detective Coulson coming out Of
the gun store, pale-faced and resolute.
Inspector mcAleese talked to her at his office, !
and while she would not admit what her real |
intentions we're, the inspector is satisfied from |
her excited language and nervous actions that |
she had planned to follow Captain McKain to |
his boarding house and kill him and possibly |
the child. and then berself: She could not ex-
plain why she was going toward the Southside
where the captain boards, when the detective
had caught her, although she denied she had
any intention OF shooting him. In a number of
other instances her statements did not agree
with her actions, but after talking to the in
spector for awhile, the unfortunate woman
calmed down and begged that she be allowed to
go home. After exacting a promise that she |
would not in any way molest Captain McKain
or the child, and that she would not make any |
rash attempt upon herself, the inspector al
lowed her to go.