The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-14
A KIDNAPPING CASE.
THE TROUBLE CAUSED BY LITTLE
HENRY BRADSHAW.
His Mother. Gave Him to Mrs. John
Arnold, and Then Took Him
Away by Force.

Little Henry Robert bradshaw, aged
6 years, was last night the unconscious
cause of a good healthy row, which
will probably result today in several
court investigations. Mrs. Charles
Myers, the lads mother, and her hus-
band were booked at the police station
on the charge of trespass and disturb
ing the peace, preferred by John Ar
mold who, with his wife, has been the
custodian of the child in question. The
trouble arose through Mr.. and Mrs.
Myers visiting the Arnold residence
last evening and making an attempt u
kidnap the boy. And thereby hangs d
tale.
1t seems that about 1888, Florence
Bradshaw came to Utah from England,
and latterly her baby has been EARNED
OUT to John Arnold and his wife, re-
spectacle people residing at IT'S o
street The Bradshaw woman was to
pay Sc per month for the care of her
baby, and the money was paid for
three months, when the mother de-
cided to cease the payments. and told
the ArnoldS they were welcome to the
baby, she would never claim it. With
this understanding, the latter have
reared the child with as great care as
though it We're their very own flesh
entwined itself around their hearts that
to part with it would give as mucn
pain as to lay away one of their own
children. The Bradshaw woman has
resided in the city continuously since
coming here, and in July last she was
married to Charles Myers. Since her
marriage, Mrs. Myers has developed a
sudden love for her boy, and on sew
eral occasions has visited him at the
a q n Tod
to the house without question. Two
weeks ago, however, she endeavored
to take the child away from its adopt
| ed parents, and in a. scuff1e which en-
sued broke a window or two. The
| ArnoldS consulted with Attorney John
NJ Zane and were advised that the
Myers had no right whatever to enter
their house and take the child without
an order from the district court. They
were further advised to call an officer
| of the law the next time the Myers
paid them an unwelcome visit and
have the latter arrested. Last night
about $50 o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Myers
went up to the Arnold residence and
asked to see the boy. Their request
was refused by Mr.. Arnold, but the
gentleman told them they might enter
the house and see the boy in the pres
ence Of an officer. In response to a
telephone message Officer Roberts was
lsent up to the Arnold's with the patrol
wagon. He had orders from Captain
Donovan to arrest Myers and his
\ wife and to take them to the station.
Donovan had several days before been
advised that Their might be trouble at
any time at the house in question
and was prepared for it. Upon ar
irving at the house the officer placed
the man and woman under arrest on
the charge of tresspass and disturbing
the peace but Mrs Myers asked to be
allowed to see her boy before being
taken to the station. Roberts con-
scented and Mr.. Arnold called his wife
who had the boy in another room.
AS soon as the opportunity afforded
Mrs Myers rushed forward, snatched
the child from the arms of Mrs. Arnold
and defied those present to take it
from her. Repeated demands made
by Arnold and his wife met with the
same responses and the entire outfit
was bundled into the patrol wagon by
the officer and taken to the station,
where a scene of the greatest con-
fusion reigned for an hour. Myers and
his wife defied the officers to take the
child from them but their defiance
was as naught to the will of Captain
Donovan who separated the boy from
his mother and after consulting with
Judge Zane, whose advice bore him
out in his every action. gave the child
/ to the Arnolds.
Myers and his wife gave bonds for
their appearance this morning in
police court to answer to the charges
against them. They threaten to bring
actions for damages against the police
for forcibly taking the child from
them. The Arnolds will this morning
commence civil proceedings for the alb
solute possession of the boy and will
charge that the mother is not pro-
per person to have custody of him.