The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-01-12
RECONCILIATION OR KIDNAP.
Charles Woodward's Daring Attemp,
to 0 O,tain Possession OF
His Child.
His Scheme Thwarted> and He Seeks
a Reconciliation With
His Wife.

llc last Saturday, when the would be
kidnapper was foiled in his diabolical
attempt, and then commenced sue
cessful negotiations with his wife,
which terminated last Tuesday morn
ing, when himself and wife, together
with the three-year-old child, left for
their South Dakota home.
1t was last Friday noon that rath-
er handsome man of dark complexion,
light moustache, beautiful rollingeyes,
weighing about 165 to 170 pounds, and
apparently 81 to IS years of age,
alighted from the train at North Red
wood, and accepted seat in the bus
for the city. He was nervous and
Impatient, and when he paid over his
quarter for fare he registered as
Charles Woodward, Summit, South
Dakota"
He professed being a member of a
certain fraternity, and after being di-
rected to one or two members of the
same fraternity in this city, he sought
them out and attempted to gain their
assistance in his evil designs. His
story and his plan of kidnapping, as
related to them was simple enough.
He was lumber merchant at Summit,
and has been for long time. He
claimed that about six weeks ago his
wife, taking their only child "a boy" :"
he called it, with her, left him without
moments warning. He had left his
business for the purpose of finding
them, particularly his "boy." He
traced them to Belview, in this coun-
ty, en- Thursday, and there obtained
certain information that lead him to
believe that they were in this city and
on the next day he came here in pur-
suit. He soon located them, residing
with family on Bridge street, and at
once commenced scheming to obtain
possession of the "boy," child of but
three years.
Woodward's scheme, as unfolded to
member of the society heretofore
alluded to, was to have one or two
men or women attract the attention of
his wife for such a period as to give
him an opportunity to rush in, seize
the child and make his escape from
the place and remain in hiding until
q train carried him and the little one
from the city.
This scheme did not meet with as
ready approval as Woodward could
have wished for. In fact, it was COM
pletely ''turned down." and an imag-
mary cake of ice found its way to a
spot near the jugular vein of the de-
signer. The person whom Woodward
expected to enlist, after emphatically
declining to entertain the proposition,
informed the would-be kidnapper that
the only way to obtain possession of
the child was in a legal manner.
Woodward left his presence.
During the afternoon word was
sent to a stepsister of Mrs. Woodward,
in effect, for the former to inform the
latter, to keep a close watch on the
child, and have sufficient assistance
present to resist a forcible seizure, in
case the same was attempted.
On Saturday brother of Mrs.
Woodward attempted to bring about
q reconciliation, and in this wise Mr..
and Mrs. Woodward were brought to-
gether. But no terms of capitulation
could be agreed upon and the brother
returned home. Once in the house
Woodward said that he would not
leave without. the child, and Mrs.
Woodward declared that she would
retain it at all hazards. And so Sat
urday, Sunday and Monday was spent
with Woodward in one room and Mrs.
Woodward and the baby in another
room, of the little house on Bridge,
near East street. Unpleasant hours,
indeed, as hardly a word passed be-
tween them.
On Monday afternoon GAZETTE
reporter called on Mrs. Woodward,
and in an interview, she said:
I'VE have been married several
years, but our married life has bean