The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-05
FIGHT FOR A CHILD.
Brutal Fathers Attempt 1T
Kidnapping Fooled.
NE,cnsoRs TO THE RESCUE.
Aen ood Wsmea ArmeA with All Nan.
nsP Of weapons Force Him %
surreader The Captive.

sne attempt OF Q drunken father 70 obtain pos
ssssion Of his 3ysar-oid daughter from the
mother. While the attempt was frustrated BY
sns arrival OF nsighbofs. the poor mother was
hit in the face BY her husband and dragged
through the mud. warrant for assault and
battery Was sworn out last night
Jack BsEdwell and HE vile, Mabel, have been
living at Whatcom. She 10 little women only
IL years old. while he 10 . big burly man fond Of
drink. When hs works It 10 - musician. Some
time ago his vile left him because he abused
her. He pleaded and she returned. Again two
mouths ego shs left him for the same reason
aud came 70 live with her sisssr, Ma William
- se-le, as 27l0 wellor street Before che left
her husband he asked II she was going % apply
Tor div0ece. She told him that her thoughts
were In that direction. He got mad and men.
TONED shooting her, but she did not pay much
attention 70 his throata
SIX weeks ago Bardwell came 70 Seattle and
asked Justice Caldwslrs assistance In getting
possession Of the child Bessie. The justice
went out to Mrs. La Selle's, and when he learned
the circumstances under which Ms Bardwell
lett her husband he dropped the husband like
hot cakes. MrA La 6eils undsrstood perfectly
that under the circumstances the husband
should b allowed to So his child and gave him
permtssion to come to the house once month
and 80 Bessie in her presence. He was not 70
ose bis vile and, while he was In the house. ell
doors were 10 10 locked 70 prevent his taking
the child away. Nothing more was heard from
BaEdwell. and Mr.. Ii selle. who 10 1t present
engaged in business ct Tacoma, remarked . few
days ago while In the city that hs thought
Bardwell would not bother his wife again.
Yesterday afternoon MrA Ia 6elle VS. away
from home and the only persons In the house
were Ars. Mabel Bardwell. her child Bessie and
Jessie Gardner At 5 o'clock quincy drove up
In front of the house and Jack Bardwell, with Q
smile ON his face, got out He rang the bell,
and when bis wife opened the door Bessie came
running along behind her mother. She WAS the
object Of the visit With one push he sent his
vile across the hall and, picking up the little
one. started for the quincy.
AZ he came running out Of the house Mra J.
r Hamilton. who lives next door, was return
ing home with pail OF buttermilk. She knew
that Mra. Bardweil feared her husband would
try to kidnap the child, and In . moment the
whole situation was clear She grabbed Bessie
by one hand. while Bardwell had hold Of the
other II Was tug of war and the buttermilk
was forgotten. She dropped the pail. but chung
to the child.
"You shan't have her." yelled MrA Hsmil.
ton.
LET co." said Bardwell. - he got into the
quincy and gave Jsssiss arm . jerk. The child
cried with fright and Bardweil, thinking he
was In close quarters, said to the driver: 'G-
- yon, drive on"
Mn. Hamilton told him not TO- The driver
looked worried and talked down through the
glasa Mrs. Hamilton and Bard well both yelled
at him. He started, and Mrs. Hamilton went in
the mud.
Then Mr& Bardweli, who had recovered from
the blow her husband gave her. reached the
team. She jumped on the step and grabbed her
child. The horses were going and she held on
with one hand to the bar that crosses tho door.
BardWell allowed his anger to get the better OF
him, and he struck her in the face.
About this time MIRA Hamilton was yellin Z. -
only . determined woman can, for her husband.
He vas lying on the sofa dreaming of butter
milk when he heard his wife's erica He came
to the window, saw the buttsrmiik spilled on the
ground and the general struggle going on. Out
doors he rushed, and his wife gave him orders
TO stop that team.
Hamilton made Q rush for the team and re-
preated his wifs's instructions 20 the driver.
That individual was among % many hres that
hs did not know what to DO. This hesitation
was cut short BY the arrival Of James Weather
bee with sickle in his hand.
"stop those hofses." said be- II vast 70 know
what all this racket 10 about"
With these words be raised the weapon gsnsr-
ally used for cutting grass, and grabbed the
horses py the rsins. The driver raised bis whip,
but did not strike. In fact the climax Was
reached. the neighborhood was aroused. WIN
dows were thrown up In all directions and anx-
ious heads appeared. Another man. with club
that looked like fence rail-, joined forces with
Hamilton and Weatheroee.
"You mean skunk" said Hamilton, address
ing Bardwsii, 'hand out that child"
IL suppose will have to-" said the gentleman
addressed. and little hasel-sysd Bessie was once
more restored to her mud covered. brufsed but
loving mother. The battle was won, and Ham
ilton ordered the driver to 60 on.
''Oh. for . policeman" said MI. Hamilton,
but mono Was in sight
Mrs. La Sslle returned in few minutes after
the trouble was over and found her sister pros
trate with nervous excitement She was imme-
diatsly put to bed. and Was very sick last night.
The child was also suffering pain in her arm.
Mrs. La Seile Is . little but determined woman.
She started for Justice Caldwells Office imme-
diateiy aud swore out warrant for Bardwell on
the charge OF assault and battery. She then saw
Chief OF Police Jackson. and he promised to help
her catch the offender.