The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-14
Fl RUSE OF WOMAN
1T RESULTS IN MRS. JOSEPH A,
REESE OBTAINING HER CHILD.
A Stenogrnpher Plays Detective on A.
r. Baerman, Mrs. Reese Former
Husband-ChiId Spirited Away.

by SUCCESSFUL ruSc MIS-. Joseph a.
Reese, formerly Mrs. Baermann. OF Chi
cago. succeeded in getting custody of her
little girl. who had been placed in the
knickerbacker Hall, a girls school, by her
father, A. 4. Baermann. Mr.. Baermann
says his wife secured a divorce without
his knowledge while he was absent from
Chicago on June 10. On the next day, he
says. she was remarked. her present name
being Mrs. J. A. Reese. Mr.. Baermann
claims he had no knowledge OF the pre-
ceedings until he learned a decree of d.
vorce had been granted his wife, giving her
possession OF the child, Kathleen. a girl
eight years Of age. He was unwilling HE
wife should retain custody of the little
one and by mutual agreement she was
sent to a school at Lake Bluff. a suburb
OF Chicago. About six weeks later the
woman took the girl from the school and
sent her to the home of Reese's parents.
Covington, Ky. AS soon as Mr.. Baermann
learned the facts he took the train for
Covington and got the child. He brought
her to this city and placed her In the
Knickerbacker Hall, where she has been
since Nov. 6.
Mrs. Reese learned a few days ago Mr..
Baermann was in this city and came on at
once for the purpose OF getting possession
of the child. She went to Prosecutor Wilt
sic and asked that Baermann be arrested
for kidnapping the girl. Mr.. Wiltsie told
her as the child had been brought to this
city from Kentucky no action Of that kind
could be maintained in the Criminal
suit for the custody OF the child. She
stated to him the Chicago court had given
the girl into her custody and asked If she
uv0ftId hn fac+tGA1 In foIfnD kAr IL Gn0
could be located. Mr.. wiltsie replied he did
not care to advise her, but would say II
the girl were his and he saw her
on the street. under the circumstances, he
would certainly take her at sight.
In the meantime the assistance OF a wom-
an stenographer was secured, and out OF
sented to help in locating the girl. wednes-
day night Mr.. Baermann was In the office
of his hotel-the Circle Park-when a note
signed herself as Minnie, was waiting for
him on the street below. Mr.. Baermann
says, II did not know who Minnie might
to meet her. When / spoke TO her she
told me- I was not the man she expected to
meet I inquired how she came to. know
my name, when she replied she had been
out with q man the night before who gave
the name OF Baermann and had promised
to meet him that evening. After a few
moments conversation she complained of
the cold. when l suggested she go up to the
MOTEL parlors. She was unwilling to go into
the MOTEL, but said she knew or a place We
We went to Huegele's restaurant. The girl
told me she was a divorced woman with a
boy four years old and wanted to put him
in a school. i fell INTO the trap and ex-
changed condolences with her. / told her I
was similarly situated and had a little girl
whom I had placed in the Knickerbacker
Hail." That was sufficient for the young
woman, and as soon as she could do so
without arousing suspicion she left Baer-
mann. She saw Mrs. Reese and told her
Uhoro tho NhflI ruo0 RI he found nNhftrcdau
afternoon Mrs. Baermann, in company
with a male friend, went to Knickerbacker
Hall and asked to see the little girl. She
was informed the child had gone down town
to visit her father and would return at 5
p. m. The mother returned at that hour,
when the little girl was sent to her. Fer
young ladies tainted in the next parlor.
The others rushed out OF the room. leaving
erabbed the little one in her arms and
hastily left the house. She concealed her.
self in an alley until a carriage could be
called, when she drove away. Mr.. Baer-
mann says he Is convinced she took the
train for Chicago.
Proceedings win be Instituted at once to
Reese set aside. Mr.. Baermann claims to
have had no knowledge the case was TO
be tried on the day the decree was granted
the child. He telegraphed his attorneys.
Byun & Weinchenk, to begin action for the
annulment OF the decree at once. He claims
is not a tit person TO nave the. care OF the
child. He intimates she held improper re-
lations with Reese before she was divorced.
He believes the court will review the pro-
ceedings and grant a decree of divorce in
his favor and order the child turned over
to him. Mr.. Baermann says he has no
criticism TO offer whatever so far as the
management of the school Is concerned and
holds Ii entirely blameless.
Mr.. Ba FERN ao,, said; last night, in nc refer.
81 think 1t was Mr.. Whistles place to have
kept his advice to himself after he told the
mother of the child that no proceedings
could be brought In this State. I understand
he advised her 10 go and take the child If
she knew where 1t was. He had no right TO
give such advice as this. He didn't know
how we'll the child was being cared for,
and 1t was none of his business"