The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-21
A TALE OF CRUELTY.
The Pitiful Situation of Mrs.
Frank COnklin.
She Lies Sick in a Topeka
Hospital.
HER CHILDREN TAKEN.
from Their Mother
and Carried Off
To NewMexico by Their Fathers
Family.

Deserted by her husband, and her
children carried away by their father,
Mrs. Frank Conklin lies dangerously i'll
at DIR, Wards hospital in this city, and
her condition is pitiful in the extreme.
The story as related by Mrs. Thomas
Mooney, a sister of Mrs. Conklin, and
other friends in this city, from state
ments made to them by Mrs. Conklin, aud
from their personal knowledge is as fol-
lows:
About nine years ago Miss Hattie Cor
coran of Topeka went to Santa
Fe. New Mexico, to keep house
for Father James Defouri, parish
priest at Santa Fe, and while there
formed the acquaintance of Frank Conk-
lin, son of c. n. Conklin, at that time
sheriff In October, 1888, she married
ConkIin and went to reside with his
family in that city.
Conklin's mother was a Mexican by
birth and his father half Mexican, and
they evinced a particular dislike to his
wife on account of her being an Ameri
can, objecting very strongly to the mar
riage OF their son to her.
Her husband. too, was of a particular
ly jealous disposition, and whatever re-
gard he had for his wife at the time of
their marriage seemed to soon disappear,
as he Joined his family in making life
miserable for his wife, questioning all
her actions and keeping a constant
watch upon her,
1t was d common occurrence for him
to beat her severely it is said by Mrs.
Mooney, und he always carried the KEY
to the street door, rarely if ever allowing
her to be on the street unless he accom-
panied her.
1t is related that her best clothes he
burned to prevent her from attending
the church, as he also did the clothes
sent her by friends in Topeka
In the course of time two children
were born to them, both girls.
She decided some time since TO leave
her husband aud escape to her relatives
in Topeka, but watched as closely as she
was by her husband and his
family, an opportunity did not
occur for some time. In November
1894, her husband was sent by his father
to q ranch which he owned at some dis
tance, and her father-in-laW being great
ly interested in the election in progress
at that time, she found opportunity, and,
aided with money and clothes by a Mrs.
Hample, an American lady residing in
Santa Fe, started with her two children
to Topeka.
On her arrival here she went to the
home of her sister. Mrs Thomas Mooney,
where she resided until las: April a
few days after her arrival in this city.
says Mrs. Mooney, she showed her an
uudervest covered with blood, stating
that a few days prior to her escape her
husband had struck her repeatedly in
the face while undressing for bed, caus-
ing her mouth and nose to bleed
Her husband wrote TO her shortly after
she left Santa Fe, asking her if she would
live with him if he came to Topeka,
promising to lead a model life.
She Indignantly refused to agree to
any reconciliation. He wrote to her con-
tinually begging her to consent, and
making such promises that she finally
did agree last April to live with him if
he would come here, and he Immediate
ly removed to Topeka and secured po-
sition in the Santa Fe round house.
As she was among relatives here her
husband was much kinder to her, al
though at times when he was drinking
he proved that his disposition had not i'm
proved.
Some weeks ago Mrs. Conklin was
taken ill with a serious trouble, and
three weeks ago was removed to DR..
Wards hospital for surgical operation
A day or TWO after the operation was
performed Conklin telegraphe his
father to come to Topeka, and her rela-
tives now suppose that it was for the
purpose of securing the children in case
of their mothers death, or of KIDNAPPING
them if she recovered.
Conklin's father came to Topeka and
was invited to stay at Tom MONEYS
house. where the children were being
kept, and shortly after his arrival visited
his ughter-in-law, Mrs. Conklin, at the
hospital. The nurses at the hospital say
that after his first visit Mrs Conklid aD-
peared to be worried about her children,
and would often remark: Il cannot live
without my children. They must not
take my children away"
Last Thursday morning her father in
law visited her and asked if he could take
the oldest girl to Santa Fe.
She implored him not to do so and he
left the room angry, saying that he was
going back to Santa Fe in a few days
After leaving the hospital he went to
Mr.. Mooney's house and told Mrs Mooney
that Frank was i'll and that he would
take the children to see their father at
No. Seward avenue Mrs Mooney
consented and he left about 1O:30
a. H. That was the last seen of
the children, and it is supposed that
ConkIin and his father left that day for
Santa Fe with them, as Mrs. Mooney,
visiting the house at o'clock Thursday
evening. found the door open and every
thing in disorder.
Mr.. Mooney Immediately sent teIe-
gram to the sheriff at Santa Fe, but up
to this time he has received no reply,
and he believes that they have stopped
off for few days at some poInt on the
line.
Mrs, Conklin knows nothing of the
KIDNAPPING but is greatly excited over
the possibility of losing her children, and