The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-07-27
ASCENE ON THE STREET,
A Husband and WIFE Quarrel
About Their Child.
QUITE A STRUGGLE ENSUES FOR IT
And tho Screams Of Two Women AZ.
tract a Large Crowd-BystandeTs
I~ntcrforO but Have Hard Work TO
Separate tho Combatants and Pre-
vent Separating" tho Haby-Bsth
WomeR then Promptly Faint

A decided sensation was caused on
Sixteenth street last night about 0
o'clock by n struggle between young
man and two young women for tho pos
session OF q pretty little child. Tho
screams OF the women and cries for help
attracted a large crowd, and several
men interlersd, but 1t required all their
efforts to separate the combatantF, and
In the meantime the child seemed in
imminent danger Of being pulled to
pIecOS.
The young man was Homer Prayer,
son Of Charles Prayer, the printer, and
the two women were Mrs. Prayer, nee
Miss Degant, and her sister. The affair
occurred exactly opposite tho entrance
10 the city building, A number OF
couucilmen and officials were sitting or
standing about on the steps.
The three walked up Sixteenth street,
apparently on amicablo terms, Prayer
carrying the little girl, who IL four years
old, but very small for her ago. The
fret thing that attracted any attention
to them was MrG, Prngsr's grRspin2 the
child and saying, "Give me my baby"
This her husband refused TO do, and a
struggle began, each pulling at the
child, while the other young lady also
grRspad II and took a hand In the melee.
For a minute or two the beholders
thought tho trio were INDUCING in u
little rough fun. but when Mrs. Prayer
cried exuitsdly: "Giye me my baby or
I'll call those men to help me-" It be-
gan 10 look moro serious.
The struggle continued 4 few seconds.
when the child began TO scream as II
being hurt, and both women immodi.
ately added their screams to tho din and
began to yell, "Helpl Help! Help!"
This was too much for the chiyaIry OF
Assistant City Clerk Watkins, Council.
men Watorhouse, Richards, Lou and
Jake Britt, Solicitor BOyC0 and other
gentlemen, and they rushed into the
aFenn. Their Efforts at first only IN
creased the Commotion and added 10
the danger 10 the child. People
sWatmed about from every direction,
and it looked like O general fight till
Chief Bennett aud Lieutenant Supler
appeared, and between persuasion and
force got Prayer to lot 80 Of the little
girl. The two women carried her over
on tho grass, tho mother moaning, "Oh,
my bAbyv" and tho aunt crying, "Our
baby Our little habyI" In about an
instant both tainted from the reaction,
and would have fallen had they not been
assisted. They were supported into
Chief Bennett'a private office and q
young lady who was standing by took
tho child in.'
Prayer kept insisting that 1t was his
baby, and that no was going to have
her. but when she was led away, he
said: "Thoy can kill the d baby
now, for oil that | give a h--V
The gentlemOn present naturally
%sympathiZed with the women. as usual,
without inquiry, and when they heard
this remark were very indignant Sew
erRl wanted Prayer arrested, bne Il
seems that Capt, Bennett was somewhat
familiar with tho trouble, and did not
think 1t o case for arre6t.
The couple have been separated for
BOOlb Hule' TUT tWO NuphA NV louE
ago tho father had the child Mt his
fathers homo in tho country. The
mother rcgainca custody Of the child by
strategy. Prayer SAYS no was advised
by officials and others to secure pos.
session Of tho child by any means short
OF violence. Last evening he found her
With her mother and aunt in tho post
office. and asked to be allowed 10 carry
her out home, 10 which his wife con.
sonted.
lie took tho child ia his arms, and
when no got to the CITY building no re.
marked, "ThiIis my child, and now I've
got her | guess I'll keep her" and Start
cd TO 90 into tho police office, when
Mrs. Prayer snatChed the baby and the
exciting episode began.
Tho child was taken home by hor
mother. 1t is understood that cross
petitions for divorce and the custody OF
tho child will DO hlOd. Both tho parents
arc very young and below tho average
aiZn.