The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-04
DOMESTIC WAR FOR A CHILD.
Sensational Case Which VIII Find
It's Way Into Court

ooh! take me back to mother; take
me back to mother
These wlrr the words which ten
year-old Pearl De Graft screamed out
at the top of her voice when her father
stealthily stole her from her mother
late Saturday night. The mother still
has her young daughter, Sadie, seven
years old, in her custody, but has no
idea where the father has secreted the
older child.
The De Crafts hail from Watertown,
S. D. Kirk De Graft is saloonkeeper
in that city, and, according to his
wifes story is extremely cruel to her
self and the children. Last Tuesday
night she decided to leave him. Aided
by friends and accompanied by her sis
ter and the latter's husband she stole
away from De Graft and board a train
for Minneapolis. After arriving here
they took apartments at 339 Second
avenue south. Matters seemed very
pleasant until the enraged father, who
had traced his missing wife and chill
dren, appeared in Minneapolis Satur-
day. He lost no time in letting his
wife know of his presence and of his
avowed intention to secure possession
of the children. He went to the police
and wanted an officer to accompany
him to the boarding house to take
away the children, but such favor was
not granted him. Then De Graft, late
Saturday night, asked Assistant Super
intendent of Police Buerfenning to have
one of the judges and his clerk brought
down to police headquarters so that he
could take legal steps at once and get
his children that night He was told
he would have to wait until the courts
opened today.
According to Mrs. De CRAFTS story it
was late Saturday night when Pearl
was stolen from her. She says she
had been putting the children to bed
way from the bed room to bid good
night to her aunt. All day Saturday
Mrs. De Graft had been very careful to
have her husband kept out of the
house, for she says she was afraid of
him. Late that night a tall man ap-
peared at the door and asked to see
the mother on important business. Mrs.
De Graft was chary at first, but knew
from the description that it was not her
husband.
The fellow announced himself a de-
tective, and, after some persuasion, he
was allowed to enter, as he stated he
had some important news for the
woman. While she was thus engaged
there was a sudden opening of the
OUTSIDE QOOT. lie ulDluuGl NlSllOI dl-
most flew up the stairs. He seized
Pearl and with one leap was again
on the ground floor. The little girl
was badly frightened and screamed as
loud as she could. Her father tried
to~drown her cries by putting his hand
over her mouth at the door, and then
he ran up Second avenue past Fourth
street. He crossed to the north side
of the avenue, where his wife says she
saw him meet three other men. They
disappeared, and the mother has not
since seen her elder child. She is al
most frantic over the affair. Mrs. De
Graft says that the so-called detective
was an impostor and a friend of her
husband who employed him to help
in the capture of the child.
Mrs. De Graft says that all day yes
terday her husband was about the
place awaiting a chance to get little
Sadie. She says he went to the house
and tried to intimidate her, but to no
aavil. The mother and her yonger
daughter slept at the central police
station last night for fear that the
father would succeed in getting pos
! session of the younger child.
The woman intends to return to
Watertown today and to commence
suit for divorce and the custody Of
the children. She says she is sure