The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-18
A LIVELY GRANDMA
nm WAS NOT TOO OLD TO WORK
A CONFIDENCE GAME
CHARGED WITH ABDUCTION
An Interesting Tale Of Fight for the
Possession Of Little Vera Nelson.
General Court News

A complaint was issued by the district
attorney yesterday afternoon charging Mrs.
Jennie Mcneil, a woman 80 years OF age,
with the abduction of her grandchild, vera
Nelson, z or years old Investigation de-
veloped a most interesting and protracted
nrht for the possession of the child.
Some two or three years ago James Mel
ION and wife were divorced in Salt Lake
CITY. Utah. the mother, by the decree Of
the court, being granted custody of their
B-year-old daughter, Vera, to whose sup
mort Nelson was ordered to contribute
certain sum each month. The father was
very anxious for possession of the child
and probably with view to securing an
assistant In preventing him from so do
ing. Mrs. Nelson found second husband
ana protector in the person OF A. II. Mike
sell. A position as the child's defenoer
proved no idle responsibility, 1t seems, Tor
husband No. 2 has been kept in hot water
ever since by Nelson's attempts to obtain
the little one. The first occasion on which
Nelson got hold of Vera was in mining
camp In Utah. Mikeseu finally got her
back, but In the operation carried away
dose of cold lead as the price OF his bravery.
Mikesell and his wife subsequently moved
to this city, and engaged In the grocery
business at 312 West Sixth street. Nelson
moved to wyoming. This distance OF sep
aration has not tended to cool the ardor OF
the fathers desire for his daughter. how
ever. and according to Mikesell's story the
attempts at actual kidnapping have been
frequent and daring. For some reason
unknown, Mrs. Mikesells mother, Jennie
Mcneil, an aged but lively grandmother.
has taken her first son-in-law's part In the
contention, and has been the active factor
In the recent attempts to get the little
girl for Nelson. In February last she op-
tanned possession Of Vera and before inter-
vention could be made effective landed ner
in Rowland, Ore, where the father then
resided. A trip by the mother was neces-
gary to get her back, and operations were
then suspended until about two months
ago, when grandma again turned up IN Los
Angeles. She appealed to Mikesell on the
ground that Nelson had promised to fur
pish her a home II the little girl were per-
mitted to live with her, and as a matter
Of compromise Mikesell finally agreed tc
furnish her place to live in this city. and
this offer, he states, was accepted. Mrs
Mcneil was apparently contented and moth
ing suspicious occurred until Tuesday
night.
Mrs. MikeseT was quite Ill and they were
preparing to move over on Maple avenue
having sold their Sixth street grocery. The
grandmother suddenly appeared on the
scene and asked that the little girl be per
mitted to spend the night at her house
The mother objected at first. but on the
promise that Vera would be returned ir
the morning consented Morning came ant
no Vera. Suspicion was aroused and about
noon Mikesell went to Mrs. McNeil's lodg.
ings, where he was confronted by card on
the door bearing the information that the
grandmother had gone to Santa Monica
with the little one and would be back In two
or three days. This tale was not credited
and the step-father began a search for In
formation.
1t was not long before he discovered that
Nelson had telegraphe transportation to
Mrs. Mcneil and the child and subsequent
investigations showed that they left or
the 1865 train for Sacramento. Mikesel
thereupon appealed to the district attor-
ney, and by 4 o'clock telegram describing
the woman and Vera was in the hands OF
the police at Bakersfield. 1t Is probable
they will be brought back to Los Angeles
today, when the grandmother will be con-
fronted with the charge of abduction. g.
The outcome OF the affair will be watched
with interest.