The San Francisco call., 1898-06-30
FOUND HIS
 CHILDREN IN
 SAN LEANDRO A Millionaire Tracks His Ex-Wife. SHOT HIS HOME DESTROYER CARRIES HIS CONTEST INTO THE ALAMEDA COURTS. Spends Large Fortune Hunting His Children, and Their Mother Will
 Now Fight to Retain
 Them.
SHOT HIS HOME DESTROYER
CARRIES HIS CONTEST INTO THE
 ALAMEDA COURTS.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

the State of Wyoming, found his three little daughters this afternoon In the GUS tody of their mother at San Leandro Gavin McNab. who, with Milton S. Green, Is MT. Hurts attorney, declares that he has sacrificed not less than $2O0 900 in trying to recover his children.
 AS soon as they were found a writ of habeas corpus was issued by Judge Og- den and a couple of Deputy Sheriffs at once went to San Leandro and brought the children and their mother into court
 About fifteen years ago MT. and Mrs. Hurt lived near Cheyenne, where they were married. He owned some of the largest stock ranches in the State and is a very prominent man in that section He has figured largely in politics, has held several high offices and on three dif- ferent occasions has been nominated for Governor, but has always declined the honor. At the present time no one is bet ter known in his State than Joel Hurt.
 For several years after their marriage the domestic life of the Hurts was all that could be desired. Three little girls came into the tam4-y and are now aged about II, and [. They are all very in telligent ana bright ana give evidence of having been well educated and reared in luxury.
 About two years ago a man who was under obligations 10 Hurt became ac- Quarnted with the latters wife. He paid her much attention and finally succeeded il seVerng the happy domestic relations that had existed between her and her huspanu for many years. Hurt is Nlr- glnlan and his Iamily pride prevented him rom making his unhapplneSs pubic for some time after he discovered the perhdy or his Ialse friend. At last the scandal became SO pronounced that Hurt and his TiIe sepaIaIcd and he brought a suit Tor divorce on serious grounds, including un- 1althfulness. ANXIOUS to prevent d blot fUuowlng ulS children through life on ac- count OI their mothers sin, Hurt agreed to modification of the decree, and on her promise 10 maintain home in which the children should be free from evil in- huenCe and be gwen good education, he consented shat Ine decree awarding him divorce should he so drawn as 10 per init the mother to retain the custody of hlS children.
 After Ittle while he discovered proof that the assurances Of hls eX-wife were Hot being Kept, and on the case being re- opened n court the decree was so modi- he'd as to glVe the father absolute pos session and custody of the children. This February, after it's modification, Mrs. Hurt took the three little ones-Josie, Eva and Kittie-and commenced the long chase that ended to-day.
 After the divorce was granted to Hurt there was a tragedy. The man who had spoiled Hurts home and blighted his life for the injured mans feelings, and on several occasions tried to provoke a quar- rel Three different times the defamer attempted to draw his gun on Hurt. At the street, attempted his old tactics of provoking q quarrel and before anybody was aware that the two men were quar- reling, Hurts enemy lay dead on the side walk with bullet through his heart. The circumstances were considered so Justl- fable that nothing was done with Hurt, and all Wyoming commended the action which his Virginian blood had prompted.
 AS soon as Hurt was aware that his ex-
 . tod Ha afaf draVa ha employed Pinkerton's agency to follow her. After a short time the woman and children were located in Colorado, and at once a writ of habeas corpus was pro- cured, compelling her to produce them in court in accordance with the order of the Wyoming court. While this case was bending, the woman cleared out again and Hurt heard nothing of her or her children till they were located at San Leandro.
 The father learned some months ago that his ex-wife had married man named Alfonso Shaeffer. For long time he refused to believe that such was the case, for to his personal knowledge Shaet- on one occasion, was In the courtroom at Cheyenne when Shaeffer was convicted of grand larceny The , kn3nwiedge tn that tt ms ms ex-vgffe and Shaeffer spurred him on to redouble his efforts to recover them, knowing that they could not be sur rounded by the best influences.
 From Colorado Shaeffer, the woman and children journeyed through Mexico a ives were not able to come up to them. Hurt had prepared the way for this long tourney of his ex-wife and Shaeffer by a liberal appropriation he made her at the time the divorce was granted. When she assured him that the children should De well cared for, he settled on her S20 Oo0 and allowed her $75 month alimony This aliuony ceased as soon as he knew she was married to Shaeffer, and with the balance of the S20,O00 they have been flying through the two republics.
 The ultimate discovery of the Shaefrers and the little Hurts came ao3nt m a roundabout manner. With the Wyoming tToons which came to California few weeks ago were some men who had EnoY,l Shaeffer at Cheyenne. Hearing little and suspecting the rest, they com Inunicated with hurt and San Francisco pinkerton agency was set to work, ano ;n a few days they located the family at San Leandro. ~ hoSo-o 1,,5oo osdae this afternoon Gavin McNab stated to the court that they were very ahN- ious for speedy nearing od the i bmaieas wrL, as tnterests and actual expenses not less thaH SYl @@VSfyvvtt -Shaeffer was in court ana
 ao-ad MI o' 1o he very much excited There S9ppSerL Spp.a do,,bt as to whether she is en- tirely competent mentally. She inIormea Judge ogden that she hao np cPullsel uarl ana in Wyoming The Judge told her that ne had no authority over any witnesses m Wyoming, but that he Woqia ha eonpnpe 11,abf ene @ cas re coun.si' little later Judge Gibson appeared and stated thst ns aaT Ieprffentea 6s etad ette a little time to look into the case, and asked that it go oyer till 1hte to-morroT Attorney McNab agreed to thls contlnu- ance if the children should be kept in the aeiIetody of the Sheriff, because he feared that in view of former experience Mrs: Shaeffer would again try 70 take the ,2oiinR ones out of the jurisdiction of the court. .to, 1,, .ta oo,,-. HSr. ehaeffer said that she had exhausted all 66sT means and that she would not take inc children away. Judge Ogden tenderly told her that although he might believe Ter the allegation that she had once eyaded a court was sworn to and that he wes bound to take cognizance of it. Sher- ief White was then required to keep the Children in the Chabot Home and to pro- duce them in court tomorrow morning. Gr McNab authorized the court to incur any expense that might be necessary in looking after the children's welfare and safety. saying that their father would be ~Io1 fa