New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04
LOOKING FOR THE MOTIVE.
THEORIES ABOUT THE CLARK BABYS
ABDUCTION.
THE FIGHT OVER THE CUSTODY OF THE
PRISONERS NOW JOINED BY THE
NEW-JERsEy AUTHORITIES

THE FIGHT OVER THE CUSTODY OF THE
PRISONERS NOW JOINED BY THE
NEw-JERsEY AUTHORITIES
Now that the nurse girl who stole the Clark
baby has confessed her crime ar has declared
that George Beauregard Barrow and his wife.
alias Mr. and Mrs James Wilson, induced her
to do IT, the interest in this remarkable case
centres around the possible motives Of the kid
aappers In running so great risk, when any
fansom they could expect from the child's
parents was disproportionatey small.
/ Naturally, many theories have been advanced
On this point One is that some sensational
Newspaper planned or adopted the idea in order
to- increase the sales Of extras" initiating
against this suggestion, beside the Nervousness
OF the brutality involved is the fact that sales
Of extras are by no means confined to one
newspaper. and even the most sensational four
nali'ts are not inclined to hazard their best
interests in order that their rivals may without
risk. share in the profits Another suggestion is
that some would-be shrewd individual banking
upon the tendency Of certain New-York news
papers TO offer rewards for first information in
notorious criminal cases, may have used the
Barrows as his tools to carry out the actual
Kidnapping on the promise Of share in one Of
these rewards when the baby had been put
where he could give the required information
without revealing the abductors
BARRow's SUDDEN WEALTH
These two theories are sustained In some
measure by the fact that Barrow. who has been
in needy circumstances for long time, sud
denly appeared TO have an abundance Of money
just before and ever since the kidnapping, for
the hiring OF cabs. the rent OF rooms. the pay
ment Of railway fares and many other small
items connected with the fitting from place to
place of three grown-up persons and a baby
A third theory remains which is that Barrow
who has been engaged in two former but futile
attempts to kidnap children in the West evolved
the plot from his silly brain. and was ma
terially aided therein by MS wife who was able
to bend the girl. Belle Anderson. alias
Carrie Jones. to her will by promises Of a share
in the ransom. The objection to this expana-
ton is that the conspirators advertised hap
hazard for the position OF nurse. and Carrie
Jones' accepted the first vacancy OF the kind
she found open to her. after applying TO and
meeting with refusals from two three other
families in about the same modest circumstances
ss the Clarks II is true that the nurse girl
was reported as saying that Barrow It one time
talked about stealing a Vanderbilt baby. but
that he only talked of 1t and made no attempt at
might be expected to offer large reward Later
she denied saying this.
Barrow may set all these conjectures at rest
by telling the truth when he and his wife are
arraigned for examination. This may happen
tomorrow, If his wife is well enough 10 stand Il.
She is reported to be Frustrated with fear and
worry. /. was SAID yesterday that Barrow IN !
declared in the New-City jail. to reporters who
wanted him to talk. that he had "a strange
story. big story" to tell. but that by advice Of
his counsel he would not divulge IL until Mon
Cay.
FIGHT FOR PRISONERS CUSTODY.
And now the birds having been caged-three
OF them at least II not ala scramble has be-
gun for their custody between the officials OF
this city, Rockland County, IN Y. and Union
County, n. j. The New-York police assert that
the actual theft of the child having taken place
in this city the trials Of the prisoners should
be conducted here. Rockland County's Dis
.trict-Attorney and Sheriff declare. just as posi-
lively, that as the Barrows Wilson's contin-
ued their act Of kidnapping there and were
arrested there. they must and shall be tried
there The New-Jersey officials who hold the
nurse girl seem to take the position that they
will surrender her TO no one at all outside their
State without proper reQuisition papers; and
Governor Roosevelt may have to decide to
which set of officers. New-York's or Rockland
Countys, he will ask Governor Voorhees, to give
her up.
The opinion freely expressed yesterday
IN many quarters that II the authorities do not
stop sQuabbing over these details and quickly
get together with the sole object Of bringing
the kidnappers to justice, without regard TO any
credit which this that may be able
10 extract from a conviction. these dangerous
foes Of society may escape altogether on some
technicality or other. as Barrow has done be-
fore.
ROCKLAND TAXPAYERS OBJECT.
IT seems particularly unreasonable. however,
to many Of the taxpayers Of Rockland County
that they should be forced to stand the ex-
pense involved in the trial OF three persons
and possibly more before complete justice is
done-when NewYork is willing and even anx-
ious TO relieve them Of the burden. The Grand
Jury of this county will be asked to indict all
three prisoners on Monday. and then active
proceedings to get them here will be pushed
without delay Sheriff Blauvelt OF Rockland
County yesterday served subppnas on Cap
tain McClusky and two detectives and others
connected with the case, directing them to be
present at hearing Of the Barrows in New
City Tomorrow
Mr.. Clark and the girl were brought
face to face yesterday and the injured father
positively identified her as the Carrie Jones"
whom he had employed 10 care for his child
become famous. will follow the example OF
many Of her elders and go upon the stage. Not
in the flesh. however. but in the biograph.