The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-02

Railroad. to take the northbound train
| from New Orleans. 1t was fast drive
| through Mississippi mud and water and
| the little party were much despatched. a
smallpox quarantine was encountered
and after considerable difficulty was
passed. Fortunately the train was an
| hour late and as it pulled in Miss Bell
| discovered Il man. whom she recognized
as the Times Democrat reporter, on the
rear of the train waving to her franc
| tically. She made for him at once. when
| the conductor and porter lifted her and
the children bodily on the train. She
learned that the grandfather of the
children had caught on to the racket
who. as well as the reporter. had
boarded the train lower down the road
and was now in quest Of her.
The irate old gentleman son put in
an appearance. upbraided Miss Bell
tainted her with trying to do some
thing smart and informed her that they
would get off at Scranton tthe next sta
tom intimating that she would be ar
rested there. Not having Il Pullman
car ticket this disturbing factor was
soon removed from the scene by the
porter. and Miss Bell locked herself
and the children inside one of the de-
partments of the Pullman car. At
Scranton the grandfather alighted from
the train and the officers got on. who
failing in their search gor off at the
next station. In the meanwhile the
grandfather at Scranton had a warrant
issued for Miss Bell on the charge OF
kidnapping and telegraphed to Mobile.
Ala. to have her arrested. The re-
! porter anticipated this and used all his
! influence with the railroad men in her
behalf. 1t was decided that she and the
, children should be locked mp and the
conductor would Immediately leave the
| train.
When the train arrived at Mobile,
30, two of the city's detectives and Il
crowd. over which lowered an air of
, suspicion. were there to greet it. The
officers at once began their search and
one of trainmen treacherously gave the
scheme away. They demanded adj
! mittance, which being refused. the door
was battered open. Miss Bell was
clutching both children in her arms
and boldly demanded their authority for
| attempting her arrest Failing to pro-
| duce any Sshe resisted them and took
! refuge behind the door she kicked il
| shut. which locking fast. the same te-
! dious process was necessary to reach
the other end of the car. Her arms
| were bruised and blackened in the strug-
gle.
! She and the children were now hast
ened to the police station but the faith
! full reporter of the Times Democrat did
not desert her. He at once secured the
service of Gregory l.. Smith. one of the
most prominent attorneys of Mobile.
who Immediately went to her and hear
! ing her story. told her to leave the sta
ton. The chief of police objected
promptly. saying he had warrant for
her detention. which charged her with
(, being fugitive from justice on the eyi-
dence of being concealed on the tram.
Mr. Smith then went before Judge Sem
!, mer and secured Il writ of habeas corpus
! returnable instanter. and the case was
, tried in the city court. Mr.. Smith repre-
senting Miss Bell and the city attorney
the chief of police.
| The Mobile Daily Item. of Sunday
| morning. gives the following account 81
| the trial: THE young woman was
! placed or the sand She testified thar
Evern and Veva Case were the childr'n,
Of her sister. Mrs. Edna r.. Case OF
Greensboro. n. c. That her sister and
brother-in-law had separated and an
! agreement had been drawn up by than,
/; as to the custody of the children. by
l which the husband had been permitted
! to bring them away from Greensboro.
! where the wife had gone and retain
| them until May 7th 1899. after which
j it was agreed the children should go To
. the mother to be retained by her Miss
4 Bell stated that she was authorized 10y
! her sister TO go and get the children and
had done so. She produced the agree
ment entered into by Mr.. and Mrs. Case.
1t was signed by two parties and wit
! messed.
Judge Semmer, after hearing the
/, pro and con of the matter. made an
order discharging from custody the
| young woman. which also released her
!, from the warrant issued by the Record
or. The Judge stated that he did it on
| the contract produced by Miss Bell, but
that if the matter We're before him
| otherwise or between father and mother
he would give the~custody Of the chill
! dren to the mother
Miss Bell is brunette Of distin-
|, gnished appearance and talks with con
, siderable intelligence. She wore a
handsome black travelling dress and
! stylish hat
After the largely attended trial Miss