The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-07-20
Greensboro Telegram }


young lady under circumstances be-
fore which the majority of people
would quail, constitute heroine,
then she is entitled to boast of one
of a type which scarcely decade of
North Carolina history has produced.
Our heroine appears in the person
of Miss Elvia NJ. Bell, who resides
with her father just out of town and
is stenographer for the Merchants
Grocery Company.
The facts are these: Her sister,
Mrs. f. l.. Case, on account of mis-
treatment, separated from her hus-
band, who resides at Ocean Springs,
Miss, with his father, and came with
her two little girls, Evern and Neva,
aged respectively four and six years,
to live with her father near town.
Her husband soon came and desired
to take the children. 1t was agreed
that they should return to Missis-
sippi with him to remain two months
and be returned to the mother the
9TH day of May last. When the time
was up the husband, not only refused
to return the children, but ignored
every communication addressed to
him on the sub ject.
The mother was greatly distressed
at the retention of the children and
could not endure the delay and eN-
pense incident to regular proceedings
at law. 1t was at this uncture that
our heroine appeared upon the scene.
After consulting a law firm of this
city, Bradshaw & Newlin, as to the
risk involved in the undertaking. she
resolved to go to Mississippi, kidnap
the children, if necessary, and bring
them with her to Greensboro, know
ing all the while she would have the
strongest opposition to encounter.
Accordingly about the the 10th Of
June she boarded the train at this
place and in due time arrived at
Ocean Springs and took lodging at
the hotel to study the situation and
mature her plans. She carried a let
ter of Introduction to some lawyers
there and soon had the sympathy of
the hotel keeper and Mr.. Martin
Turnbull, a reporter of the Times
Democrat, enlisted in her cause. After
friendly nature Mr.. Case finally
agreed that one child could return
Monday, the 26th, but the other
must remain with him. This con-
cession did not satisfy Miss Bell. She
had gone for both and both she must
have.
Strategy now was her only resort.
\ sail down the river was arranged
for on Sunday by a party with which
she was to 90. This confirmed the
belief that she would not leave Ocean
Springs before Monday. Now it was
easy to secure permission for the
children to dine with her at the hotel
on Saturday, and here the excite
ment begins.
Tc allay suspicion of final depart
ure and to be rid of all possible in
cumbrance it was arranged with the
hotel keeper that baggage should be
left behind and hotel bill remain un-
paid When the children came
Saturday morning it had been plan
ned bv the Times DemocrM reporter
that Miss Bell and the children
should 90 down the river in 4 boat
toward New Orleans. but this miscar
ricd and, to escape unnoticed, they
took Il carriage for Foutainbleau, a
station several miles distant on the
l.. Il n. Railroad, to take the North
bound train from New Orleans. 1t
was a fast drive through Mississippi
mud and water, and the little party
were much bespattered. a smallpox
quarantine was encountered and
after considerable difficulty was
passed Fortunately the train was
an hour late. AS it pulled in Miss Bell
discovered a man, whom she recog-
niZed as the Times DemOcrm reporter.
on the rear OF the train waving to her
franticallv. She made for him at
once when the conductor and porter
lifted and the children bodily on the
train. She learned that the grand
j father of the children had caught on
10 the racket who. as we'll as the re-
porter. had boarded the train lower
down the road and was now in quest
. Of her.
The irate Old gentleman soon put
: in an appearance, upbraided Miss
! Bell. taunted her with '.trying to do
something smart" and informed her
that they would get Off at Scranton
; uhc next station) intimating that she
would be arrested there. Not having
a Pullman car ticket this disturbing
factor was soon removed from the
scene by the porter. and Miss Bell
| locked herself and the children in
side one Of the compartments OF the
Pullman car. At Scranton the grand
father a.ightcd from the train and
the officers got on. who failing II
their search got off at the next
station. In the meanwhile the grand
father at Scranton had warrant
issued for Miss Bell on the charge Of Kid
mapping and telegraphed the Mobile
Ala. authorities to have her arrest
ed. The reporter anticipated this anc
used all his influence with the rail
road men in her behalf. 1t was de
cided that she and the children
should be locked up and the con
ductor would Immediately leave th'
train.
When the train arrived at Mobile
80, two Of the city's detectives an'
crowd, over which hovered an ii
i Of suspicion. were there TO greet il
: The officers at once began thei
r ! search aud one OF the trainmel
treacherouslv gave the scheme away
+; They demanded admittance, whic1
:! being refused. the door was battere
. open. Miss Bell was c!utching bot
children in her arms and boldly de