Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-16
BESSIE BRACKET
Comes Back to Maine to Live
with Her Mother.
Arrested at Aver. Mass, on Charge of
Being Disobedient Child.
Will Reside with Mother but Will Be Allowed
to Visit Father.

The Boston Globe, OF MarGn To- pub
lished the following story from Aver
Mass, regarding Miss Bessie Bracket,
whose recent running away from her
grandmother home in Fairfield to live
with her father in Massachusetts has
created 80 much comment:
The supposed abduction Of Bessie
NJ. Bracket from her grandmother :;
home in Fairfield Me, eliminated,
last night, in the arrest of the girl on
a warrant charging stubbornness and
disobedience
The peculiar circumstances sur
rounding the departure Of the girl from
her home in Fairfield, together with
the disappearance Of her father, who
had been visiting friends in the town.
led the authorities to believe that it
was case of abduction, and accord
ingly Il warrant was issued for the ar
rest of the father, Edwin r. Bracket.
Upon the arrival in Townsend Of
State Detective j. II. Mitchell Of Skow-
hogan, Me, it was learned that the
girl left with her father Of her own
free WILL and, as she claimed, owing
to the i'll treatmen Mt received from her
stepfather.
There seems to be nothing to sub
stantiate the charge made by the girl.
and to offset this the mother claims
that her daughter is easily influenced,
which accounts for her Willingness TO
leave home with her father
Aside from the parental regard for
the child, the contention for her Gus
tody seems to be influenced by her
great grandfather's will, which made
her one Of 80 heirs, among whom is
soon to be divided 81 500 900.
Some Il years ago. Mrs Addie A.
Bracket. then residing in Skowhegan.
Me, with her husband. Edwin p.
Bracket. applied to the court for a di-
vorce and also asked for the custody
of her unborn child. Her petition was
granted and she was allowed to keep
the child, which was born in the mean
time.
shortly after the granting Of the
divorce Mr.. Bracket moved to Town
send Mass. where he remarked and
still resides. Mrs. Bracket has since
married a man named Langley. with
whom she and her daughter have lived.
About three months ago Mr.. Brack-
EFT was called To Skowhegan on bust
ness. and for the first time saw his
daughter. He made himself known to
her and she, for the first time in her
life. learned that her stepfather was
not her father.
From this time the trouble seems
to have begun between mother and
daughter. Miss Bracket seemed to be-
come dissatisfied with her life at SkoW-
hogan and at Fairfield, Me. where she
resided a greater part of the time with
her grandmother. She expressed Il
wish to see her father. who had only
recently become known TO her
Her father again visited Fairfield
on Feb. y. to persuade her to return
with him to Townsend. According to
Il prearranged plan he met the girl at
her grandmother's house at midnight.
Feb. -. when they began their jour
ney for Townsend. arriving there the
following day.
LAS soon as Miss Brackets absence
was discovered the police We're notified.
and upon investigation found that Ed
win II. Bracket had left town the
same night. a warrant was at once
issued. charging him with abduction,
and given to State Detective j. II.
Mitchell Of SkoWhegan. Mr.. Mitchell
came to Townsend. about 4 week aEo.
ana after consulting officer Michael
O'Brien began to work on the case.
Finding that ii was apparently not a
case of abduction he returned to SkoW-
hogan. He returned To Townsend. yes
terday. this time accompanied by the
mother Of Miss Bracket. They came
to Aver at noon and applied for a war
rant. charging Bessie NJ. Bracket with
being a stubborn and disobedient child.
Judge Wallice issued the warrant.
and. last night. Officer O. Brien took the
girl into custody. She appeared before
Judge Wallace in the first district
court. this morning. and upon an
agreement being reached between her
father and mother whereby the daugh-
ter was to return to Skowhegan and
was to be allowed to visit the fathe"
in June. 1900. and at certain stated
times thereafter, the case was dis
missed.
The legacy of 81. 500 900 mentioned
appears to be in leased property stu
ated in Portland which reverts to the
lessons heirs in few years. Thomas
Il. Reed is one of the heirs.
THE detective, accompanied by Mrs.
Langley and her daughter, left for
Skowhegan, this morning"