The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-10
ABDUCTED HIS BABE.
Continued from Tenth Page.

EuII tuutAEu Ailc emu 70 me NOuiN h'FS
an officer arrest him. At. Mr.. Leonard's
place of business asked an officer 10
arrest him, and told him how the child
had been taken from me. The patrolman
said he could do nothing until he knew
the standing of the case, and Mr.. Leon
ard said that he would telephone for his
lawyer, and get the matter Strengthened
out
He stin held to the baby and teIe-
phoued Osborne & Lawrence. tele-
phoned to Twiggs & Oliver, but both of
my attorneys were engaged in murder
trial at the Court House. After driving
by the DE Soto, we went to the Court
House. Mr.. Lawrence was IN the solicit
or's office. and l sent in the court room
for Mr.. Oliver
Mr.. Oliver was speaking in the Johnson
murder trial, when the messenger went
into the court room, and Judge Twiggs
answered the summons. When he en-
tered the solicitors office. Mr.. Leonard
said: Good morning. Judge Twiggs."
The lawyer took in the situation at a
glance and told Mr.. Leonard in no I'M
meaning way that he would have him ar
rested. He had refused to surrender the
child, upon advice from his attorney,
and left the Court House with the baby.
Judge Twiggs returned to the court
room and Mr.. Oliver closed his argument
He hurried to where Mrs. Leonard was
waiting, and securing a cab, went at
once to police headquarters. Supt. Reilly
was asked to prevent the escape of the
contractor, and, too, to order his arrest,
on a charge of assault and battery. OFF,
GERS were sent to both depots, and the at
torney and Mrs. Leonard left for Magis-
trate Naughtins office. There the war
rant for assault was sworn out, and was
served a short while later. The contrac-
tors bond was signed by Mr.. w. G..
Thompson.
Child Held by the Father.
The child is in the custody of his faith
er. who refuses to surrender his care to
Mrs. Leonard The mother says that she
will secure the little fellow by legal
means this morning. and that if she can
do so legally she will make her husband
suffer for his violence towards her. Mr..
Leonard alleges that the child was award
ed to him by the Florida courts. and that
he is the proper person to look after
him.
He charges that the baby's mother has
always been Indifferent about the well
fare of the little one. and has never
given him the proper treatment, or even
made an effort to. The child has been
neglected according to the father and
49, ''+SN--NA - +ACN NAiC PipRNA ptiSOA W
be his custodian.
Mrs. Leonard was seen last night. and
talked of her married life to a repre-
sentative of the Morning News. She re-
GREETED the publicity and notoriety which
she says has been forced upon her. and
preferred not TO discuss the subject, but
for the fact that unjust accusations had
been made against her as to the treat
ment of her child Il would indeed be
IN oil H.
baby. my own flesh and blood. / have
carefully cared for him since the hour of
his birth. and Mr.. Leonard knows the
love bear the boy. intend to have my
baby, too, and will show that my hus-
band has no right 10 keep him.
Il am told that he did 60 into the
Florida courts and was awarded the Gus
tody of the child, or rather an order was
issued preventing me from, taking the
child out of the state l was not present
al the hearing, and do not know what
transpired, but presume that my hus-
band contended that / wished to take the
baby away. 1t is true, too that he had
me arrested at the train once on the
charge that l was trying to take the in
FAINT away from the state Upon promises
from him reconciliation was brought
about and Mr.. Leonard carried the baby
out of Florida The happenings in Sa-
vannah are now a part of the public
records"
Mrs. Leonard Is well educated and at
no time found trouble in expressing her
thoughts clearly. With her other at
fractions she is also youthful in appear
ance. and quite pretty. Unhesitatingly,
she said that she was a trained nurse,
when she met Leonard at Catholic
fair in Jacksonville. He fell in love with
her and showered her with attention.
Worried Into Getting Married.
During the following month I only
saw Mr.. Leonard about FIVE times, but
he sent me large quantities of candy and
flowers" said Mrs. Leonard. in speaking
of the days just before and after ner
marriage. He just simply worried me
for st. Augustine to get rid of him. and
he followed me there. one night final
ly agreed to marry him the next morning,
If he would leave me alone In st. Angus
tine for o week. l had some matters
that demanded my attention. and he read
lily agreed to the proposition. We were
married and he went to Pensacola.
when he reached his home, and told
what had happened. his friends twitted
him about having a bride In another city.
At once he broke his part OF the agreement
and returned to St. Augustine. We had
only just been married, but that was our
first fuss. He ordered me to pack my
trunk and return home with him. My dis
position is one which will not submit to
demands and I rebelled. | had already
realized that in the hasty marriage / had
made a grave mistake. but 1t was too
late TO turn back. | saw that ! could
never get along with Leonard and we
had frequent disputes after that. and
ta-4saa cd /
lions are in manner alike and 1t is a typi-
cal case of incompatibilty. l deeply re-
gret and deplore the more recent Incl
dents. but feel that / am acting for the
best when / ask the courts TO recognize
our separation as legal, and 10 give me
my little boy so that ! can raise him
properly"