The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-12
RICH FATHER
CLAIMS HER.
Lille DoIIIs Chase Was Not
Daughter Of Actress.
CHILD HAD BEEN ABDUCTED.
Father Whs Is Now a Wealthy Merchant at
Brazil, Ind., Has Ssarchsi for Her
for Ten Years
CHILD HAD BEEN ABDUCTED.

Omaha. Aug .2-When the courts were
Suggling with the fortunes of Dollie An
drews FIVE weeks ago and the newspapers
were printing stories about the poor lit
de orphan, who refused 10 go 10 her
grandfather in Kansas City Kan, II
was little guessed that just beneath the
surface OF these superficial facts lay
wealth OF fascinating romance, with httle
uolie as the heroine.
IL was known at that time that Dora
Chase, an actress in one Of Omahas
xhird-rate theatres, supposed TO be little
DoIles mamma. had died leaving her
alone in the world. penniless and some
what worse than friendless hut IL was
mot known that Dole had been kidnap-
ned when four years old and brought up
IN ignorance OF her true parentage.
1t wasn't known that her right name
was Richards. and not Andrews, nor was
II known that her father, John Richards.
pf Brazil Ind, is a wealthy business man
and that he has been searching for his
aost chl.d for ten years.
These facts have come TO light slowly
fragment by fragment and have been
@ieced together by A. w. Clark. OF the
Child Saving Institute, until now they
present a complete, though somewhat in
credible, history OF the child's life.
DoLLIE is ABDUCTED.
Doime Ricnards was born in Fort
Worth. Tex, oct. /, 1886 and was the
Youngest OF a family OF four children.
Shortly after her birth the family moved
- nra nj nd u
-FOUR years old Mrs. Richards died
Being "A poor man al that time ana
fnding IL inconvenient TO care Tor SO
roung child. John Richards, the father,
Entrusted her 10 the custody or two old
people Of the name Of Andrews. IL hap
pened that Mr.. and Mrs Andrews had
married unnamed Alexander Andrews.
who, with his wife. was soon 10 start on
"A Journey to tire West, and that the
rounger Mrs Andrews having taken
decided fancy 10 little Dollie, who was an
attractive child, begged her husbands
parents 10 permit the little miss TO ac-
company them
This was arranged. and a few days la
Ter Dollie was spirited out OF Brazil. her
destination being Kansas city, Kan.
LOSES SUPPOSED MOTHER.
Dolhe made her home in the Kansas
metropolis for several years Then Mr.
=
and separated. Mrs Andrews keeping the
child and Mr.. Andrews returning to In
diana, but not TO Brazil. In the course Of
another year Mrs. Andrews found IL nee
sssary TO do something 10 support herself
vnd foster daughter, so took 10 the stage.
There she met ne'er-do-well named
Chase and fell in loTe with HIM Event
uslly she took his name. but there is
nothing 10 show that they were ever mar
ried. Last spring they came TO Omaha.
He mistreated and finally deserted her.
but she continued 10 support herself and
pollie by playing in theatre on East
douglas street Finally during the last
week OF June. Mrs. Chase. or Mrs. An
drews died and though Dollie was with
her when her life passed out no word
was spoken as to the childs real parent
age. and the little girl was left to believe
shat the unfortunate actress had been
sher mother.
About this time Dolles name began 20
appear in the newspapers and on the
dockets OF the various courts. as an at
xcmpt was being made by certain philan-
thropic persons 20 rescue her from the
unwhoesome influences OF the theatre
several attaches OF which were trying 10
secure custody OF her
An old man named w. II. Shaffer. of
Kansas CITY. Kan. arrived in Omaha one
day and claimed Dollie as his grand
daughter, but Dollie refused TO go back
with him. Finally he returned without
her.
cHILDs FATHER FOUND.
Then letter came from Brazil Ind
signed by John Richards ln which the
writer averred that Dollie was his daugh-
ter. The letter also set forth skeleton
story OF kidnapping. told OF fortune
amassed during the last decade and OF
an ardent desire TO reclaim Dollie TO
complete his family circle.
He had been searching for her since the
early Dos. he said, and had almost be-
gun 20 despair OF ever hearing OF her
again. News OF the little girls predica-
ment I'm Omaha had reached htm through
q newspaper.
soon after the receipt OF the letter Mr..
Clark. who meanwhile had been appoint
I'd the girls guardian, went to Kansa
City, Kan. and had an interview with
MIR. Shaffer, the alleged grandfather He
found the old man living In tar-paper
shanty on the river front surrounded by
Nth and squalor, and at once made ur
his mind that whatever Skaters claim
might be be would never secure the child
ss be obviously lacked the facilities fol
properly caring FOR her.
he closely questioned Shaffer and final
~ the latter admitted that he was no rel
Htive OF Dollie lie was the father oi
Dora Chase the actress who died in ON
ehs, anu ~ Was IhtpNEn htf only mat NJ
took an interest IN the child. Then h,
told the story OF the kidnapping substan
italy as related by John Richards I'm hl
letter.
Dollie r. stll a. the child Saving Insti
fute and IA stu somewhat sceptical abou
the happy change IN her fortgres How
ever. AZ last accounts her father va
plauning "trip 20 omaha from Brazil
when ne viii bring With him posiuv
proofs or Dollie's identity.
Little Miss Richards il slender lass o
fourteen summers, very small for h.
age. bat with wise head on her shoul
ders.
uar paaeao