The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-10
ABDUCTED HIS BABE
CONTRACTOR S. S. LEONARD
CHARGED WITH ASSAULT.
SEIZED CHILD IN STREET.
THE MOTHER CLUNG To HER LIT
TIE ONE AND SCREAMED FOR
POLICE.

Wife's Application for Permanent
AIimOny-LeOnard From Florida
and His Wife From Indiana-Their
Romantic Marriage I'm st. Angus
tine Fifteen Months Ago Followed
by Frequent spnts-Dispute at the
De soto July Caused Another Sep
aration, and the Filing of the ALI
mOny Paper-Five Months Old Boy
Was Taken From Mother While
Waiting for Trolley Car-Is Now An
Fathers Custody, who Is Under
$500 Bail.
Stephen 8. Leonard, wealthy con-
tractor. and a native Of Flor
ida, was arrested yesterday morning
on a charge of assault and battery,in fore
IDLY taking his five-months-old son from
Mrs. Leonard. The warrant was sworn
out in Magistrate Naughtins court and
was signed by Mrs. Marguerite e. Leon
ard, the child's mother. The contractor
furnished bail in the sum Of $500 for his
appearance in the City Court.
The alleged abduction of the infant,
which took place on Liberty street near
Barnard, and the arrest of Leonard. are
not the only sensational incidents in the
case A dispute in the De Soto on the
Fourth of July was promptly followed by
the filing of suit for permanent alimony
by Mrs. Leonard The allegations In her
petition are recited later on, and because
of these acts she left the hotel with her
baby. At the suggestion of her counsel,
Twiggs & Oliver, she secured board with
]. II. Helmken, at Liberty and Whita-
ker streets.
Leonard knew Of his wife's whereabouts
and went there Monday evening. Her
attorney, Mr.. F. Med. oliver. arrived
during the meeting between the con-
tractor and his wife, and an alteration
was narrowly averted. Mr.. Leonard APP
peared agitated, and was Enthusiastically
angry. He charged that Mr.. oliver was
responsible for the filing of the action
against him, and the attorney did not
take the remark kindly. He stated that
he had been very careful to advise his
client not to enter the suit, unless she
was fully satisfied that she could not live
with her husband peaceably, and that he
did not propose to be bullied by the con-
tractor. or, either, submit to the mans
effort to impugn his reputation, or assan
the sincerity of the advice given his eli
ent. Mr.. Oliver was positive. and spoke
in no unmeaning manner. He emphasized
his remarks by catching hold of Mr..
Leonards shoulder but no blows were
struck. Later the matter was adjusted
satisfactorily and the impugnment was
Withdrawn.
MIR. Leonard is a resident OF Pensacola,
but is very we'll known in Savannah. He
did much of the work at Fort Screven, on
Tybee Island, and has several large con-
tracts here now, the Union Depot on
West Broad street among them. Mrs.
Leonard is a native of Indiana, and was
a trained nurse when she married. She
is a strikingly pretty young woman, and
the story of her courtship and marriage
is rather romantic. She married Mr..
Leonard in ST. Augustine on April ),
year ago, after an acquaintance of only
a month.
An Unhappy Welded Life.
The trouble at the De Soto is told of
by Mrs. Leonard in her application In the
Superior Court for permanent alimony.
tional case followed rapidly, and there
are more to come In her petition she
charges that her brief married life has
been rendered very unhappy by the vio-
lent temper. harsh nature and jealous
and tyrannical disposition of her hus-
band. That because of the traits speci-
fled she has twice been forced to leave
her husband. That she returned to him
upon promises of better treatment and
that these promises were not fulfilled
That on July 4. Leonard, without just
cause, and for no good reason whatever,
locked her out of the room, which they
Jointly occupied at the De Soto. in which
room was her infant son of five months,
and forced her to secure from
the proprietors of the totel, an
other, and separate room from the
one that had been Jointly occupied by
them"
Sometime afterwards when Leonard
did admit her to the room, she said he
cursed, abused and insulted her and
cruelty mistreated her by bringing
against her false and unfounded charges
OF infidelity. She AYERS that she has in
every way been faithful to her husband
and has not condoned his cruel and un-
warranted treatment, and Is now forced
TO dive separate from him with her In
FAINT son Francis Rudolph.
Says Her Husband Earns 100000.
Mrs. Leonard says that her husband
earns at least $4,000 per year. and in ad-
ditfon is possessed OF considerable
emount Of property, the correct value OF
which is unknown At present he has
large contracts in Jacksonville, st. Au-
gustine, Columbus and Savannah. Nc
action for divorce Is pending and Mrs
Leonard asked that her husband be made
to pay her permanent alimony.
An order for Leonard 20 show cause
this morning why ne should not be re-
quired to pay temporary alimony. for the
support of his wife and child, and attor-
ssy's fees. was signed by Judge Falligant
in chambers, and a copy was served or
him. When the hearing comes up Mrs.
Leonards counsel will cell the attention
of the court to the alleged abduction OF
the child, and will contend that Leonard
should be ruled in contempt for his act
OF violence. II will be commended that
the child was rightfully In the possession
of his mother and. that with the action
pending the father. had no right TO in.
terfere.
Mrs. Leonard says that she left hei
boarding house yesterday morning with
her infant son. intending TO take him FOL
ride on the Abercon and Barnard bell
line. She was stundng at the corner Of
Barnard and Liberty streets, waiting FOL
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