Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-03
SElzES HIS OWN DAUGHTER
]. q Ewart Of Ksarasy Makes Dramatic
foens in 0Eaha.
EXCITING RACE THROUGH CITY s1slErs
Omaha Omcers Pursue Father and
Child 20 Council BIuns and Then
Party Returns to This
City.


Persons who happened to be at the cor
ner Of Twenty-fourth and Caldwell streets
at 1880 Sunday afternoon saw 5-year-oid
girl snatched from a crowd that was dis
mounting from a street car and lifted has
tily into waiting hack, which was driven
away with the horses under the whip and
two or three men following the conveyance
as fast as their legs could carry them. add
ing their shouts to the chorus Of cries that
came from the party OF women and chill
dren left on the street corner.
The girl was Ruth Ewart. The man who
took her was her father. J. s. Ewart,
grain dealer OF Kearney, Neb. He still
has her, but has been served with writ
OF habeas corpus which will compel him to
produce the child in district court at once
and bring about final determination Of his
right to retain her custody.
|. The AFFAIR Of yesterday had its origin, ap-
parently. in an estrangement which devel-
oped between Ewart and his wife after
their family had grown to include a sen
and two daughters. More than a year ago
Mrs. Ewart took the children with her TO
California and did not return. when her
mother, Mrs. e. L. Dodder Of Omaha,
started home after a visit with her daughter
in the coast state the latter retained the son.
but sent in her care the two girls. one II
years old, the other S. The elder girl
stopped of In Kearney to live with her
father, but he consented that the younger
one come on to Omaha for the winter,
Father Comes to City.
During the holidays he wrote asking that
Ruth be sent to him for a Christmas visit.
He claims that his requests were ignored
but the family's attorney understands that
the girl was sick when the invitation came
and that ii was at the doctors order that
she was detained in Omaha. Whatever the
circumstances may have been, Ewart de-
termined to regain the custody of the
child and came to Omaha yesterday morn
ing with plan decided upon. He reasoned
that the child would be attending the
Sunday school nearest her home, and that
by being near the church door when the
school was dismissed he could spirit her
away unmolested. But Ewart made one
mistake. He thought the child and her
grandmother lived with the family OF Ed
ward L. Dodder at 2420 Caldwell. whereas
they have been with Mrs. E. L. Dodder's
other daughter, Mrs. Male Smith, at 242s
Franklin street, and they attend the First
Presbyterian church at Seventeenth and
Dodge streets.
Ewart hired Dave whaien's hack and took
with him friend somewhat versed in law
that he might guard against any open vio-
lation of the statutes. Driving to a church
on North Twenty-fourth near Caldwell.
they waited in vain for ths-s sppearaurs
OF the girl. Finally they started back 10
:, ltba.ls es- -Cranae hpteiF 5slefe Ex0DSaiU1AlUJs
ping. but at Sixteenth and Dodge they SAN
the child taking northbound car in COM
pany with her grandmother, her aunt and
the latter's two children.
Driving with All speed.
Whalen was quickly ordered to turn about
and drive with az. speed to the corner,
where they had been on guard. He sue
ceeded in beating the car. but 1t would
have done Ewart no good had It not hap
pened that the girl and her party had ac-
cepted an invitation to dinner at the Ed
ward Dodder home and got OF at Caldwell.
where the father was waiting. instead Of at
Franklin, as was her custom.
The capture was accomplished the in
slant she stepped out onto the car steps.
some relating that 1t was her father who
hrst took hold Of the girl, and others in
sisting that he remained within the car
rlage until his companion had taken her
| in his arms to lift her In. At first the
little girl cried out in great alarm, and her
horrihed relatives. as they clambered OF
the car and saw the carriage dash Oh
with Whalen lashing his team, remem-
bered the Cudahy affair and shrieked for
police and help. Two men who were pass
Ing and had seen what hac happened
started in pursuit and one Of them ran
more than three blocks before abandoning
the uneven race. The carriage continued
along Twenty-fourth street for some dis
tan tAAa
the Iowa side over the East Omaha bridge
The girl meanwhile had discovered who hel
captor was. and was content She ever
laughed and would lool out Of the carriage
window to see II aay pursuers were IN
sight, saying that sSe wished her sister
were along to share In the fun.
Intercepted et TOuncn Bluffs.
Mr.. Ewart felt that his principal desir,
was grAtined as he had gained possession
OF his child, but decided to get to Mis-.
1 souri, Valley. II possible. then go directl,
to Fremont and from there 10 Kearney
But when the fOam-coated horses dragged
the carriage In front OF the Grand Hote
in Council Bluffs. at 2:15. Detective Weir
who had been notified by telephone by e
l.. Dodder, was there in waiting and tool
Ewart and the girl to the ONCE OF the cit,
jail, where they were detained until Mr.
Dodder. Sheriff Power and City Prosecuto
b. F. Thomas arrived from Omaha. A con
ference was held between Ewart and tn,
members Of this party. and II was ar
ranged that all should come back together
that Ewart should retain the child Will
him at the Her Grand until today. thougl
he is not to be under arrest. and that
writ OF habeas corpus should be served OF
him. requiring that the child be presente'
In district court The point was raised tina
such q writ could not issue on a Sunday
and 1t was accordingly arranged that MI
Ewart should sit up until after midnigh