The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-26
north CAROLINA
Flop ZINC COUPLE
Great Interest Shown in the
Affair at Norfolk.
STAFFORD ABAND0NS CASE
He Issues Public Statement Declaring
That His Wife is to Him as Dead,
and Will Get Divorce at Once.
Advice from MIR. Harding.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.)

Especial Dispatch to The Times)
NORFOLK, VA, July "a great
crowd of curious persons gathered ao oo'
the Jail long before, 10 O'clock this morn
ing awaiting developements III the Haro-
ing Stafford clipping case. Many meHipei
of the crowd were anxious to see MIS-.
Ida Stafford, of Greensboro, n. y. WIZ
after seventeen years Of marr1eo NE
abandoned her husband and children 10
run away with ]. E. Harding, young
man engaged in the cotton business.
The couple was arrested here on the
Old Dominion steamer Jamestown. MI.
Harding had secured passage as MT. ana
Mrs Duval, and were within lew MN
utes of leaving for New York. when De-
tective NJ H. Prince, and other off1cers
arrested them on a charge OF kidnapping.
The informa ton was received from Nortn
Carolina that they could be held on sucn
a statute law there.
THE NIGHT IN JAIL
Harding spent the night-in Jail, while
Mrs. Ida Stafford, who is in delicate
condition. declined to go to hotel ana
remained in the chiefs office all night.
The crowd took stolen peeps at her
whenever a chance offered and the news
paper reporters tried to interview ner.
Meantime the crowd grew anxious, While
awaiting the arrival of the officers from
Greensboro. who were expected win re-
QUESTION papers.
After the long wait the Chief OF 70
lice. of Greensboro, appeared. the prison
ers were brought before Judge Taylor, OF
the Police Court, and Attorney lllton
presented tn case.
There was small number of persons
in the dingy, dirty forbidding court
room. The great crowd was kept out,
but there were enough curious men, busy
reporters and uniformed officers to make
even a hardened criminal feel nervous.
MRS. STAFFORD.
Mrs Stafford was nervous. Her cheeks
were flushed with excitement. lack of
sleep and weeping. Her eyes were blood
shot and her linen gown was limp and
crushed from lack of attention. She wore
the linen gown and a white cap
evidently put on hastily for travel
ing She appeared almost twice the
age of Harding and was at great
disadvantage, not only because of her
matronly figure. but because of the
mental agony she was surely suffering.
j. E. Harding was calm. but anxious.
He is less than medium height. heavy
set, stoop shouldered. has ceanly-
shaved face. grey eyes. light hair and
wore a suit of grey clothes. Mr.. Levy,
his attorney. cautioned him so that he
showed no emotion except when he at
tempted to look over the heads of the
people to get a sight of Mrs. Stafford as
she sat ready to weep at the least show
of sympathy.
The trial was short. Mr.. Tilton stated
the charge that of kidnapping. and read
the statute of North Carolina on the
subject. 1t is that one may be kidnapped
by being forcbly taken away from home,
no matter of what age.
CHARGE DISMISSED.
After questioning the woman Judge
Taylor pronounced the case dismissed be-
cause there was no evidence of forcible
abduction and because there was no war
rant for the arrest of the woman or the
man.
Mr.. Tilton took Mrs. Stafford aside.
told her she was free. that the State of
Virginia had no charge against her and
then in eloquent and sympathetic words
advised her to return home to her hus-
band and children
Meantime Harding and his attorney
got out of the courtroom as soon as
other charge might be preferred against
him and also against Mrs. Stafford.
INFATUATED PAIR.
After the officer had proposed to provide
for Mrs Stafford she stated that she
would see Harding and determine by 5
O'Clock this afternoon whether she would
return to her husband and children or
continue with Harding. Harding came
and the two went away together both
evidently enra ptured with one another
Chief Of Police Scott. of Greensboro, de-
clares that the husband wishes his wife
to RETURN. and that she might be taken
back tonight If she consented to drop
her guilty love- but none of the officers
have any idea that she will return home