Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-01-25
KIDNAPPED HIS CHILD.
lewis Derry canses sensation ny rak.
tag Rsx Daughter - as Chased
by an Omcer.

by ana Omecr.
What gave promise Of being kid
napuing sensation Sunday nioht, turn-
ed ont to be only fond father steal.
ing his own daughter
The sensation was started about
fifteen minutes of seven o'clo X,
when telephone message 10 police
headquarters conveyed the startling
Information that the three-v ear. old
daughter of.sMrs. Matte Derry, of N.
Church street, had been kidnapped
and that her cantor was fleeing south.
ward.
Officer McBee left the police office
and his hasty flight down Queen
street conveyed the impression to all
church goers aud othres on the street
that the officers presence was re-
quiied in that direction bv something
really serious. The officer went down
Queen 10 stephen street, where a
crowd which had been pursuing the
girl = captor had lost sight of him.
When Mrs Derry had announced that
her child had been kidnapped q crowd
had joined in the chase Of the man
who, with the child in his arms. was
running through the streets with all
the sneed he could command. They
lost sight of him when he turned at
the wooden mill on to stephen street
When the officer learned from the
brother of Mrs. Derry that it was his
own child the man had kidnapped he
did not worry any more about it,
The brief history of the kidnapping
and the incidents leading MP TO it are
these Three months ago Mrs. Derry
and her husband. Lewis Derry. sepa-
rated. The husband, who w,rks III
the quarries OF the Standard Lime
and Stcne Company, claimed that his
wife was paying TOO much attention
to other men and he left her. lie
consulted an attorney about getting
possession of his daughter, Flossey
May. but he was advised to let her
alone with her mother.
Derry lived up to the advice fo- a
while, bnt last night he determined
to get possession of the chit He
visited his wife's home on n. Church
street, and after conversing with hts
wife for few minutes. he walked
out ON TO the porch, the child accom-
paining him When he reached the
porch he took the child in his arms.
When Mrs. Derry discovered her
child had disappeared with her father
she announced that she had been kid
mapped with the sensational incidents.
as told above following.
This morning Mrs. Derry appeared
before Justice Snyder and swore out
a warrant charging Lewis Derry with
stealing and concealing her child.
Derry has not been seen since last
night bat it was learned today that he
has gone into Jefferson county with
the child.
Little Flossie May Derry, the most
conspicuous figure in the episode, Is
a rosy checked, bright.eyed little girl
Of three wears. HeI mother was for
merry Miss Huff, of Jefferson coun-
ty.
After inquiring and searching over
Jefferson county for Lewis Derry,
who kidnapped his three-year- old
daughter, be has been located at the
home OF William Owens. near Hall
town.
Mr.. HUFF, the father of Mrs. Derry.
went into Jefferson county himself
Satu rday and traced his son-in law tc
the above named house.
Justice Snyder telephoned to the
Sheriff of Jefferson county this morn.
ing and notified him 10 place Derry
under arrest and as soon as he receiv.
ed notification of his arrest he would
send Berkeley county officer after
him.
The law makes the father OF "A child
it's guardian. but Derry had abandon
ed the child for three months. and 1t ii
claimed that he has no right to 20
back after that time and take 1t.