Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-01
FATHER ElDNAPS DAUGHTER
Robert s romysr stea's His Child from Her
Adopted Par nt1
EXCITING AFFAIR At MONMOUTH PARK
Little Girl while Playing with COM
panions H. snatched by Man and
Driven Away to Unknown
Hiding Place.

i've al ooOJ fONler avenue. was KIDNAPPED
from Monmouth Park school yesterday
by a man who is thought to be Robert
Stronger, the little girls father. The
child was playing on the lawn at the school
house, when a carriage stopped there, a
man jumped out and. grabbing the little
girl, forced her into the carriage and drove
away.
The little girl left the home of her
adopted parents about $50 and was playing
with some neighbor children about an hour
later, when two carriages drove up from.
opposite directions. Out Of one came the
kidnaper, the other waiting until the job
was completed, and then both drove away,
the horses being urged to d Eallop. Later
the police arrested Mrs. II. Stronger, who
admits being the occupant Of one Of the
carriages. She says she Is the wife OF
Robert Stromye and that he stole his child
with the intention of taking her to Kansas
City. Pursuit Of the carriage containing
the child was f~ruttless. The police are
watching closely and hope to overhaul the
father and daughter downtown before he
can get away. The affair caused much ex>
element in the neighborhood and many
volunteers are assisting in the search.
When Mrs. Young was informed OF the
affair she became hysterical, but later re-
covered sufficiently to give a good descrip-
tion of the little girl to the police.
Has Been STOLEN Before.
Lora Young, tie stolen child. has been a
bone Of contention between stronger and
his deceased wife's parents, who reside in
or near Detroit. About three years ago
the little girl was fought for in the courts,
at that time the father making Intellectual
efforts to retain possession OF the child,
after proceedings we're instituted to place
1t in the Child Saving institute. A de-
cision was given In favor of the institute.
shortly after the child was placed in the
care of the institute Mr.. and Mrs. l.. A.
Young legally adopted her, changing her
name. Shortly after this the father sue
ceeded in kidnapping the girl and restrain
ing her for several days. One day the
little girl eluded her watchers and escaped
to the police station, where she gave her
self into the custody of the officers and
begged to be protected against her fathers
cruelties. Her body. the officers state,
showed plainly bruises from harsh treat
ment she had received. while Mrs. Young
says the scars, the results of burns. still
plainly show upon the little ones body.
These, she declares, were inflicted when
the child was last stolen. At the time the
little girl walked into the police station
for protection the father suddenly left the
city to avoid arrest Since then he has re-
turned and has been employed at A. Web
ber's, 1115 Walnut street.
Threatened the Raid.
Since the little girl has been placed in
the care of the Young family they have re-
ceived threatening letters Informing them
that either the grandparents in Michigan
or the father would again secu,e possession
OF the adopted child.
Last Sunday the girls brother went to the
Child Saving institute and told S%uperin-
tendent Clark he vas enroute to California
and would like to see his sister before leav-
ing the city. The Young family was notified
and brought the child to the institute.
After the meeting they returned to their
home and, It is said, were followed by the
son, who discovered the residence number
and made the work Of yesterday per-
ceptibly easy. This is the theory held by
both the institute officials and the police.
%stromyers Under Arrest.
Robert Stronger and Bert Stronger were
arrested shortly after Q o'clock in the aft
ernoon at Island Park station, eight miles
south of Council Bluffs, where they had
driven with the child after the kidnapping,
to take a train for Kansas City. Mrs.
Pearl Stronger, who was arrested during
the morning on this side OF the river, made
a number of admissions under examination
which gave the officers a clue which, when
followed up by Detectives Ferris and Davis,
led to the kidnapers.
The detectives first found the hack driver,
Mike Weatherby, in a stable in Council
BLUFFS, who had been employed to bring
the party TO this city and back again to
Island Park He at first refused to talk,
but when threatened with arrest told where
he had taken the party. When the officers
approached the railway station at Island
Park they saw two men on the platform.
These went inside the depot and the officers
could not at first locate them, but later saw
that they were hiding behind an upturned
mattress. This Davis pulled down, where
upon Stronger attempted to pull a re-
volver from his pocket, but Ferris disarmed
him. The officers we're forced to wait.
guarding their prisoners, until 8 O'Clock,
when a carriage arrived, bringing an Iowa
ofhcer with a warrant and Mrs. Young and
a companion. p
While they were waiting for this party
Ella caught hold OF Detective Ferris arm,
saying: "oh. won't you take me back to
my mother?" The two prisoners were
brought back TO this city and locked up at
6 O'Clock charged with kidnapping. When
the elder man was searched a copy Of a
telegram which was sent from the Bluffs
was found scrubbed on a card. It read:
mrs. ]. C. Stronger, 1912 Myrtle street.
Kansas City: We got Ella. VIII take 5:35
train at Island Park. Husband"
Plot Well Laid.
II seems that the party came here from
Kansas City for the purpose Of getting the
child. After the younger man had found
where the Youngs lived and where Ella vas
apt to play, they hired a driver and fast
horse, and the woman and two men crossed
to this side in It. The woman then got
cut, having supposedly, as she is a small
woman, come in the carriage so that the
tollkeeper might notice that a small woman
or girl passed both going and returning
After Ella had been caught they g~alloped
TO Thirtieth street and along that for some
distance, then returning to the bridge and
crossing to Island Park. The woman FIRST
, arrested is the wife OF Bert Stronger, step.
son TO Robert Stronger, and she gave an
D Omaha address as a blind.
l The elder Stronger would say nothins
beyond the statement that he loved his
daughter dearly and could get possession
! Of her only in this manner. The Youngi
are said to have made the statement thai
the girl is one of the heirs in an estate