New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-04
|. c. PHIPPS GETS GIRLS.
SPEEDS AWAY IN AUTO"
Wife ParSues Steel Official and
ASkS for HIS arrest.

SANil1l1S SSSutS at AIle GeuIlSglNdHla SldllOh 81
Jersey City and at the hotel from which the
children We're carried off in a red automobile.
Lawrence c. Phipps is a nephew of Henry
W. Phipps the steel man, and son OF
a Methodist minister of Pittsburg. His wife.
whom he married five years ago, was Miss Cen
evieye w. Chandler of Charleroi. Penn. At the
time OF the formation of the Steel Trust. it is
said. Lawrence c. Phpps received a large
amount of steel stock.
Mrs. Phipps came here from Pittsburg five
weeks ago a result. it is alleged Of differences
with her husband OF some months standing.
With her were her two daughters and two maids.
No legal steps had been taken by either hus-
band wife. but il is said that the father Bad
agreed voluntarily that the wife should have the
custody of the children.
Mrs. Phipps went to the Holland House. where
she staying until yesterday. The husband
apparently repented of his agreement, for three
weeks ago he came here from Pittsburg and en-
ployed private detectives in efforts 10 get the
children. Private detectives. with the co-opera-
ton Of tho two nurses who had been won over
to the fathers side took the children from their
mothers suite in the hotel and accompaned.by
the nurses and a man. saiG 10 have been Mr.
Phipps. dashed away in a red automobile for the
Jersey City ferry.
Soon afterward Mrs. Phipps discovered her
loss and raised an oUtcry in the hotel. She
started in immediate pursuit. Passengers were
pouring from the Twenty third-st. ferryboat to
the trains. when Mrs Phipps ran along the plat
form screaming Historically. Stop them! For
Gods sake. stop them. They are stealing my
Children
She was followed by two men. one in the prime
of life and the other an elderly man. A crowd
of curious passengers were soon In her wake
She pursued her children and husband. with
whom there were two men and two young
women as they entered the Philadelphia ac-
commodation train.
The excited woman entered the car, and two
of the men OF the party. said 10 be private de-
tectives. stepped into and blocked the aisle and
prevented her from advancing.
give me back my children, you monster
she shouted at her husband who was holding
them. while the two nurses were striving 10
pacify them they began 10 cry. Let me go
10 mamma and endeavored 10 reach her me
mother struggled with the detectives as she
shouted. Give me my children lou nave
stolen my children. you brute!
A crowd surged about the car without and the
Messengers within clambered on the seats. Po-
ucernan Boyle arrived, and. as he walked down
the aisle the mother frantically cried: Arrest
that man! He mas stolen my children"
one OF the men who had accompanied the
woman introduced himself to Boyle as J. c
Thompson. a lawyer OF New-York and counsel
for the woman. He asked that Mr.. Phipps be
arrested for abduction. When the policeman ac-
costed him, Mr. Phipps said:
This woman" pointing TO Mrs. Phipps, "is
my wife. and these children. in care now OF the
two maids. are our children. Our home is in
the West. My wife away several days ago,
taing the children with her. I followed her 10
New-York 10 recover the children. have recov-
cred them. and / taking them home where
they belong. not with her and have in no way
transgressed the law
This is not a Western train; this is a local"
remarked Boyle.
Il understand that" was the reply II en-
deavored to avoid this scene. We came over the
Cortlandt-st. ferry intending TO take the trolley
car TO Newark and board the Pittsburg train at
Newark. but found could not get to Newark
IN time to make the connection. and came over
and took the local train 10 Newark. still hoping
that we would be looked for on the express train
here but my wife came over early and saw us
as we were passing down the platform to the
train My action IS perfectly legal. officer
The lawyer stin insisted that the father be
taken into custody.
What for?" inquired Boyle. Il have no right
10 arrest him without a warrant unless he is
breaking the peace and he is certainly not doing
that now" The lawyer declared that the father
was not the legal custodian OF the children. but
the obdurate officer insisted that that was a
question for the civil court. and said: You are
lawyer and ought know what to do"
The elderly man and the lawyer turned to
the mother and had a whispered conversation.
She shook her head sadly and began TO weep
as they led her from the car. One Of the chill
dren exclaimed: Don't go way, mamma" She
turned as if to go to them. faltered, began cry
ing Historically and was assisted from the
by the lawyer and the elderly man. who was said
to be her father
A message was received by the Jersey City
police about a. m. asking them to apprehend
for abduction man in fashionable attire with
two children.
1t was learned that the father and his party
continued on the train TO Philadelphia. there
purchased tickets for Pittsburg and boarded the
fast mail train which left Philadelphia at 1913
o'clock.
Later in the day, according TO Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Johnstone. J. Campbell Thomp-
son visited him. and was closeted with him for
some time. Mr.. Johnstone would not admit that
Mr. Thompson's visit was connected with the
Phipps case.
81 have known Mr. Thompson for several
years" he said. and his visit may have been
purely social"
Last night Mrs Phipps at the Hotel
Netherland where the clerk said that she was
registered as Mrs Lawrence c. Phipps, of Pitts
burg. Mr.. Thompson was also at the Neither
land.
us your client Mrs. Phipps. of Pittsburgh" he
asked.
II must refuse to answer that question" he
replied II Will only say that not IN Jer-
sey City yesterday and have not been there for
several days. he added.
Mr. Thompson refused to answer question