The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-24
FATHER RECEIVERS HIS
CHILD IN INDIANAPOLIS
AFTER A MONTHS SEARCH
Six-Year-Old Mary Katherine
Sanders Taken from Her Aunt
Through Efforts of Police.
LOS ANGELES MYSTERY
Babes Disappearance from Cali
fornia City with Miss Meeker
Cause Of Sensation.
LOVE FOR HER NIECE
Aunt's Affection Cause of Her
Action-Little Girl Now in
Park-Avenue Home.
LOS ANGELES MYSTERY
LOVE FOR HER NIECE

Unconscious of the stir made by her sud
on the 2sth of last April, little Mary Kath-
crime Sanders, six years of age. sat at the
home of her aunt. Mrs j. w Weinland.
912 Park avenue, last night and played
with two kittens until. after having had
10 o'clock supper, she went contentedly to
bed. In California a distracted father was
made happy by telegram, stating that
the little girl was safe in the hands of
those whom he trusted. while Miss Henriet-
Ia Meeker, 1916 Tecumseh street, realized
for the first time the sorrow caused by
her act in taking the child from it's father.
The story dates from the time when j.
NJ Sanders left his home, in this city, and,
with his wife, went to Florida hoping to
benefit her health. After a short residence
there a change was necessary and still
seeking to preserve her life, Mr.. Sanders
took his wife to Los Angeles. Cal. In
spite of all that could be done death came
in February, 1903. and left the father with
no one TO care for but the little child. Dur
ing Mrs. Sanders's last illness. her sister.
Miss Meeker, was visiting in Los Angeles,
and helped nurse the invalid. 1t is her
claim that Mrs. Sanders said that, in event
of death, she wished the sister to take the
child. Last summer Miss Meeker returned
to Indianapolis with the child. and for sew
eral months the baby was at the home of
Mr.. ard Mrs Weinland In the fall, with
Mrs. Weinland's mother they returned to
Los Angeles, and for time lived in the
home of Mr.. Sanders. Then came
misunderstanding which led the elder wom-
an with Miss Meeker to take other lodgings.
This condition of affairs prevailed until Feb.
2S. when the child was seized while on
downtown street, placed in closed car
riage. and was gone before anything could
be done From that time until last night
detectives in a half a dozen cities have
been watching closely for any trace of
Miss Meeker and the child. The detectives
in this city were especially vigilant, since
IL vas thought that Miss Meeker would
eventually appear at her home, and it was
through the efforts of Detectives HoltZ and
Bray that the child was recovered last
night. Miss Meeker declined to say where
the intervening time had been spent, and
il is understood that Mr. Sanders will not
prosecute the case, since the child has
been recovered.
All the members of the party met in the
office of Captain of Detectives Kinney at 8
O'Clock last night. and, acting upon instruc-
tions from the Los Angeles authorities. the
child was given into the custody of Mr.. and
Mrs. Weinland, wno state that she will be
returned to her father Immediately.
Little Miss Sanders is an attractive child
with light hair and BLUE eyes. She has but
one recollection of her experiences, that of
was taken from her home. MY, but we
went fast" she said, her eyes growing
round at the memory of il. Further than
this she can tell nothing. According to the
story told by some OF the members OF the
party in Captain Kinney's room last night.
after placing the child. in the carriage. Miss
Meeker drove twenty miles and caught a
train at an out-of-the-way station. Miss
Meeker is a woman of middle age, and
makes her home in this city with her moth
er and brother. Newspapers sthroughout Cali
fornia made much of the case, and pub
lished photographs of all of the parties con-
cerned, but in spite of the notoriety Miss
Meeker arrived safely in Indianapolis with
her little charge. Love for the little one
was the cause of Miss Meeker's action.