The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-06
COUNTESS HIRED
LUSTY OFFICERS
CHASE FOR WADE CHILDREN.
PARTY SwooPED DOWN on SCHOOL
HOUSE TO kIDNAP.

but the Little Indiana school Had
Been Dismissed for the Day-Thc n
the Mother. who Was Mrs. Paul
inc Heard Wade, Went with Her
Guards 10 Home of Children's In
cIe-Mrs. Ramsey Lifts Veil of
Mystery in wade Case.
Had it been found necessary
to do do the two children Of
the Countess Victor de Koenig,
formerly Mrs. Pauline Heard Wade
of Savannah, would have been
kidnapped by detectives at Otis, Ind,
where they were in the care of their
fathers brother.
But it was not at all necessary and
the children were secured by the Coun-
tess without any trouble. She was ac-
compsnied by the Count and two
hired detectives when she made a rapid
drive into the town of Otis, prepared
10 snatch the children from the school
room, and depart with them. They
were her little ones and their father
was dead.
All Of these interesting things are
told Of by Mrs. /. Ramsey in a letter
from New York 10 the Morning News.
The grandparents Of the children have
heard nothing from their son in In
diana since he telegraphed that there
was nothing to explain by wire, and
that he " ould write. But the letter
has never come and all the information
that has been received by Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert ]. Wade has been conveyed 10
them by the Morning News.
Veil of Mystery Lifted.
1t will be recalled that it was
through Mrs. Ramsey in a letter to
the Morning News, that the first in
formation of the fact that Mrs Wade
had acquired title. and also the custody
of her two children, was received in
Savannah. There was much specula-
ton as 10 the manner in which the
grandparents were very much exer-
cised.
Now all of this mystery has been
cleared up by Mrs. Ramsey herself
in the following rather interesting
communication received by the Morn
ing News yesterday morning:
Mrs. Pauline Heard Wade was
married TO Count Victor de Koenig on
April 49, 1903 by Rev. Pleasant Hun
ter in the French Presbyterian
Church, Ninety-second street and West
End avenue. this city. was present
at the ceremony and signed the regis
try as q witness.
Mrs. Wade inherited some money
from her mothers estate in 1902
She came to New York and met the
Count de Koenig. After courtship
Of few months they were married,
making a bridal trip all through the
West While in that section of the
country the Countess hired detectives
in Indianapolis TO go to Otis, Ind,
where Mr.. Bird Wade resides.
Countess Hired Detectives.
The Detectives ascertained that both
her children were then in the care and
on the charity OF their uncle, Mr. Bird
Wade, who, notwithstanding the fact
thai he had a wife and three children
of his own TO provide for, was doing
the best he could for his niece and
nephew.
The Countess employed an attor-
ney from Indianapolis, hired two lusty
detectives. and, with her husband, the
attorney and the detectives, started
for Otis.
Leaving the railroad at a point ten
miles from Otis. swift teams were hired
10 convey the party TO their objective
point. Upon reaching the town they
drove to the school house, intending,
without ceremony. TO take the chill
dren and depart But school had been
dismissed for the day.
ChiIdren's Uncle Yielded.
The Countess and her party de-
scended upon Mr.. Bird Wade's resi-
dence. peremptorily demanding the
children. Mr.. Wade and his wife,
realizing the justice of the demand. as
well as that discretion was the better
part of valor. yielded TO the demand,
and accompanied the Countess, her
husband, and attorney, TO Leporte, the
county seat, where by the proper au-
thority. the children were formally and
legally given into the possession of
their mother. The records at Laporte
will verify this.
adopted them, and the day they sailed
for Bremen the party made the happiest
family l ever saw. The children will
receive great many advantages
through their step-father. He spent
some weeks with them in washington
and New York, seeing all that was
worth while.
Something About Mrs. Ramsey.
IF you viii recall it there was the
custody of only one child. Lillian, that
was in question in the courts in Sa-
vannah. The Countess is an old friend
Of mine"
Mrs. Ramsey. the writer of the let
ter, rs well remembered here where she
lived for long while. When the Wade
cases were in court Mrs. Wade was
the guest Of Mrs. Ramsey at No. 102
Harris street. east. She is the mother
OF Mrs. Howard Hipkins, nee Miss