The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-12
Attorney General Arrested for
Taking Jackson Child.
Helped Hold Father While
Little One Was Removed.
MR.. MILLER'S STORY.
County Attorney Explains the
Case in Detail.
Much Excitement Is Caused at
Clay Center,

Clay Center. Kan, April Zone of
the sequels to the attempt of the Rev.
John Jackson to gain possession of his
baby daughter, was the bringing of a
suit late Monday by Mr.. Jackson, in
Justice Iam's court, against the sheriff,
Mr.. Need; the attorney general, Mr..
Coleman, and a lawyer, F. L. Williams,
Tor forcibly taking the child awayfrom
Mr.. Jackson and returning it to his
Wife's father. They were released on
their own recognizances.
r. c. Miller, county attorney of Clay
county, Is here attending the Popuist
state convention. He is one of the
Clay county delegates. When asked
about the proceeding against Attorney
General Coleman and others in the
Jackson trouble at Clay Center, Mr..
Miller said that Attorney General
Coleman, his partner, F. L. Williams.
and the sheriff, U. E. Need, had been
arrested for taking Mr.. Jackson's child
from him after JacksOn's arrest.
The statute under which Mr.. Cole
man and his associates were arrested
prohibits the enticing or taking away
of q child under the age of II years
from it's parent or guardian. Such ac-
ton is made a grave crime with a
drastic penalty attached, the maximum
penalty being five years in the peni-
Tertiary. The minimum penalty is six
months In the county Jail.
The statute under which the action
Is brought is section 2032 of the gem
eral statutes, and reads as follows:
Every person who shall maliciouslN,
1orcibly or fraudulently lead, take or
carry away, or decoy or entice away,
any child under the age of Il years,
with intent to detain or conceal such
child from it's parent, guardian or 9TH
er person having lawful charge OF
such child, shall upon conviction be
punished by confinement and hard la
Dor not exceeding five years, or i'm
prisonment in the county jail not less
than six months"
According to statements gathered
from County Attorney Miller and 9TH
ers from Clay Center, Mrs. Jackson
returned to the home of her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. H. P. Campbell, in Clay
Center, about a month ago to run the
household during her mothers illness.
She had been living with her husband,
Rev. John Jackson, in Texas, since
they left Topeka about a year ago.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson have had some
differences, and while they were not
divorced, it was understood in Clay
Center that Mrs. Jackson had left her
husband.
It is said that Mrs. jackson and her
parents expected jackson to come and
Try to get possession of the child, a
girl Of two years and eight months
notwithstanding that when Jackson
arrived in Clay Center Monday morn
ing he got a team and carriage, went
to the Campbell residence, went into
the Kitchen picked up the little girl
and left with her. He took the child
in the buggy and drove west from
Clay Center.
F. L. williams. law partner of At
torney General Coleman, was out on
horseback and he was sent in pursuit
of Jackson. Sheriff Need was also out
In a wagon and he and Fred Mullen,
a deputy, also started in pursuit. They
overlook Jackson at a bridge about
two miles west of Clay Center.
Jackson was brought back to the
county Jail by Sheriff Need, and in the
meantime a restraining order had been
got out in the probate court prohibit
ing him from interfering with the
child. In the county Jail Mr. jackson
insisted in keeping the child until he
consulted with an attorney. He said
he had acted under legal advice and
knew his actions were perfectly legal.
He wanted to keep the child until his
attorney could come to see him.
Something was said about jackson
being armed, and to show that he was
not he offered to hold up his hands
until his attorney came, the little girl
in the meantime remaining on his lap
While he was in that position, &C
cOrding to reports, Sheriff Need took
hold of one hand, Attorney General
Coleman the other, while Mr.. Williams
took the child and carried it away,
giving it to its grandfather, H. 2.
Campbell.
It was for this action that jackson
had the three arrested, and he has re-
tanned F. P. Hardness to assist Coun-
ty Attorney Miller in the prosecution
of the case. All three were released on
their own recognizance, and their
hearing has been set for Monday, April
Is
Regarding the restraining order
which was served on Mr.. jackson af-
ter his capture Monday, the Clay Cen
ter Dispatch says;
THE petition for a restraining or
Ger filed in district court about