The Minneapolis journal., 1904-05-12
.GYPSIEs SWEAR
TO STEAL WIFE
KALKES LIVING IN A STATE OF
UNCERTAINTY.
His Wife Joined the Rovers, but After
Few Weeks Experience Says She's
Glad to Break Away-EviI Eye
Treatment Threatened.

After living for three weeks with a
rowing band of gypsies whom she
joined under what proved to be a mis-
taken idea that such a life would be
tdyllic, Mrs. Sophie Kalkes, a comely
young woman, with shining brown
turned penitent to her home, 524
Thirteenth avenue S.
And now she and her husband,
George Kalkes, are much wrought up
over information that members of the
band are in Minneapolis threatening
to recover Mrs Kalkes and her two
pretty little children by force If she
does not voluntarily return to them.
you see" said Mrs. Kalkes this
morning, 1T Is one of the rules of
the gypsies that those who are taken
into their band shall never leave it.
didn't know that until 7 had been
with them several days. I have no
doubt the gypsies are mad-very mad,
and have no idea what they will do.'
Mrs. Kalkes, taking her two chill
dren, Corinne, Z years old, and Ruth,
3, left her home and her husband
three weeks ago. and going to Amery,
Wis., became member of the COM
pany of gypsies who were eamped
near that place. 1t is said that Ed
Stanley, the leader Of the band, is her
brother, but when Mrs. Kalkes was
asked this morning If she were q
gypsy she emphatically declared again
and again that she was not.
Husband on the Trail.
A week ago the husband found out
where his wife and children were and
set out to find them. He followed the
trail of the wanderers thru several
Wisconsin towns and finally over
hauled them at White Bear. That was
on Sunday last. He demanded that
the gypsies give him back his family,
but Gil Cooper, Mrs. Kalkes' cousin
with whom she had run away, and
others Of the band drove the husband
away at the point Of a revolver.
The aid of the st. Paul police was
then sought by Mr.. Kalkes, and when
the gypsy band was located again in
the outskirts of st. Paul. Gil Cooper
and Mrs. Kalkes and the two little
girls were missing. While the hus-
band was still seeking them Mrs.
Kalkes returned to her home and sur
prised her husband.
When a reporter called at the
Kalkes home this morning, Mrs
Kalkes explained:
IT always liked the country and I
had been reading about the open fields
and the woods and trees and running
brooks, and I thought it would be just
fine to be with gypsies who live out
doors and camp by the roadside and
by the rivers and lakes. So just ran
away"
"Yes," said Mr.. Kalkes, ''she ran
away and gave me long chase, but
she is back now, you see.' Then with
spirit which seemed to indicate rising
| anger and determination, he added:
Gypsies After Her.
"They think they'll get her back
| her and the children, but Til bel
| $1,000 they won't. Last night got
word that some of the women In the
band were In town, hanging around ir
| the back end Of a saloon, with guns
and knives. and they said they were
going to get my wife again. Wei
see about that. I'm not afraid Of
them"
mo, no, of course I wouldn't &c
back with then," supplemented the
wife. ooh, it was awful! All dirty
and ragged, these poor peopleW She
seemed unable to describe the condi
tions. But it was nice for a while
slept in tent and fished in the
rivers and lakes. It was lots of fun
They threatened to put the evil eyt
on the children If left, but don
| believe they really can"