The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-20
MRS. HAYES HOLDS BABY IRENE
MOTHER AND KIDNAPPED CHILD
FOUND IN .WEST CHESTER.

Adoption by Thurs,Gns Not Eatined ny
Court, 1t Is Said-Blue Eyed 3.fear-
old Cinss to Mother, Captures the
Court and Makes Tall Cop Her HOrsey
Miss Irene Helen Hayes rode into the
Harlem police court yesterday afternoon
upon the shoulder Of six foot detective
who had captured her and her mother III
West Chester The detective tried to look
grim, but he couldn't TO save his life, because
the entrance of the little girl into the dull,
gloomy courtroom was like a ray OF sum
shine. Two or three bedraggled women
waiting the pleasure of the Judge instinct
iyely stretched out their arms TO the child,
who Is only three and as pretty baby as
the five boroughs hold Mddleaged law
yers dropped their papers and talked baby
talk TO Miss Irene. Even Magistrate Baker
on the bench twidded his fingers at the
little maid with the blue eyes and the golden
hair and smiled at her.
Irene is the daughter Of Mrs. Nellie Hayes,
whom the police were looking for for three
DAYS. She is also the heroine Of u very
tangled story. John b. Thurston and his
wife. who live at 266 Fast l25h street, ac-
cuse Mrs. Hayes of stealing the child from
them after she had consented to their
adopting her,
AT any rate, Irene disappeared from the
home of the Thurstons Oh Tuesday. They
suspected that tho mother had taken her,
and went to the police Of the East l2eth
street station about it. They wanted Mrs.
HAYES arrested right away and swore out
q warrant for her Detective Teevans
was put on the case and he learned from
Ernest HAYES. a silversmith, that he was
the father Of the child. Mrs, Hayes, he
thought, had gone to Paisley. Scotland,
where her people live.
Thursday night reevans. who kept his
eye on the silversmith learned that he had
sent note TO Mrs, Hayes. and that she was
working as domestic at the house Of Mrs
Bertha Meitzel, at Harrison and Cornell
avenues, West Chester. He went there
Yesterday
When the detective went In Irene smiled
at him enchantingly. but the mother
screamed and caught the child up In her
aYou shan't have herr she cried to the
to anybody
Teevans Gained the hysterical mother
and told her that all she would have to do
would be accompany him to the Harlem
police court and tell her story to the Magis-
offering him large slice. of bread and
molasses with the marks Of her own small
teeth in one crust Teevans ate it like
gentleman, and while Mrs. Hayes was
getting ready for the trip downtown Irene
showed him her pets. red pup named
Nellie. a bllygoat that went by the, name
of Buck two ducks, one with broken
leg, grumpy old pigeon that chuckled
sardonically and tattered rag doll. AFTER
that Teevans said he felt ashamed OF him
ALT 70 hoy- "a IN n ka that child nd her mother
under arrest into a court room.
The Thurstons were i'll court when Irene,
her mother, Teevans and the rag doll got
there. Irene had insisted on bringing Buck,
because of the trolley car rules. When the
little girl saw the Thur-tons she squeezed
the detective tightly around the neck and
put out hand to her mother.
A lawyer who volunteered 10 represent
Mrs. Hayes told Magistrate Baker
side OF the case. About five months ago,
he said, she got word from Scotland that
she had something coming to her over there
in the wayof bit of land and little money,
but that she would have to go over herself
and see about it, She wasn't living with
HAYES then and she had hardly enough
money to feed Irene and herself. She
thought that d she could get somebody to
take care of Irene size might raise enough
money to cross the ocean. Somebody told
her that she ought to get Irene adopted, 30
she put an advertisement in the papers.
It was answered by the Thurstons, the
mother said, who agreed to adopt Irene.
A little while after that they went to the
Office Of a lawyer at 90 Nassau street and
papers of adoption were drawn up. The
papers were never approved by a court,
the mother declared, but the Thurstons took
Irene and began TO treat her as their own
child. Then the mother heard that it was
no use for her to g. abroad, and she want ed
the child back. She said the Thurstons
refused to give Irene Up, and she was like
n crazy woman for time. On Tuesday
last she called to see the little girl. watched
her chance and kidnapped her own baby.
so she took Irene straight there.
The lawyer for the Ihurstons said that
the adoption formaties had been com
pleted and that Mrs. Hayes had renquished |
claim to Irene Magistrate Baker asked
for the papers, The Thur4tons wanted
time to produce them. so the Magis-
trate told everybody concerned to be in
and he would try to straighten the matter |
out. Then he discussed solemny with
Irene the relative merits of Nelly the red |
haired pup, and Buck, the hilygoat making |
a little fun of the rag doll just TO see the |
child's blue eyes fash. He paroled Mrs. |
Hayes and entrusted Irene TO her. She |
dried her tears and looked very happy.
Teevans was going about his business, |
but Irene wouldn't have it at all
800 pwonised me anuvver ride said |
she, so Teevans, with grin at the smiling |
Magistrate, STOPPED and swung the child |
to his shoulder. They departed from the |
court room in advance of line of Irene's |
admiring friends, Irene riding high Oh !
Teevans's shoulder and waving fare |
well to the Magistrate.