The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-04-05
KIDNAPPED
IN WOODFORD
Mcfarland Case Had Its
Start Here.
PARENTSWERE DIVORCED
Father Came Here and Took Ada
Away From Her
Mother.

The recent reported kidnapping in
Hyde Park OF Miss Ada Mcfarland
and for which crime her mother has
been held in the sum of $1,000 for APP
pearance at the next term of the La
moille county court is of considerable
interest to residents of this section
from the fact that the girl has one
aunt living in the neighboring town of
Woodford, Mrs Lillian Reed, and one
here, Mrs Dexter Gleason. The father
Fred II Mcfarland is prominent cit
izen OF Hyde Park, lawyer by pro
iession. He was married in 1890 to
Lamora L Scott Of Danbury, Conn,
and in 1891 Ada was born They lived
in Hyde Park.
In December of that year Mrs Nc.
Farland without giving any notice to
her husband took the girl and went to
Danbury, Conn, where they we're
found later by Mr. Mcfarland. After
ward the girl was taken u; with meas
les and the father came and took her
back to Hyde Park where she remained
some time. Mrs Mcfarland instituted
divorce proceedings in Connecticut
A divorce was granted and she was
given the custody of the daughter. She
also instituted proceedings against her
husband charging Kidnapping bur the
case was mol pressed
Mr. Mcfarland obtained divorce
before the Lamoille county court in
this state in 1896 and subsequently
brought successful habeas corpus pro-
ceedings and obtained the custody of |
the litte daughter, it being specified in |
the decision that Mrs Mcfarland might |
see Ada but only in the presence of a
third person.
This cost Mr. Mcfarland about 5000
which he appeared to be willing topay
Later the girl went to her mother 10
Connecticut and about 10 months ago
mother and daughter came to Wood
ford ostensibly on visit to her aunt.
Mrs Dexter Gleason. The girl was
rather pretty and made many friends
and the story OF the troubles between
her mother and father became gener-
ally known.
a few weeks after they arrived in
Woodford the father accompanied by
Sheriff Stevens of Lamoille county ar
rived here, secured Deputies Nash and
Godfrey and drove to the home of NJ
Gleason and had long interview with
.he girl and her mother
AS the court in this state had given
.he father custody of the child, they
ook her away with them The same
evening that the party came down from
Woodtord the father, Ada and Sherin
stevens returned to Hyde Park, and
he mother went on the same train,
With the intention tits stated of Sc.
'uriny possession of the girl if possi-
Die, but did mot and since that time the
yirl has been with her father in Hyde
lark.
Last week Wednesday the mother of
he girl went to Hyde Park and had
tormy interview with Mr. Mcfarland.
soon after the daughter was missing, ,
md although a diligent search was
made no trace OF her was found, and
Ter mother was arrested charged with
At the hearing she was
laced under $1,000 bonds to appear at
he next term of the county court.
tuesday night between II and u
'clock the girl returned alone to
home and aroused the in
hates.
She stated that she called at two or
hree places and was refused admit
ance by persons who did not wish to
e mixed up in the affair. She finally
allied at the home of Fred Noble and
'as taken in.
The girl claims to have been wander l.
ny around within five miles of the u
illage, staying in barn one night. d
he does not give clear account of Il
er movements and appears reluctant
D go back to her father's home. y