The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-07
Mrs. Bleakley and the Lawrence
Infant at Moline, Ill.
There That Court Gave Her
Possession Originally.
ESCAPE SENSATIONAL.
Fled to Chicago Under the Pro-
lection of Sheriff.
Mrs. Barclay Did Not Know
Whereabouts Of Child.

Lawrence, Kan, Feb. THE news
that the ''incubator baby''sis in Moline
Ill, is a surprise here. notwithstanding
it having been suspected for, some
time that Mrs. Bleakley had sought
the protection Of the court which gave
the baby to her in the first place.
Mrs Bleakley and the child disap-
peared from Lawrence on the night
that Judge Smart decided in favor of
Mrs. Barclay Mrs. Bleakley and the
baby disappeared from Lawrence.
Kan, as completely as if the earth had
opened and swallowed them. Mrs.
BIeakley was in court when judgment
was rendered. When she heard the
decision against her, she staggered
and fell, cutting her head until the
blood flowed freely. The blood ran
over her clothing and that of the baby,
and she retired from the court room to
make herself presentabIe again. Be
ing -1IlsR}9ls-zEith-th facilities at hand
to repair the damage, she asked per-
mission to go to the home of her moth
er and change her clothing and that
of the baby. Permission was granted,
and, in company with a deputy sheriff
and three lawyers, one of them the at
torney of Mrs. Barclay, she went
/
panied her in the front room, she
went to a bedroom for the change of
clothing.
From that moment there has been
no definite trace of her until today,
when it was learned that, fearing an
adverse decision, she had prepared in
advance for flight and that her plans
worked to perfection. A cab was
waiting around the corner, and as soon
as she had made the change of cloth
ing she He'd the back way to the cab
and was driven to the depot, where
she took Train for Kansas City. From
there it had been her intention to take
the Rock Island direct to Moline, but
it was feared that she would be inter
/ copied so she took another route di
rect to Chicago.
1t is said that she made the journey
under the protection of an Illinois
sheriff, who was returning from d
fruitless trip to Pueblo, Col, after a
criminal The sheriff. learning of
Mrs. Bleakley's desire to get to Mo-
line without interference, amended the
warrant he held for the Colorado man
by prefixing Mrs" to the name, and
took Mrs. Bleakley to Chicago as his
nominal prisoner on that. warrant.
From Chicago. Mrs. Bleakley returned
/ By the ROCK Island to Moline, where
/ she has been in seelusion ever .sinces q
Located at Moline.
Moline, ILL.,, Feb. THE World
/ Fair incubator baby recently
awarded to Mrs. James Barclay, of this
/ city, by Judge Smart in Lawrence,
and abducted the same night by Mrs.
4 Charlotte Bleakley, who claims to be
I its mother, is in Moline, in possession
/ of Mrs Bleakley. The reason for Mrs.
( Bleakley's bringing the child to Mo
line the home of the woman with
whom she unsuccessfulIy contested its
maternity is that it was here that she
secured possession of the baby orig
inalIy by habeas corpus proceedings,
4 and she is depending upon the same
judge, who awarded. her the baby to
4 protect her in its possession
! / Mrs. Barclay, who. under Judge
I Smartis decision at Lawrence is the
mother of the child, and entitled to it.
does not know that the baby is in her
home town 1t is expected that when
/ she learns of it, she will institute pro-
/ ceedings here to secure possession of
the child.