Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-12

YER; has caused considerable conster-
nation in the Abbott school and among
her relatives by ruse undertaken
Thursday to gain possession of her
son, Kyle Heath. aged 8 years, pupil
Of the first grade OF the Abbott school.
The lad was taken out of school Thurs
day morning, placed on a westbound
train, and is now probably nearing
Denver.
Monday morning at about 8 o'clock
Miss Jessie Stanley, teacher of the
rap at her door and was confronted
by a fine looking, well-d dressed woman
who inquired for Kyle Heath. Miss
Stanley answered that the lad was
there, ano was asked by the woman to
see him. The lad was called to the
door and the woman embraced him,
hugging and kissing him. The
woman asked the teacher to excuse the
boy, but this the teacher did not care
to do. The woman then told the
teacher that she was the boys mother
She explained that she had been sep.
arated from her husband, and was now
living in Denver, and had just arrived
and had just been to her mothers the
woman said, to find that the lad had
just left for school. AS the boys
mother made the request for his ex-
cuse there was nothing for the teacher
to do but grant it, and the woman left
the building with the boy.
Grandmother Starts Inquiry.
Mrs. Jennie A. West, sol South
Center street, Mrs. Augustus mother,
with whom Master Kyle has been liv-
ing since his parents were separated,
a few years ago, telepfoned the school
house at about 12:45. inquiring why
Kyle had not come home. Miss STAN
ley then told her that his mother had
come to the school house and taken
him away in the morning. ooh My
God" was the only expression Miss
Stanley heard from, the other end Of
the telephone.
1t was afterwards learned that Mrs.
Augustus had hired cab, which had
been stationed back of the school house
and that as soon as she had her son
she hustled him to the carriage and
was driven directly to the union sta
ton. She boarded the fast mail on the
Northwestern, which was little late.
Sister Investigates.
Thursday afternoon Mrs. Inez
Reeves, Of Parsons, Kas., a sister Of
Mrs. Heath-Augustus, who is visiting
at the West home, came to the school
to inquire into the particulars of Mrs.
Augustus actions in securing the boy.
She was appraised of the facts as above
stated. Mrs. Reeves admitted that the
mother had legal right to the child,
as given in the decree of divorce.
Relatives Talk.
Relatives of Mrs. Augustus, when
seen, confirmed the fact that Mrs.
Augustus had perfect right to the
custody of her son. The Heaths had
two children, and when they were d.
vorced the wife was given them. The
younger Mrs. Heath took with her to
Denver, but as she did not think she
could care for the elder son, he was left
with Mrs. West. Shortly after her di-
vorce Mrs. Heath asked her mother to
send the boy to her. This was done,
but the lad returned after an absence
Of two weeks, having been sent back
to this city by his mother, Shortly
after this Mrs. Heath was married, and
during the past six months has been
requesting her mother to send
the boy to Denver. This Mrs. West re-
fused to do, thinking that the little
fellow was too young to travel alone
so far.
Telegram Clears Mystery.
The mysterious disappearance Of the
lad, which to his grandmother and
Mrs. Reeves was inexplainable, altho
they suspected abduction as soon as
the lad did not arrive from school at
noon, was cleared by a telegram re-
ceived by Mrs. West late Thursday
evening. The message was sent by
Mrs. Augustus from Omaha. 1t read:
81 have Kyle; don't worry. Will write
you soon. Grace" Its receipt con-
firmed their belief, and while it set at
rest certain fears caused by the un
certainty Of his whereabouts it did
not heal the wound, nor ease the sor-
row caused by the cruel separation Of
the lad from it's grandmother.
Who Is the Man In the Case?
From developments today there was
a man in the case, who as
sisted Mrs. Augustus in making away
with the child, and who was seen with
her on two different occasions. He as
sisted her to board the fast mail
Thursday morning, and it is believed
he is the person who was with Mrs.
Augustus, who, doubtless prompted by
curiosity, or the possible hope of see
ing her child, was seen in the vicinity
Of the West home Wednesday night.
This man may be a friend Or merely
an acquaintance, but is not Mr.. Angus
tus, the woman's husband. The mar
seen with Mrs. Augustus at the depot
is tall, with full gray beard. altho
the gray hairs would rather indicate
premature grayness than old age. The
same man, and woman Mrs. West
now firmly believes was her daughter.
she saw from the window of her home
Wednesday night.
Mrs. West Heartbroken.
Mrs West, who is a widow and we'll
advanced in years, held her grandson
as dear as had he been her own. For
years the boy has lived with her. and
the little fellow had been a comfort,
joy and companion to the grandmother.
Ever since the boy returned from
Denver his mother has written, en-
plored and coaxed to have her son sent