The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1906-12-20
EXCITEMENT
over DIVORCE
TRUMPED UP CHARGE AGAINST
A NEW YORKER.
Requisition Granted and Efforts Made
to Hurry the Defendant Away Be-
fore Habeas Corpus Proceedings
Gould Be Started in the South Da-
kota Courts.

Aberdeen, S. d.. Dec. 20.--A story
in which warrants, counter warrants,
charging child abandonment, di-
vorce plea, and numerous other excit-
ing incidents figure, became public
today with the arrival here Of a party
of men from Pierre. The central fig
ure is John Half, a New York man
who is seeking a divorce. With him
is Sheriff ID. ]. Jones of Ipswich, who
has Half under arrest; G. III. Bartlett
of Sioux Falls, Haff's attorney, and
Charles ID. Farley, one of District At
torney Jerome's detectives, sent here
to get Half and take him back to New
York, where charge awaits him Of
child abandonment. The latter is a
Hercules and is possessed of an album
dance of nerve and resource, as was
shown yesterday at Pierre.
The story dates back about six
years when Haff's wife left him. The
husband came to South Dakota to-
establish a residence and a short time
ago he began divorce proceedings at
Sioux Falls. In the meantime Mrs
Haff, learning of the suit, at once be-
gan proceedings against woman,
who, it is alleged, is the cause of all
the trouble. She charges the woman
with alternating her husbands affec-
tons and asks $3.50 damages. 1t Is
reported that the woman is wealthy
and that Half, who is worth about
$1000,0 goo, intends to marry her as
soon as his divorce is granted.
Mrs. Half wants her husband back
in New York to testify in the suit she
has brought, but he refused to go.
The woman's attorneys then dug up
an old law by which a man could be
arrested for abandoning his child. This
is a felony I'm New York so warrant
was sworn out for Haffs arrest and a
request was made on the governor of
South Dakota to grant the requisi-
ton. The papers were served at Ips-
wich about ten days ago. Yesterday.
all parties concerned went to Pierre
to learn what action the governor
would take with regard to the requis-
ition. Doubt was soon removed for
the requisition was granted. HAIRS
attorney, expecting the usual twenty
four hours in which to take the mat
ter into court would be ample for his
purpose, started to prepare papers i'm
the case, but he did not count on the
activity of Jerome's detective That
gentleman started to railroad" the
business through and do a little body
snatching in the way of taking Half
out OF Pierre without delay. Then the
excitement began. Attorney Bartlett,
when he found how things We're going,
swore out warrants charging the de-
tective and Sheriff Jones with at
tempted kidnapping. Bartlett had to
fight hard for time for the officials
had Haff all ready to be spirited away.
A few minutes before the train start
ed, the detective attempted to take
Half away, but his attorney pulled off
his overcoat and pulling Half back,
faced the detective and dared him to
lay hand on Haff.
IF you touch that man." he Shout
ed, "Pll knock you cold"
Before the matter could go further
Sheriff Landon Of Hughes county APP
peared on the scene and read the war
rant to the detective and the Ipswich
official The attempted kidnapping
came to sudden termination and the
party went on to Eureka, where At
torney Bartlett will argue a motion for
an order permitting him to institute
habeas corpus proceedings in behalf
OF his client, who is now virtually a
prisoner awaiting return to New York.
The outcome is being watched with
great interest.