Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-20
DESERTS WIFE
AND BABY
ADVERTISING MAN MAY BE
ARRESTED
WOMAN TELLS MOST PITIAeLE
STORY
Prosecuting Attorney viii Issue War
rant for the Arrest of Robert
A. Bell If He Can Be
Found

Charging that her husband, ROBERT "A
Bell. formerly employed in the adVertls'
ing departments of local and oakiano
naners had deserted her and their two
vear-old boy. William, and fed Win
Hazel Liddell, Mrs. Bell yesterday ap-
nlied to the prosecuting attorney lor
warrant for his arrest.
Mrs. Bell said she had received IN
formation that her husband ana the W.
man are at present in Yuma, put as sne
was nor certain that this was fact the
warrant was not issued Mrs. Bell was
assured if she could definitely learn tnt
whereabouts of her husband the war; am
would be issued and efforts MADE TO Drlns
him back. o,,s
..My husband deserted me five weeks
ayo1 said Mrs, Bell He had been
without work for some time, and told me
ba was going to one of the small towns
near Los Angeles to seek employment
1--WE had $3.50 in the house and ne LOOK
* of that. He told me he would seho
for me Just as soon as he nau optalleu
work. / trusted him, and felt sure he
would return.
Rebuked by Friend
.a few days after he left l learned
he had gone directly from me to the wo-
man he ran away with. Together tney
went to Pomona and from there to san
Diego and then back to Santa Ana. ne
did not write me and l coulu scarceiS
believe the story was true, put haV
now received information which makes
me positive it is true. %.
"About two weeks after Mr.. Bel ielI
home he met a mutual friend Oh ours III
a small town near here. The woman was 10
with my husband at the time. MT Den
called this man over and Introduces lIe
woman to lin as his new wife. he
Told the man he had been married to her
six weeks. The man then asked MIN
wbv he did not act in just manner
and II he did not wish to live with me
anv longer return to Los Angeles anu
obtain a divorce. Mr.. Bell gave MIN ilo
satisfaction but boarded the train ana leIt.
st am now without any means OF sup
mort and have my little baby's we1are 10
look out for as well as my own. wish
to have Mr.. BELL arrested ana Orous+l
hack here and forced to support the oapy'
1t is only right that he should De ihaue "
do so. will find out where ne Is pos.-
tivelv and will then secure the warrant.
"Since we have been married Mr.. Bel
has earned on an average $50 week,
vet he has expended his salary as fast
ss he earned it, Some time ago he was
injured in a street car accident ana tne
railroad company settled with MIN Io[
$1,000 All this money he expended anu
am told a large portion Of 1t went TO the
woman he ran away with.
Leaves Beautiful Child
"Mr Bell was % years of age yesterday
.nd, +he baby will be two years old TO-
ynorrow He always appeared very 1ono
of the little one and l am surprised ne
would desert him.
eve were married January 1S, 1900, anc
the first months of our married lie were
the happiest of my life. Several months
after our marriage Mr.. Bell pegan re-
naming away from home nights and De-
lieve that was when he started oolnS the
things which caused him to leave.
.T have heard that since leaving Los
ANGELES Mr.. Bell has been hard up sew
eral times and that he began gambling
in homes of increasing his funds. L DO
NOT know how much truth there is in the
story but do know If he had acted right
and remained in Los Angeles he would
have experienced no difficulty IN OBTAIN
ing positions winch would have PAID MIN
good salaries.
Friends of Mrs. Bell speak highly OF
the young woman and express great IN
dignation for the way she has peen
treated by her husband. She has received
many assurances of support from then IN
any action she may take, and offers OF
funds to have her husband brought back
and punished have been made.
The prosecuting attorney has no funds
at his control to bring back husbands
who desert their wives and families and
flee to other cities or states, but in sew
eral cases the money has been PAID by
individuals and the attorneys have
handled the cases when they were taken
I'D in the local courts.