Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-24
MOTHER WINS
IN CONTEST
FOR CHILDREN
Mrs. Stewart OutWitS
Husband
Woman Who Crossed the Continent in
Search of Her Beautiful Daush-
ters Spirits Little Ones from
Apartment House

Mrs. William r. Stewart has returned
to her former home in Brockville, Ont,
with her two children, according to the
belief of her husband, the former New
York advertising man, from whom the
woman succeeded in capturing the little
girls Wednesday night after a chase
across the continent.
The story of the mothers chase and
daring efforts to recover her children
was told exclusively in The Herald May
IS. Mr.. and Mrs. Stewart had separated
an New York about five years ago.
There was no divorce, but last Novem-
ber it was decided to draw up papers
which would allow the father the Gus
tody of the little girls, Alice and Flor
ence, aged and IL years respectively,
during ten months of the year, while
they were to be under the mothers care
the remaining two months.
1t was also agreed that the children
were to be sent to Brentwood Hall,
a fashionable boarding school in Bronx
willie, suburb of New York. The chill
dren were to be kept there for five years
and then further arrangements were to
be made.
Spirits His Children Away
About six weeks ago Mr.. Stewart,
who was then engaged on a New York
newspaper applied at the school for
permission to take the children to see
his mother who, according to Mrs.
Stewart, he declared was dying. Per-
mission was granted him, but instead of
taking the children to his home Mr.
Stewart placed the little girls on board
a train and came to California.
Within a few days Mrs. Stewart
learned of the trick which had been
en- nr ha- Gha SET her
wits to work to learn her husbands
destination. By close inquiries among
friends she learned that Mr.. Stewart
had obtained tickets for himself and
children for California, and prompted
by the great love she bore for her chill
dren the little woman, undaunted by
the long journey, started for Los An
geles.
When she arrived here she at first ex-
perienced a great deal of difficulty in
getting trace of her husband. She at
last found him at the office of the e. w.
r. Lawrence Advertising agency, 410
Chamber of Commerce building, and de-
manded that he give her the children.
Stewart refused to do so or even to
allow his wife to see the little girls.
After several days search the woman
succeeded in finding them in suite 112
of the Queen apartments at 529 Califor-
MIA street.
Announces Her Determination
Mrs. Stewart then saw her husband
for a second time and demanded per-
mission to see her children at any time
she wished, and the couple at last
formed an agreement. 1t was decided
that the woman could see the children
any one day of the week she wished,
and that on that day she could take
fn Eric q n nj
When seen the day after the agree
ment was made, Mrs. Stewart expressed
dissatisfaction with 1t, and stated that
she would soon obtain possession of the
children and would never give up the
fight for their custody.
II have as much right to the little
girls as my husband has," she said,
"and will never be satisfied until L
have them so that I can watch over
them and bring them up as only
mother can. love my little girls, and
them from Brentwood Hall were done
out of Spite. He has treated me shame
fully, but l shall outwit him yet"
The woman from that time on laid her
plans with the greatest care. With
cunning such as only a mother fighting
to gain possession of her children could
show, she made her preparations for
getting mold or the little ones ana TAX
ing them from under the watchful eye
of her husband.
Early this week she telephoned her
husband and informed him that she was
without money and in need of funds.
She begged him to send her money, but
he refused. Wednesday she again tele-
phoned and informed the man that she
must have money with which to pur-
chase food. Stewart then agreed to give
her a small amount, and also agreed to
her request that she be allowed to go
to his apartment and cook herself
meal 1t was the day she had selected
to visit the children and he suspected
nothing. The thought that the woman s
talk of being without funds being
simply blind to steer him off so she
might gain control of the children never
entered the mans mind.
Shortly after having this talk with her
husband, Mrs. Stewart appeared at the
apartment and at once packed up all
the possessions of the children. She
awaited until the little ones returned
from school in the afternoon, when she
placed them aboard a car and sped for
the nearest depot.
When Stewart returned to his home