Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-23
is LOOKING
FOR HER CHILDREN
CLAIMS HUSBAND KIDNAPPED LIT
TIE ONES
Appeals to Police for Aid in Finding
Babies-TeIIs Story of Sep
aration. and Love Grown
Cold

Driven to desperation and fearing that
without the aid of the police she would
never recover her children, Mrs, Joseph
Hoback of Santa Maria yesterday sought
the aid of the detectives in gaining trace
of them and her husband, the man she
accuses of kidnapping the little ones.
For nearly ten years Mr. and Mrs.
Hoback lived together in Santa Maria.
They were happy together with never a
cloud passing their marital horizon.
Four years ago the first trouble arose.
Mr.. Hoback, who was employed as a
stationary engineer at that time, was
compelled to change his position and en-
gage in night work.
II trusted him." said Mrs. Hoback last
night, land did not dream he was doing
other than what he said he was. Soon
noticed he began to grow cold toward
me. At last 1 received information which
led me to believe he was keeping COM
pany with other women during the hours
he professed to be at work and at last
accused him of this
He denied 1t, but continued to grow
colder and colder and at last we sepa-
rated.
Three years ago We separated and our
two children, Rayford, aged years, and
Lila, aged years, were given in my Gus
tody by the court.
Father Loved Children
1--WE lived apart from then on. My
hush band loved the little ones and I never
denied him their company. Frequently
he would come to me and request per-
mission to take them to dinner with him
and I always agreed.
"On the morning of June he came tc
the house ard asked permission to Jake
the children out to dinner after school.
was teaching school in Santa Maria at
the time. and as 1 was preparing FOR
the approaching examinations I thought
it would allow me several hours extra
time and consented
"Mr. Hoback called for the children
soon after school and took them with
him to the park close by. There I lost
all trace of them. for when school closed
that night I fourd that my little ones
were nowhere in sight and that all track
of my husband was lost
"I engaged detectives and placed them
on the case. Within a short time they
reported to me that my former hus-
band had come to Los Angeles.
ST notified the police, here, but they
were unable to give me a great deal of
aid, and 1 decided to come to Los An
geles.
HUSBAND writes Ietter
"On July received letter from Mr..
Hoback, in which he notified me that he
was with the children and living at the
Hotel Matson here. He told me in his
letter that If I would come to this city
he would return the little ones to me.
st came Immediately to Los Angeles.
but instead of going to the Hotel Matson
went to the Hotel Iowa. While convers-
ing with the proprietor the following
day I was informed that my former hus-
band had lived at that hotel during the
preceding six days. but had left the
night before with the two children.
''I went to the Hotel Matson, but, ac-
cording to the proprietor, Mr.. Hoback
and the children had never been there.
''For nearly a week I searched the
city from end to end, but without sue
cess. I at last appealed to the humane
society and found the officers of that or
ganization willing to assist me. In their
company l have searched Los Angeles,
but without success.
''I have at last decided to appeal to
the police and the detectives have prom
ised to do all in their power to aid in
finding my husband and returning my
children to me.
VIII Spend All
'I have not a great deal of money but
am willing to spend all 1 have in
searching for the little ones I love so
much / feel confident they are still in
Los Angeles and 1 have been told by the
police that it will be impossible for them
TO leave town without being found.
'I hope this is so, as I wish above
everything to have my children back
again"
Officers of the humane society last
night stated they were doing all possible
to find the children and take care of
them. In case it is found the children
have been given into the custody of Mrs.
Hoback by the court the society will
place them in her charge If they are
found, while in case 1t is found that
there was no legal separation they will
be held until the couple comes to some
agreement in regard to their disposition.