Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-07
IN WILD AUTO
RIDE REGAINS
STOLEN CHILD
FATHER RECEIVERS BABE BY
MIDNIGHT FLIGHT
MoToRcAa DISTANCES MOUNTED
POLICEMEN
Beautiful Little Marchie Gress Again
Figures In Thrilling Adventure In
In Which Auto and Paternal
Love Are Victorious

tossed into an automobile ana
~ whirled away through the dark
ness and pursued by mounted police
who had been detailed to guard her;
sleeping fitfully, cuddled in her father.s
arms, while tho big motor car plunged
into the night in a record-breaking run
from San Diego to Santa Ana smug-
gled into Los Angeles, hidden for q
night and day In big downtown
hotel and last evening taken aboard
train bound for Kansas City-such is
the latest tragic experience of beauti-
full, golden-haired Marchie Gress, who
in her brief life has been buffeted about
like leaf in an autumn wind.
kidnapped twelve times, trailed across
a dozen states and Canada, this little
brown-eyed lass now is safe with her
father, after figuring on Saturday and
yesterday in one of the most thrilling
abduction escapades ever resorted to
by a parent to regain possession of
child.
When little Marchie was taken from
the home of John r. Ware, 1915 West |
Adams street, last Tuesday and spirited |
away by the mother to Pasadena, A. r.
Gress, the father, decided that the
twelfth abduction would be the las,
and that he would take his child far
beyond all chance of pursuit and re-
capture. And when he boarded the
Santa Fe overland train last night, un- |
discovered, although the police of two
cities had been asked to find him. GressI
strained the little girl to his breast and
expressed the belief that now he and
she are safe
Father Frantic with Grief
Tragic events in the life of Marchie |
after she was taken to Pasadena
last Tuesday followed fast on one an
other. On Tuesday night the little girl
was taken ON the Owl train to San
Diego by her mother who is now the
wife of q well known business man IN
the southern city. When Gress realized
that his daughter was lost to him againi
he was frantic. He controlled himself,
and calmly and with the utmost delib-
Grafton began to lay plans for recover
ing her. He learned the name of his
FORMER wlfe's husband and address
of the couple. Friday night he left Los
Angeles and early the next morning
arrived in San Diego. He found the
address, and asked the husband of the
former Mrs. Gress if he might have q
last talk with Marchie. saying he was
going away for a long time and might
never see her again. After discussing
the subject few moments the couple
decided Gress could see the child In
the presence of the mother and her
present husband. The latter also took
occasion to inform Gress that he was
armed and intimated that the father
need make no attempt to steal the
child.
Gress acted promptly. Going to a
garage he hired two of the most pow
erful cars in the place and daring
drivers. He stationed the ut3moblles
one at either side of the park-and
A n EwsetI
Gress, her husband and Marchie. The
child gave a joyous shout as she rec
ognized her father. Soon the parent
was petting and fondling his little girl,
all the time endeavoring to draw her
away from the mother and near enough
to one of the automobiles to enable
him to make a sudden lash. But all
in vain. Mrs. Gress and her husband
would not allow Gress and tne child
moro than a few feet away from them
and the father began to despair. Time
and again he sought to escape with
Marchie, but to no purpose.
Resorts to Ruse
1t was growing late.
''Well, good BY" said Gress, 'T must
GO Come here, Marchie.''
He kissed the child again and again
as she chung to him and apparently
with the deepest emotion besought the
mother to always. be tender and kind
to Marchie and never to allow her to
forget her father. Then he turned and
walked rapidly away.
Believing all danger was past the
mother led Marchie to q street car,
which they boarded, and Johnson, the
husband, returned to his place of busi-
ness.
But they had reckoned without
Hardly had the motorman started
his car when around the corner of the
park came a big automobile, driven
by B. I. Blanchard, skillful chauf-
chauffeur obligingly exchanged hats
with Gress In order that the latter
might not be recognized so easily. They
followed the street car until it stopped
to allow Mrs. Gress and the child to
alight.
Gress' heart beat high with hope of
success, but as he pictured himself
fleeing with his child he saw at the
corner mounted policeman. The
chauffeur urged Gress to delay until
the officer had departed, but the faith
er-love was overpowering.
You've got to beat him." he whis-
pered to Blanchard. BE ready"
Makes Dash for Open
When the automobiles pace slack
ened as the gear was thrown out, the
engine speeding swiftly but silently.
GresF leaped from the tonneau, rushed
forward and seized Marehie in his
arms dashed back to the motor car
and jumped inss holding the child close
to his breast The chauffeur threw in
the clutch, went, Immediately to the
third speed and the great car plunged
forward before the astonished mother
and the policeman on guard could real
ize what had transpired.
"Oh knew you would come, papa"
sobped Marchie joyously, as she lay In
her fathers arms
The mother was in a frenzy
stop himl Arrest himl He has
stolen my childl" she screamed, but
the policeman needed no urging. Spur
ing violently he wheeled his horse and
dashed In pursuit, blowing his whistle
to summon assistance. He was Joined
by another officer and the two took
un the mad chase while the frantic