New-York tribune., 1909-08-22


Topeka, Kan Aug. 2l.-A1aron Bieakley, the st-
Louis Worlds Fair Incubator baby. who was the
of litigation extending over several years
was kidnapped from the home of Mrs Charlotte
Bleakley, her mother, here this morning
Two men and woman were involved IN the KID
mapping which successful only after several
shots were fired at a boy companion OF the child.
which however went wide of their mark. The
kidnappers fled in buggy. The police we're in
formed Immediately and posse was soon IN pur-
suit.
Mrs. Bleskley. who won the custody Of her child
from the federal csourts two years ago. lives with
her mother at No 1877 Garfield avenue mile and
a half from the business district. She works down
a steHographer.
The little girl. who is five year. old. has been
carefully guarded This morning a woman. ostsn-
sihly selling soap. appeared at the Bleakey home.
She soon went away and half hour later buggy
in which were two men and the same woman ap-
peared in front of the house. One OF the
aghted and entered the yard where the child
playing with Clarence BeIknap of Jackson. Tenn.
a cousin of Mrs. Bleakley. I'm whose charge she
had been left. AS the kidnapper toward her the
boy attempted TO interfere. The kidnapper shot at
him. but missed. He then knocked Belknap down
with his revolver, carried the child to the buggy
and drove off.
After Belknap had been struck down he recov
cred sufficiently follow the buggy. and caught
the of the vehicle, but was beaten off The
kidnappers lashed their horse to sailop. and 1t il
supposed headed Tor some small Slation west OF
Topeka, to board Westbound train
Warrants were sworn out for John Doe, Richard
Roe and Jane Doe. and placed in the hands OF
the Sheriff's forces. ALI the railroad stations in
the vicinity informed. and second posse In
automobiles left TopSka for the West.
Mrs. Bleakley at work downtown when tho
kidnapping occurred, and within few minutes
after she heard of it she personally was aiding in
directing the search.
message to the Chief of Police this afternoon
f, anton Ing
the description Of the kidnappers. had been seen
eight miles south Of Lawrence. Kansas City off,
watching the approaches to that city in
an effort head off the fusitives before they get
out of Kansas.
A theory is advanced that the kidnapers are get.
ting out of the state as quickly possible in
belief that the order OF the Kansas Supreme Court
under which the mother. Mrs. Charlotte Bleakley.
has been keeping the child may be invalidated In
another state.
The penalty for kidnapping In Kansas is a peni-
tentiary OF from six months to Ave
Mrs. Bleakley. the mother Of the child. said this
afternoon;
There have been detectives and alleged friends
hanging around the house all OF the time and
have feared such a thing would happen. Six weeks
ago got warning of almost the same thing as hap
pened to-day. but was able to stop it and break
the plans
"At times have thought some of the prominent
people in Topeka were in league with them IN
order to take Marion from the state. I have an
idea who they and I have confidence in the
officers ability TO catch them
Clarence Belknap was able 70 give partial de-
scription of the kidnappers. He said the man with
whom he fought for possession OF the child was
large and had black mustache- The second man
was smaller and wore gray mustache. He could
give description OF the
The buggy in which the kidnappers escaped was
found at l o'clock to-day at point miles from
where the child stolen. 1t had been hired from
a local livery.
An automobile supposed TO have been used By
the kidnappers has been kept at local garage for
two days. IL driven by lame chauffeur.
Marion Bleakley has had stormy career. She
was born in a hospital ST. Louis and placed
in of the incubators shown at the exposition
there. While there she formally adopted by
Mrs. James q. Barclay, OF Moline, Ill Mrs. Bleak
ley signed a release. hut she afterward sued TO
recover the child and successful In the Illinois
courts She brought the little girl TO Kansas where
she was kidnapped from the mother in Montgom-
ery County, but was later recovered.
The fight for the possession OF the baby was
ried through the state courts and the Supreme
Court finally awarded its custody 10 Mrs. Bleak
ley. Mrs Barclay then instituted suit in the
federal court for the possession Of ths child. but
was again defeated