Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-22
wo MEN AND WOMAN IN PLOT
Shot Fired at Boy Who Was in
Charge Of the Child.
KNOCKED DOWN WITH REVOLVER
After 0verpowering Guard, Girl Was
Taken Away in Buggy.
POSSE SEARCHES FOR KmNAPERs
child Was Adopted by Illinois Family
and Later Its Mother Secured
Possession After Long series
of Law Suits.

OI La" SuiNH'
TOPEKA, Kan, Aug. 21-Marion Bleak
ley the St Louis Worlds fair incubator
baby, who was the cause Of litigation ex-
tending over several years, was kidnapped
in a sensational manner from the home Of
her mother at 1927 Garfield avenue at 10
O'Clock this morning.
The little girl. who is s years old, has
been carefully guarded in Topeka and has
been constantly attended. This morning
n woman app cared in the neighborhood,
ostensibly selling soap. She visited Mrs.
Bleakley's house. a half hour later
buggy in which were two men and the
same woman appeared in front of the
house and the kidnapping followed.
Mrs. Charlotte Bleakley, who was
awarded the child by the fed eral courts
two years ago. lived with her mother.
She worked as a stenographer.
Today the child was left with q young
man of the neighborhood. A buggy in
which there were two men and woman
drove up before the house. One of the
men got out and entered the house, where
the child was playing As he ran toward
her the boy interfered and the kdnaper
shot at him, but missed. He then knocked
the child to the buggy and drove off The
police we're Immediately notified and a
large posse is now in pursuit.
Marion BlealSley, the kidnapped child
has had stormy career.
She was born IN a hospital at st. Louis
and was placed in one of the incubators
shown at the exposition. While there she
was formally adopted by Mrs. James G.
Barclay of Moline, Ill. Mrs. Bleakley
signed release. but she aft erward sued
TO recover the child and was successful in
the Illinois courts. She brought the little
girl to Kansas and she was kidnapped from
the mother in Montgomery county, but
later was recovered.
The fight for the possession OF the baby
was fought through the state courts and
the supreme court finally awarded the Gus
tody to Mrs. Bleakley. Mrs. Barclay then
instituted a suit in the federal court for
the possession OF the child. but was again
defeated.
Posse Searches for Kidnapers.
The young man who was In charge of
the child today was Clarence Bellnap OF
Jackson, Tenn. a "C''siii Of Mrs. Bleakley
and who is visiting { her home. After
he had been struck down he recovered
sufficiently to follow the buggy and caught
on the rear of the vehicle. but was beaten
off. The kidnapers dashed their horse to
gallop and drove west on Tenth avenue
and II is supposed headed for some small
station west Of Topeka. where they expect
to board a west-bound train.
Warrants we're sworn out for John
Doe, Richard Doe and Jane Doe and
placed in the hands Of the sheriffs force
All the railroad stations in the vicinity OF
Topeka were notified and a second posse
in automobiles left for the west.
Mrs. Bleakley was at work in a down.
town office when the KIDNAPPING occurred
and within few minutes after she had
been notified by telephone of the affail
she personally was aiding in directing the
search
The Bleakley home is located on the west
side in one of the principal residence sec
tions.
A month ago a strange woman visited
the newspaper offices making three In
quirtes about the whereabouts OF Mrs
Bleakley. She said she was a friend Of
the family, but It is supposed that hsi
business then was to locate the little girl.
The buggy in which the kidnapers o.
Marion Bleakley escaped was found at
o'clock today in the street at Fifth anc
Fillmore streets, two miles from where tn,
child was stolen. 1t had been abandoned
IL was hired from a local livery.
Mother Expected Attack,
MIS-. Bleakley, the mother of the child
said this afternoon
There have been detectives and aIlege,
friends hanging around the house all o
the time, and have feared that such
thing would happen. Six weeks ago 1 90
wind OF almost the same thing as han
pened today, but was able to stop It an,
break up the plans.
AT times l have thought that some O
the most prominent people in Topeka wer
In league with them in order to TAX
Marion from the state. l have an ide
who they are and l have confidence 4
the officers ability TO catch them"
Clarence Belknsp was only able to civ
a partial description OF the kidnapers II
said that the man with whom he Tough
for possession OF the child was large an
had dark moustache. The second ma
was smaller and wore a gray moustach,
He could give no description OF IN
woman.