Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-08-21
KIDNAPPING Is
A new CHAPTER
Sensational Incident To-day at
Topeka Involves the Famous
Incubator Baby.
POSSE IN HOT PURSUIT
Child Over Which Court Fight Was
Waged Here Has Been Mixed in
Similar Situations Before.

Bleakely, the st. Louis worlds fair
incubator baby who was the cause
lof litigation which extended over
several years was kidnapped in most
sensational manner from the home of
her mother here this morning. Two
men and a woman were engaged in
the kidnapping and the child was Sc
cured only after struggle in which
several shots, which, however, went
wild of their mark, were fired. The
kidnapers escaped in buggy and a
posse was soon in pursuit.
Mother IL StenOgrapher.
Mrs. Charlotte Bleakley, who was
awarded the child by the federal
courts two years ago, lived with her
mother in Garfield avenue, a mile and
half from the business district. She
worked as a stenographer. Marion,
who is aged 6, has been guarded care
fully in Topeka. This morning a wo-
man, ostensibly selling soap, appeared
at the Bleakley home.
Three In buggy.
She soon left and half an hour later
a buggy, in which were two men and
the same woman. appeared in front OF
! the house. One of the men alighted,
and entered the yard where the child
| was playing. AS the kidnaper ran to-
ward her, the young man in whose
charge she had been left. attempted TO
! interfere The kidnaper shot at him,
but missed. He then knocked the boy
down with the revolver and carried
the child to the buggy and drove off.
Has Had Remarkable Career.
Marion Bleakley has had a stormy
| career. She was born in hospital in
St. Louis, and was placed in one OF
the incubators shown at the exposition
there. While there she was formally
adopted by Mrs. James G. Barclay of
| Moline, Ill. Mrs. Bleakley signed a
release bill, but afterwards sued TO re-
| cover the child, and was successful in
| the Illinois court. She brought the
| little girl to Kansas. The child was
kidnapped from the mother in Mont
gomery county. but later recovered.
! The fight for possession of the baby
was fought through the state and SUI
preme courts. and finally awarded to
Mrs. Bleakley. Mrs. Barclay then in
stituted suit in the federal court for
possession of the child, but was again
| defeated.
Cousin on Guard.
The young man in charge of Marion
today was Clarence Belknap of Jack
son, Tenn, cousin of Mrs. Bleakley
After he had been struck down he re-
covered sufficiently to follow the buggy
and caught on the rear of the vehicle
but was beaten off. The kidnaperS
dashed the horse TO gallop and drove
west on Tenth street. 1t is supposed
west of Topeka, where they expected
to board a westbound train.
buggy is Found.
The buggy i'll which the kidnapers
ESCAPED was found at l o'clock at .
point two miles from where the chit,
was stolen. 1t had been hired from
la local livery Mrs. Bleakley. mother
lof the child, said this afternoon
"There have been detectives and al
Ileged friends hanging around TIL,
house all of the time and have feared
that such thing would happen. 81,
weeks ago ! got wind of almost the
lsame thing as happened TODAY but wa,
liable to stop it and break up the plans
| League Against Her.
AT times ! have thought that SOM
1of the most prominent people in To
Ipeka were in league with them in or
der to take Marion from the state.
have an idea who they are. ana nav,
confidence in the detectives ability :,
catch them
Belknap was only able TO give pa"
tial description of the kidnapers.