Evening journal., 1910-08-26
CANNOT FIND
HER CHILDREN
Disappeared Two Weeks Ago,
Mother Tells New
York Court
SAYS KIDNAP;
JUDGE SAYS IMPROBABLE

NEW YORK, Aug. 26.-Mrs. Grace
Starbuck. whose husband is suing her
for divorce, calmly told Justice
Brady, in Special Term, Part |. of the
Supreme Court, that she did not know
where her children were; that the
last time she saw them was two weeks
ago, when they started out into the
world with dollar bill between them.
Some weeks ago Justice Bischoif
signed an order turning the children
over to Mr.. Starbuck. who lives at No.
5S1 West 18th street Two weeks ago
the boy, Ferdinand, twelve years old.
sand his sister, Catherine, year
younger, disappeared from their faith
er's house, and his wife was accused
OF kidnapping them.
She stoutly denied the charge when
Mr.. Starbuck went to her house in
Jones street, Jersey City, and said she
did not know where they were. The
proceeding was an order for Mrs. Star
buck TO show cause why she should
not be punished for contempt OF court.
Il am here, your honor, to answer
these proceedings, and your honor can
send me TO jail II you want to, but
cannot produce my children, because
| do not know where they are. |
have my things here, and am ready
to 90 to jail My children have been
lost for two weeks. and do not know
where they are"
Continuing her story, Mrs. Starbuck
told the justice that after her husband
got the order giving him the custody OF
the children she went almost every
day, to MOrningside Park. near 10th
street, and met the boy and girl
They told me-" said the mother
that Daddy wasn't kind to them, and
asked me what the trouble was.
II told them that their father was
getting a divorce from me. About
two weeks ago the children came 70
my home in Jersey City to see me.
They were I'm the house a little while.
and then went out, saying they we're
/ going around the corner to telephone.
~ came back in a short time and
they wanted to telephone again, and
asked me for some money | gave
them a dollar and they went out, and
| haven't seen them since"
When the woman had finished hei
story Justice Brady said
That's a very improbable. l dom
believe that the two children have beef
wandering around for two weeks witt
only one dollar between them"
The mother again repeated her state
ment that she did not know wher
they were. but admitted that the
might be with some friends.
you do not seem to show much m
| ternal concern about them" int
rupted the Justice. "As far as "
know. their bodies may be fioati
- around IN the water somewhere"
Il would have them anywhere b
with their father, answered Mrs. Sta
buck
The fathers counsel suggested IA
there was nothing for the court TO
but to sign the commitment paper
but the justice was loath to do 6
Counsel on the other side interrupts
. by saying:
But, your Honor. there is nothir
to disprove this woman's story"
NO" replied Justice Brady, IF sf
said she had suddenly seen her chi
dren take wing and fly into HEAVIER
there would be nothing to disprove he
statement. but II would be very in
probable"
The justice decided to turn the cas-
over to Justice Bischoif, as the latte
had heard It originally and is familia
with Il. II will come up this morning
Mrs. Starbuck was asked by the cour
n she would remain subject to III
order.
Certainly, your Honor" she replied
"but II you intend to commit me I
iau II | do not produce my children
YOU might as well do so now. ! can
not produce them"