The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-13
KIDNAPPING FOILED
BY GRANDMOTHER
Continued from Page One.

they went TO live in Bainbridge Ga.
where he was employed by one OF the
railroads. She developed tuberculosis, and
In Decembe~ OF the same year he resign
ed his position and brought his bride
back to this city, as she was gr!eving at
her separation from her mother. Speak
ing OF subsequent events. Mr.. Valentine
said last night:
Il secured employment here and we
lived happily for a time. when the physi-
clans advised that my wife pay visit to
my home at Clayton. Ala. as the change
Of climate would probably benefit her.
AS her stay became protracted. ] deter
mined to return 10 my home 10 be with
her and the boy, and just resigned my
position here and purchased ticket
South when 1 received a telegram from
Mrs II. p. Bullock. my wife's sister.
stating that she was leaving Chicago for
Clayton 10 bring my wife back 20 Wash
ington As did not wish 10 cross them.
I remained in Washington until their ar
rival
"ChnrReG Ne with Insanity"
In August. 1909, Mrs. Bullock took my
wife to a sanatorium at Blue Ridge sum-
NIT. and at the same time wrote let
tiers to my people they had better get
me out Of Washington, or they would
have me locked up. as was insane. I'M
medately thereafter I received a teIe-
gram from father. telling me 70 come
home at once. 1 wired back. asking the
reason for the request, and I'm reply re-
ceived another telegram, this time from
mother saying be sure TO come at once
and leave the baby went. and securing
work in the Clayton post-office. remained
there until February p, when returned
20 Washington.
In the meantime my wife died at her
mothers home. on February .. 1910. but
I was not advised until the fourth OF the
month. when I was telegraphed that she
had been buried, and that l should not
come. Arriving in Washington on the
| evening Of February p I called upon
| Mrs. Goldsmith the following morning. in
company with my brother. and saw both
| her and the boy. She invited us both
back to supper, but when We returned for
! that meal. neither she nor the child was
there, and we were told they had gone
over TO the house of brother, whose
0ife was sick.
Left with Grandmother.
Suddenly Mrs. Bullock turned to me
| and asked what I was going to do with
the boy. I replied that I had no purpose
Of taking him away until I had secured
work. and she said that she had a claim
against me for $500 for her transporta-
ton from Chicago and the care and
transportation of my wife. She said
that If I would sign a paper relinquish-
ing all claim on the boy until he was
fourteen years old, she would cancel the
obligation. l had neither asked nor au-
thOrized the expenditure. and l replied
the boy was not for sale.
After this I made frequent calls. but
never was able TO see either the boy or
Mrs Goldsmith. and on being advised
that I would never see him again. re-
tanned Attorney J. D. Wright and insti-
tuted proceedings for the possession Of
the child. Hearing Of il. Mrs. Bullock
went 10 Baltimore and Mrs. Goldsmith
took the boy to New York; and ] was
the papers.
Locating Mrs. Goldsmith at 600 East
EiChty-second street I went 10 New York
March - and presented myself AZ the
house Ny brother called In a policeman
who proposed 10 arrest Mrs. Goldsmith
for kidnapping. but we interviewed and
said that We thought the matter could be
adjusted between us.
1t resulted In the boy being surren-
dered 10 as and We started for Washing
ton. A Baltimore trsinman asked all
passengers 10 take the other coach as
that one would be cut of. As / picked
up the boy 10 go 70 the other coach Mrs. I
Bullock rushed IN, snatched him from my
arms and screamed. This is my child.
Give me my child. This man is the kid
napper"
Y regained possession Of the boy and
went to the other car, where J. NJ Ford, /
an uncle took him from me and hurried
away. ! appealed TO a policeman. but
was told ne could not interfere Jump
ing in a taxicab. my brother and hur- !
ried to the Office Of Magistrate Grannon. !
and stated our case, but he said that he |
there by the policeman. who lodged a /
charge Of disorderly conduct against us. |
Suit Is Promptly Filed.
Retaining a lawyer, we instituted pro- |
ceedings against Mr.. Ford for the pos
session Of the child, and papers were |
served upon him. 1t was finally agreed I
that the boy should be brought to Wash /
ington, and that answer should be made /
here TO my original suit
Mrs. Bullock took the child to Pitts I
burg, while Mrs Goldsmith went to Viz +
ginia 10 avoid the service. Finally. /.
through Attorney ODonoghue. a hearing
was obtained before Justice CIabaugh. /
As representations were made that l was I
not a proper person to have the custody /
OF the child. the court ordered that il (
should be placed in the custody of my
brother as guardian. we being perfectly \
willing that the mothers relatives should |
see il at any time. This order on April /
Is was followed by an appeal. and al
though one Of the points Of law was
argued last week, the case on appeal is
still pending.
''As I understand it. the appeal did not
affect the order placing the boy in the
custody Of my brother but the grand
mother, Mrs Goldsmith, took him from
the court room and despite my repeated
efforts since 10 see him, have been IN
able to do So