New-York tribune., 1910-08-25
CAN'T FIND HER CHILDREN
Disappeared Two Weeks Ago,
Mother Tells the Court.
KIDNAPPED. FATHER SAYS
Tale Improbable, Justice Says,
but Woman Retorts She Is
Ready for Jail.

Mrs. Grace Starbuck whose husband Is
suing her for a divorce. yesterday calmly
told Justice Brady, in Special Term. Part
l. of the Supreme Court, that she did not
know where her two children were; that
the last time she saw them was two
weeks ago, when they started out into
the world with a dollar bill between them.
Some weeks ago Justice Bischoff signed
an order turning the children over to Mr.
Starbuck. who lives at No. 531 West
112th street. Two weeks ago the boy.
Ferdinand. twelve Sears old, and his sis
ter. Catherine, a year younger. disap-
peared from their fathers house, and his
Wife was accused of kidnapping them
She stoutly denied the charge when
Mr.. Starhuck went to her house in Jones
street. Jersey City. and said she did not
Know where they were. The proceeding
yesterday was an order for Mrs. Starbuck
10 show cause why she should not be
punished for contempt of court
I am here. your honor. to answer
these proceedings. and your honor can
send me to Jail if YOU want TO- but I
cannot produce my children because do
not know where they are have NV
things here, and am ready to go to isiI
and l do not know where they are"
Continuing her story Mrs StarbuoL
told the Justice that after her husband
got the order giving him the c1,s4oa,- ~
the children she went. almost every dav
to AIorningside Park. near 11ntb street
and met the boy and girl
They told me" said the mother .4bat
Daddy wasn't kind TO them. and asked me
what the trouble was
I told them that their father was ga+t,n.
divorce from me. About two vaaks seo
the children came over to my home in Ter
sey City 10 see me They were in the house
a little while, and then went out. saving
they were. going around the corner to tele-
phone. They came back in a short time
and said they wanted to telephone again,
and asked me for some money. gave them
a dollar and they went out and I haven't
seen them since"
When the woman had finished her story
Justice Brady said:
That's a very improbable story don't
believe that the two children have been
wandering around for two weeks with only
ore dollar between them"
The mother again repeated her statement
that she did not know where they were. but
admitted that they might be with some
friends.
You do not seem 70 show much mater
nal concern about them" interrupted the
justice. As far as you know, their bodies
may be floating around in the water some
where
Il would have them anywhere but with
their father answered Mrs. Starbuck
The fathers counsel suggested that there
was nothing for the court 10 do but to sign
the commitment papers. but the justice was
loath to do this. Counsel on the other side
interrupted by saying:
But, your Honor, there is nothing TO dis
prove this woman's story"
No replied Justice Brady, 'ff she said
she had suddenly seen her children take
wing and fly into heaven, there would be
nothing to disprove her statement, but il
would be very inproba ble. -
The Justice decided to turn the case over
to Justice Bischoff, as the latter had heard
it originally and is familiar with IT 1t
will come up this morning. Mrs Starbuck
was asked by the court if she would remain
subject TO the order.
Certainly, your Honor she replied. but
if YOU intend to commit me 10 Jail if / do
not produce my children, you might as well
do so now. I cannot produce them"