The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-30
WOMAN TRIES
TO TEAR BABE
FROM MOTHER
Police Frustrate Bold Attempt
at kidnapping On Street in
Broad Daylight
ADOPTED CHILD SOLD
BACK BY FOSTER MOTHER
Latter, Dissatisfied With Bar
gain, Seeks To Forcibly Re-
gain Possession of Tot

An attempted kidnapping in broad
daylight, and just block from police
headquarters, was thwarted by Pa.
trolman George Cuddy. Friday after.
noon. and the strange history OF little
Katherine Bell-Ackerman.Butler. aged
three. was revealed TO Lieut.. August
Dornbrook, by the warning claimants
for the child. Lieut.. Dornbrook shooad
the whole excited party out OF the
station, and told them that they would
have To- fight the matter out in the
civil courts. warning them that any
more motion picture dramas 10 be
pulled on on the main thorough
fares OF Detroit would result in some.
body going 10 jail.
James Butler, saloonkeeper at No.
s Catherine-st., and his wife, Emma,
the mother OF little Katherine, wer.
walking at Library and Monroe-aves.,
with the pretty little girl in go-cart,
when Mrs Estella Alderman, of No.
$40 Monroe-aye., suddenly appeared,
grabbed the child from It's cart and
started away with il
Mrs Butler seized the child's legs
while Mrs. Alderman tugged at It's
body, and the child was pulled one
way and the other until Butler joined
in the struggle, and Patrolman Cuday
seeing the excitement came OH The
run and TOOK the Whole vociferous
party to headquarters.
There Mrs Ackerman cried that
the child was hers by legal adoption,
and she had the papers" 10 prove il,
TO which Butler acquiesced. but add
ed that she had sold the baby and lts
effects back to him for s35, and that
he had her receipt and waiver OF al
claim ia the child. Mrs Aekermair
did not deny that, but still maintain
ed that she had the adoption papers
and wanted the child
Lieut. Dornbrook turned the child
over 10 Butler and advised Mrs. Ack-
erman to take other measures II she
wanted the baby.
Butler produced his receipt, ind
Strengthened out the tangle, SAT lrday
morning
Butler married Mrs. Emma He'll
mother OF little Katherine, In Septem-
Der, 1910 After the death oil Ms
Bells first husband, the young woman
found herself unable TO supprt little
Katherine. who was ten about year
old, and she gave the child TO John J
Alderman and his wife, Es;ella, fol-
adoption.
When she married Butler, she
pleaded with him to get her child back
for her, and he started overtures with
Mrs. Alderman, last September.
Mrs. Alderman finally signed a
Taper which Is self explanatory, and
apparently "clinches" Buffers claim
to the child, on Sept 2s The aper
reads:
l. the undersigned. hereby
agree to give Mr.. James Butler
his child which bad adopted and
everything belonging TO said
child. such a. clothing, shoes, etc.
in considt ration whereof said Mr.
James Butler pays me the sum Of
$50. (SigEed) Estela Alderman.
John J. Alderman, Lawrence r,v-
ert
Evert il brass polisher who was
a witness 10 the transac<On. SAYS
Butler.
Alderman is fireman at the water
works.
lillle hdtheTlht, Hledl"hlle, 10 sure
in her own mothers care, and Butler
saws that he will fight any effort that
Mrs. Alderman makes TO take the
child away.
And | don't think there is court
in the land which would take a 2hild
away from the mother that bore il
and who loves II and wants II, nov
that she is able to take care Of IT.
says Butler