The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-12-04
GRABS HER CHILD AND FLIES.
Batesburg Woman Uses Fast Racing
Auto to Bring Son from Alabama.


ing story is told of trip by a young
woman of 25 years, who is said to
hate gone alone from this State to
the southern part of Alabama, where
her former husband and their two
children lived, got one of her chill
dren in an automobile, made wild
run in the racing car across country,
headed for South Carolina. She ar
rived safely in South Carolina with
her boy. The story is told by Miss
Lena Blease, formerly Mrs. l.. B.
Hartley, of Batesburg, who passed
through this city tonight en- route
to her home, having gotten protec-
ton from Governor Blease at Ander-
son to-day.
Miss Lena Blease is a member of a
well-known family of Batesburg, and
cousin of Governor Blease She
married L. B. Hartley, some years
her senior, on the 18th of April, 1908,
in Batesburg, she says. The husband
lived at Batesburg, and his father and
several brothers reside there now
The young mother tonight in speak
ing of her married life, said that it
was not happy one.
Secured a Divorce.
The two children are named JUL
ian, aged nine and one-half years,
and Lester, aged eight years. For
several years after they married Mr..
and Mrs. Hartley lived at Batesburg.
Finally Mrs. Hartley went to Angus
ia to work, and about three years ago
Hartley took the two boys and went
to Alabama, where, she says, he sub
sequently secured a divorce, Mrs.
Hartley resuming her maiden name
of Miss Blease. She claims that
Hartley afterwards married Miss Ida
Shealy, also of Batesburg, the cere-
mony taking place in Augusta about
two years ago. She says when she
returned to Batesburg her former
husband had taken the children
away.
The mother says she began a long
and patient search to locate her two
children, following clue after clue.
Finally after two years she says she
located her former husband in the
little town of Samson, one hundred
miles South of Montgomery, on the
Louisville and Nashville road.
The mother next laid plans, she
said, for getting her children. She
intended invoking the aid of the law,
and about six weeks ago went to
Birmingham, and from there to Mont
gomery, Ala, Getting in command
of the situation she says she found
that the younger of the boys was
sick, and this, with other information
led her to decide to take the older
boy, Julian; and come back to South
Carolina. So Friday of last week
she says she moved to Elba, thirty
five miles from Samson, where the
boys were.
Used Fast Racing Car.
Monday morning, in a racing car,
she declares she sped across country
to Samson. AS the school children
were gathering at the school the
mother says she called Julian to the
car in which she was sitting. The
| boy came up, and she pulled him
in, opened the throttle and headed
for Elba, across country. The boy
was at first bewiwldered, says the
mother, but soon recognized her and
was wild with joy, saying he wanted
to ceme back to South Carolina.
With her boy in her lap the run
was made to Elba in thirty minutes.
From Monday until Wednesday the
mother says she hid in the country
| with her boy, among friends, and
| Wednesday went to Montgomery by
automobile. From there she came
through Atlanta, bound for Green
| vile, S. c.
Miss Blease claims the alarm had
been sent out and the police OF
various cities asked to be on the
lookout for her and the child. On a
| northbound train she reached Green
| vile Friday morning.
Hearing that her cousin, Cover
| nor Blease, was in Anderson, she
caught the interurban and went to
| Anderson yesterday morning, and
claims she Immediately got the pro-
lection she expected. She and the
young boy accompanied the Governor
here tonight. In the morning the
woman and her boy will go to Bates
burg, where her father and motner
| await them.