The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-27
ARRESTED AFTER
CLAIMING CHILD
HE HAD ADOPTED
Dillman Produced Court
Record to Prove His
Rights.
WEST VIRGINIA
CASE PATHETIC
Gave Girl Up When Legality
Was Questioned, but With
Proper Papers He Came
Here and Took Her-Re-
leased on Bail Given
by Lawyer.

Charged with taking the child sur
rendered TO him by her mother through
process OF law nearly eight years ago.
z. d. Dillman, OF E'ilbert, w. Va. was
arrested on Main Street. near the
post-ofiicc, at c O'Clock Yesterday af
ternoon by Deputy Shcrin Webb sgd
nor. OF Henr!co County, detained in
the JAIL three hours and liberated un-
der 1900 bond furnished by his coun-
sci. Hiram 81. Smith. for his appear
ance before magistrate at 10 o'clock
this morning.
Events were fast and furious for
DnlmaN. and more near-tragcdy has
entered his lie within the past week
Than In all the years combined be-
fore Not less so was IL with the child
Myrtle D!llman. a twelve-year-old lass
OF corn-tassel hair and gray-blue eyeg
the cause OF all the trouble, vino was
born In the hills OF Grayson County
January 10. 1901. II her own record be
true. and chr!stcned By her mother
Belva c. Wright,
Child Legally adopted.
according 70 the story told by Dill
man. Mrs. Hattie Wright, mother Of
Myrtle tchrisiened Bclva). found her
self a widow In Grayson County near
ly eight years ago, and was facing
starvation with four children to care
for and rear. In order 10 tighten her
burden she surrendered the glrl-thc
three others being boys-to Dlllman
and his wife. who, in the Circuit Court
OF Grayson County. with Judge X. c.
Jackson on the bench, legally adopted
the girl. the mother forever resigning
all her rights and privileges Of moth
erhood.
Three years ago the Dillrnans moved
TO West Virginia. Mrs. Wright mar
rled Armistead r Driscoll. and moved
10 Richmond. making their home at
320i West Clay Street Monday, a
week ago. Mrs. Dr!scoll and her hus-
band appeared in Filbert and demand
cd the girl saying that the adoption
Had rot been legal. and the Dlilmans
fearing trouble and not knowing what
else TO do. surrendered Myrtle. declar-
ing. however. that they would look
Into the status OF the case and eNer,
all the authority Of the law 10 re-
cover the girl
communication with the clerk of the
Circuit Court of Grayson County satis-
fied them that the adoption had been
legal. and. armed with copy tcs,., OF
the papers of adoption and a letter
from the Rev. T. c. Vaughan. "A Mc,ho-
dist minister, attcsting the truth Of the
document. Dillman arrived IN Rich
mono yesterday morning.
Wcpt ms She Saw "Fnthcr.,
-A1
Hiram NJ Smith. and. wi5a the lawyer
and Special Officer l. l.. Cornell, Of
Hcnrico County, went to the Driscoll
home at o'clock yesterday afternoon
TO recover Myrtle. Mr.. Smith went in
his automobile near the house. and then
got out TO walk with the others He
took no active part in what followed.
and assured Mrs. Driscoll that he
would not invade her rights. and that
no illegal action would be taken
Myrtle heard the sound OF her
adopted fathers voice. She met him
at tho door. and, coming halfway
through and claspng the door with
both hands. gulpcd, Father" Tears
started to her eyes. and she could say
no more. The three men were silent
for moment. and Mrs. Driscoll looked
on without word There was no fur
ther hesitation on the part of the child.
She said she wanted to go home with
father" She had forgotten the nat
ural mother, who had become alien TO
her affections. and all the love OF her
childish heart had been bestowed on
tho father and mother who had been
given her by law. There were lines of
weariness and sorrow in her young
face Mrs. Driscoll offered no objection
when Myrtle asked If she might change
her clothes. and, according TO wit
nesses. there were no signs of a moth
er's sorrow in seeing her child so.
Quick to Get Warrant.
Constable Cornell took father and
child to Robinson and Broad Streets.
and there put them on a car. Later
they were joined again by Mr.. Smith,
who, in order that there might be no
basis for future complaint. took Mr..
Dillman before Attorney James w. Cor
don, who Mrs. Drscoll said was her
counsel, explained the matter to Mr..
Gordon, and said that Dillman and the
girl would remain at the Lexington
Hotel for the night, so that Mrs Drs-
coll might have every opportunity to
sec that there had been no transgres-
sion of her rights.
Later. however, Mrs. Driscoll changed
her mind. and telephoned to her hus-
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