The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-19
IS HELD IN JAIL
Woman Charged With Assault
on Another Woman.
Said to Have Attempted to
Kidnap Her Own Child.
ROLLED TOGETHER ON FLOOR
Two Women TuSSled for Pos
session of Little Girl.
Then One Is Said to Have
Grabbed a Gun-Exit.

Mrs. Laura Stewart, of Beatrice,
Neb., is in the Shawnee county Jail be-
cause it is charged she used force in
an attempt to secure possession of her
little daughter. Mrs. Mabel Stone is
the complaining witness. Her hus-
band, j. E. Stone, is connected with
the Stone Sign company, III IL East
Seventh street. Mrs. Stewart is
charged with assault. Mrs. Stone,
Mrs. Stewart says, used a revolver to
resist the attempted kidnapping of the
child which she wishes to adopt.
Mrs. Stewart was arrested today by
Marshal Frost, of the court of Topeka.
and was placed in Jail to await her
trial tomorrow morning.
II am not going to run away-not
until L get my little GIRL Mrs. Stewart
told Judge Fisher. The woman was
not able to give bond, and Judge Fish
er was disposed to release her on her
own recognizance and probably would
have done so had the woman shown
different attitude toward the officers.
The warrant for her arrest also
charged John Doe a man unknown
to the officers, with partici patton in
the affair. The woman refused to re-
veal the identity of her companion.
man not her husband. She asked for
time in which to secure money from
her husband who she said is work
ing on a ranch in Nebraska.
Il will not tell who the man is be-
cause 1 do not want to get him into
trouble" Mrs. Stewart said and be-
cause she held to the resolution to
protect the man, she was locked up. e
Rolled Over on Floor.
She denied that she assaulted Mrs
we had a tussle, put L did not as
sault her." she said. I'VE had hold of
the little girl and she was pulling one
way and 1 was pulling the other. We
rolled over on the floor and L bruised
my elbow. When Mrs. Stone got
revolver L left
Mrs. Stewards Story.
According to Mrs. Stewards story
she came to Topeka from Nebraska
Ito kill several birds with one stone"
My doctor had advised me to live
in a cent for my health said Mrs.
Stewart. "My mother had heard of the
woman who is conducting the Holy
Roller meetings ana wanted to hear
her. So we came to Topeka and have
been living in one of the tents in
North Topeka. While was here L de-
cided to get my children back
Mrs. Stewart several months ago
was employed as a rurse at the Prov
ident association. She became ill and
was unable to care for her two chill
dren. a boy and a girl. The boy was
placed in the family of G. w. SGeley,
1901 East Sixth street, and Mrs. Stone
took charge of the little girl. No le-
gal steps for the adoption of the chill
dren by either the Seeley family or
the Stone family were taken, and Mrs.
Stewart contends that the understand
ing was that the children would be re-
turned to her when she wanted them.
The Way OF Child.
Now the children have won their
way into the hearts of the persons
who have been caring for them.
When Mrs. Stewart appeared in To-
peka last week and sought to regain
possession of her children Mr. SeeIey
and Mrs. Stone talked matters over
with Hugh MacFariand, judge of the
probate court. The judge advised
them to hold the children and wait
for Mrs. Stewart tc institute habeas
corpus proceedings.
But Mrs. Stewart did not go to court
with her troubles. Instead she went
to the Seeley home and secured the
boy and still has him and refuses to
disclose where he is. She did not meet
with the same success when she went
to the Stone home Monday Mrs
Stone fought for the child she wants
and was victorious. Now Mrs. Stew
art, in addition to the assault case,
is charged with being a delinquent
parent, and an attempt will be made
to take the children from her through
the legal adoption route.
This as the first time / ever caused
woman to be placed in Jail to await
trial on a charge of assault said
Judge Fisher, but so long as she is
defiant and chooses to shield the man
in the case, there is nothing else to
do