Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-02
DAUGHTER OF FORMER DUBUQUE
RESIDENTS FIGURE IN CHI.
cAeo KIDNAPPING.
CLARA sruMPF, AGED II,
SEIZED ON STREETS
Taken Possession Of While Enroute
Homo From sehool-stumpf, Girls
Father, Had Possession Of Child
Prior to HE Death, Being Divorced
From Wifs-Left Her Small Fortune.

Chicago. June CLARA Viola
Stumpf, II years old, was kidnapped by
her mother yesterday.
| Today she is secreted in Chicago
hotel or is being hurried westward by
her abductors.
| Clara is q daughter Of the late John
| Stumpf, former alderman of Dubuque,
Iowa, and is sole heir to his estate.
Her principal holding Is Stumpfs Is
land. in the Mississippi river, near
Dubuque.
In the two years since her father
secured a divorce, the child has seen
her mother but three times. Each
time the mother attempted to induce
the child to run away with her. But
| always the child refused.
Child Leaves For School.
Yesterday morning Clara kissed her
aunt and legal guardian, Mrs. Louis
w. O'Connell. Of 4432 Drexel avenue,
goodbye and went to the Shakespeare
school as usual.
About an hour later Henry Lochner,
the childs grandfather. appeared at
the O'Connell home and asked for the
child. Mr.. O'Connell, who is janitor Of
| the Alva Terrace apartment told him
that the child was at school.
At about II o'clock in the morning
we'll dressed woman, accompanied by
an old man, appeared at the office of
Walter H. Comstock, principal Of the
Shakespeare school.
Il am Mrs. Lizzie Lochner Stumpf-
Sherman, Of Dubuque, Iowa. she
said. II would like to speak with my
daughter, Clara Viola Stumpf.'
Mr.. Comstock sent a note to the
child's teacher. Miss Mary E. c. Nc
Cuffaye. Then he stepped to a booth
telephone and called the O'Connell
residence. He could get no answer to
his call.
Refuses to Meet Mother.
When the child was notified that her
mother was awaiting her downstairs
she refused to leave the classroom.
'She wants me to run away with
her." the child said. Tell her won't
co."
The message was conveyed to Mrs.
Stumpf- Sherman, who thereuponf left
Mr.. Comstock's Office and went outside
to wait.
What happened LATERAL that is
AIOWfl o. WuAS ~NApE>o4aS9Ss---- gNa0SsOASk "
the police by Eldora Plat, is years
who lives at 451 East Forty nth
street.
"Clara came out Of the school build
ing with Ruby Stevens. playmate"
said Miss Platt. "When she was about
a block from the building she was
stopped by a woman and man.
Last Seen Boarding Car.
"After talking a moment the three
turned and walked south in Ellis ave-
nue.. They got on a street car at
orty-seventh street. That was the
last I saw Of them"
When Clara failed to return home
for lunch her aunt became worried.
Then her husband told her of the man
who inquired for the child early in
the morning.
"Clara has been kidnapped" ejacu-
lated Mrs. O'Connell
Rushing out of the house, Mr.. O'Con-
nell met Detective Sergeants McIn-
tyre and DAILY Of the Hyde Park police
station. The detective communicated
with the detective bureau. Police Of
ficers were sent Immediately to watch
the various railroad stations.
Then Mr.. O'Connell went before
Judge Fisher at the Hyde Park police
court and swore out warrants for the
arrest Of MARY Doe" and zone Loeb
nerSs' charging them with abduction.
Inherits 5000 Estate.
When Clara's father was granted q
divorce in January, 1913. he was given
the custody of the child. Shortly after
ward Clara's mother married hotel
keeper Of Dubuque. who had been
named correspondent in her husbands
suit for divorce.
In July. 1914, Clara's father died
suddenly. fie left Ilo will and the
child became heir to an estate esti-
mated at $4,000. The probate court
appointed Mrs. OConnell legal guar
dian of the child and her property.
ut is the lure Of the child's estate
which has attracted the mother" said
Mrs. O'Connell yesterday. 1T was
her third attempt both others having
failed thru the apathy Of the child"
Mrs. O;Connell fears that II the
mother succeeds in getting the child
into Iowa, it may prove impossible to
force her to give up the child, for the
guardianship is legal only in Illinois.
A search Of Chicago hotels was be-
gun, and kilograms were sent to Du-
buque and intermediate points in the
hona ~ jntercenfin9 the abductors JJD