Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-02-16
lET1ER TRAPS
SCHOOL NURSE
Miss Ella Buchanan, Form
er School Nurse, and
Kidnapped Child
Found.
ON EASTERN FARM
PinkertOns Searched COun-
try far and Wide for
Pair.

Miss Ella Buchanan. school nurse
in this city last year, who is charged
with having Kidnapped her little niece
at Ottumwa last fall, has been found
on farm with the child near Center
Barnstead, N. II. Miss Buchanan is
alleged to have been there under an
assumed name that OF Elinor Forbes
With her and the child was also a halt
sister of the kidnapped child, Miss
Helen Winter. The latter was known
as Miss Helen Forbes. Miss Buchanan
and the older Miss Winter are being
held for eXtraditiOn back to Iowa fol
trial on the charge of kidnapping.
While Miss Buchanan was in this
city, a case was pending III the su-
preme court. brought by her little
niece's father to get possession of the
child. This case was decided against
her. Popular sympathy here was with
Miss Buchanan, as it was supposed she
had reared the child and had become
attached to it.
Chicago Story.
a news story in the Chicago Tribune
however, gives another angle to this
Says the Chicago paper:
Anna Marie Winter, years old. was
Kidnapped from in front of the Frank
lin school in Ottumwa. Iowa, last
October, and thereby hangs a tale.
Love letters and a green auto with
white wire wheels led to the denOue-
ment.
Anna Marie was found on farm. in
New Hampshire the other day, after
detectives and police had struggled
three days to dig their way through
the snowdrifts from the nearest town.
The girls discovery, and the arrest OF
her sister, her aunt, and chauffeur
said to be confederate, ended IA search
by the Pinkertons, and the Iowa, Chi
cago, and eastern police, which lasted
four months, covered many states, ana
cost $1,000
Child is an Heiress.
The kidnapped child is an hciress-
the daughter of Nicholas Winter, a
rich widower of Ottumwa. 1t is the
theory of the authorities that the alb
duction was part of a plot by the
aunt, Ella Buchanan to obtain posses
sion of the girl, so that when the
father died the path to the latter's
wealth might be made the easier. IN
this motive, the officials declare, she
had the assistance OF Annals sister.
Helen Maurine Winter, % years Old.
whose romance with an lOwan gave
the clew by which the story was closed
About nine years ago Nicholas Win
ter married Martha Buchanan, sister
Of Ella Buchanan. OF Chicago, Il
graduate nurse of the Illinois Train
ing School for Nurses. There was OPP
position by the Buchanan family to the
marriage. but when Mrs. Winter died
seven years ago at the birth OF Anna
Marie, this apparently faded away.
Within few months Aunt Ella pro-
posed that Anna Marie and her sister.
Helen Maurine. daughter OF WINTER ny
Il former marriage, come to chicago
and live with their Aunt Ella at 334l
Michigan avenue.
The father paid the expenses OF the
girls. but the arrangement did not sult
him long, for after time he MADE ell
fort to get Anna Marie back. and three
wears ago he brought suit and regained
of the child.
Love Letter Traced.
Helen remained with her aunt, but
visited in Ottumwa. About week
before Oct. Ii the green auto with
white wire wheels was seen IN Ottum-
wa near the Franklin school. Then, on
Oct. IL, it came sliding upibeside Anna
Marie and whisked her away.
Search all over availed nothing.
The PinkertOns were wired. Supt.
Assistant Superintendent
Ecauque, and city detectives searched
Chicago. No result. Finally it was
earned Helen. while teaching school
in Fenton, Iowa. had fallen in love
with George Whistler of FcntOn. His
mil was watched. Ten days ago let
ter from Boston arrived. 1t was trac-
"a ana it was found Helen had ass'lm-
ed the name of Helen Forbes, and with
,nr aunt. under the name OF Elinor
Forbes, was on farm near Center
D, rMsteau. n. IL.
The aunt and Helen, who had been
eaching at Canterbury, \. H., were
AIKEN to the Jail at Laconia. \. H., TO
wait extradition to Ottumwa. where
ney and the chauffeur have been in
licted.
The chauffeur was left temporarily
It the farm, under guard. to tend the