Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-12-22
K|DNAPS DAUGHTER
FROM RESIDENCE Of
DIVORCED HUSBAND
.FURoRE CAUSED IN MARSElLLES
WHEN SENSATIONAL EPISODE
is ENACTED BY GIRLS MOTHER
BELIEVED SPEEDING TOWARD
MONTANA.

Marscilles was thrown into furore
OF excitement late yesterday after
noon when 1t was learned that Ethel
Smith. the l2.year-daughter OF Edward
Smith of Matchtown, had been alb
Quoted by her mother Mrs. Maude
Fouch OF Miles City Mont. and an un
known man. The little girl was rush
I'd from MarseilleS TO Morris in taxi
and Was takel on Rock Island trair
from that city TO Joliet where the
trail traced by the officers stops.
Sheriff Weller has wired Miles CITY
Mont, asking that Mrs. FOuch be
placed under arrest on a kidnapping
charge as soon as she reaches there.
1t is supposed she is making an effort
to take her daughter back to her home
Mr.. Smith, the father OF the little
girl. secured a divorce from her moth
in Montana eight years ago and
has since had the custody OF his
daughter. The child has been living
in Matchtown and attending the Wash
ington school
Yesterday morning at recess time
her mother appeared at the school.
The child, who was terrified, rushed in
20 Miss Myrtle Hoag, her teacher. Her
mother followed and informed the
teachers that she wanted her daugh-
tie
Ethel cried and be ged not 70 be
taken away, Mrs Fouch insisted that
she must accompany her. Ethel how
aver, refused to go without first secur
ing her fathers consent.
Miss Bennett, the public health
nurse. offered TO drive the child and
her mother to the South Side coal
mine. where Mr.. Smith is employed.
1t is said, to settle the matter 1t was
arranged that they should go after din
ne
In the afternoon Miss Bennett took
the little girl and Mrs Fouch to the
mine Mrs Fouch left the car and re-
turned few minutes later, saying she
had been unable to find her former
husband.
Miss Bennett then drove them to
the Collins store, whore Mrs Fouch
requested her TO stop, saying that she
wanted to do some trading. Ethel
went with her mother. and as Miss
Bennett received the impression that
they were to wait there for Mr.. Smith
she left them and went about her
duties.
Mrs. Fouch upon entering the store
nhoned for a Jaifas taxi As the cab
pulled up in front OF the store the man
made his first appearance in the case
when he came around the corner and
inquired of the driver if he would
have time to make the 4:o8 out OF
Ncrris for Joliet. A short time later
Mrs. Fouch aud Ethel came out of the
store and stepped in the auto.
Mr.. Jaffas noticed that Ethel was
crying but paid very little attention
to the three passengers, az he was not
sue pecting o crime. IN Morris the
man. woman and child left the cab
near a clothing store.
Mr.. Smith was not aware of his loss
until he returned from work at $50
O'Clock and the child Of his brother
informed him that Ethel's mother had
been to the school and taken Ethel to
Montana
He then became alarmed and notf-
fed Chief OF Police Harvey Le Rette,
who in turn notified the sheriff.
In Morris it was learned that tickets
for Joliet were purchaeed BY the trio.
Ethel is the only child of Mr.. Smith.
Her mother has been married twice,
it is said, since Mr.. Smith obtained his
divorce. Mrs. Fouch was Maude
Stricken before she married Mr..
Smith. The unknown man is sup
posed to be her husband.