Year: 1874




glanced moment at the empty bed, wherein
the night before she had laid her daughter,
and then she awoke to full realization Of
her misfortune. She was a mother, but ut
terly childless and almost hopeless Her own
husband and its father had stolen the only
object dear to her.


Leaving the house just as II stood, hastily
donnng her wraps, without means, friends or
counselors, this mother walked out of that
home to travel the country over in search Of
her lost girl For days and weeks her search
was fruitless. She visited neighboring vii
lagos in New Jersey, on Long Island, in Win
chester County, as well as every place in the
metropolis where she imagined the slightest
chance existed of finding her child. Almost
penniless, she sought the help Of police and
detectives in vain. The admonition of New
York's Chief of Police to one of his most ex-
perienced officers "to work up the case for
humanity's sake" met with an Indifferent re-
ception. Lawyers told her it would be kid
naping for her to 10 take her child, should
she even find the little one Three months
passed away and still she could obtain no
trace OF her darling. At last, however, she
obtained the advice and assistance Of alawyer,
and at the same time met friends who were
willing to render whatever help they could in
the matter of discovering the whereabouts Of
the child. A warrant of arrest for abandon
ment was obtained, it being the mothers in
tention to procure the husbands arrest that
she might serve him with writ of haheas
corpus compelling the production Of the alb
Quoted child in court where the question Of
its custody could be definitely settled. But if
it was easy enough to procure warrant it
was no easy matter to serve 1t, for the desired
party went over TO New Jersey and thus elud-
ed the officers.


At last, when despair had well-nigh claimed
the broken hearted mother for its own, and
she was overwhelmed with grief at her non
success, a letter came informing her that her
little one was at an institution for children in
Danbury, Conn. The letter was received on
the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 4; but for
certain reasons the mother could not go to
where it pointed until the afternoon of the
| following day. Then, accompanied by the
wife of one of the most prominent lawyers Of
New York city, she took the train at the
Grand Central depot, and arrived in Danbury
at six o'clock. The ladies took carriage to
| the institution which contained the long-lost
child. 1t was quite dark when they reached
the +" Home" which was under the manage
| ment of n Miss Bull, lady Of uncertain age
| but certain will and temper.


Alighting from the carriage the mother,
Mrs. Caldwell, stepped to the door and asked
| If Miss Bull was in. A female, stout and
buxom, and answering to the name Of Miss
| Stokes, replied that Miss Bull was out, but
would probably return shortly. Would not
the ladies step in?


| This invitation was just what they were
waiting for, so into the Home" they both
| tripped. They had come TO ask about the
| price Of board for children-small children
| did they take any very young onesg


| They did, they had one with them then "a
beautiful little girl, with mellow blue eyes
and perfect billow of golden curls.


The mothers heart began to beat faster and
faster till it seemed as though it would break
| through its frail tenement. That the descrip-
tion Just given by Miss Stokes was Of her
| own darling she could not doubt. But how
was she to get the child in her possessiony
During the course of the communication
Miss Stokes had led the way to the foot of the
stairs leading to the chamber where slept
| the little one. The mother tried desperately
hard to calm herself and display no emotion
| lest the suspicious of the attendant should he
| aroused. She knew she was as pale as death.
| But their only light was a lamp which Miss
| Stokes carried in her hand, and which burned
so dmly that the color of ones face or the
absence Of it could not be readily discerned.


"How old is this little beauty you speak
/ ofT' inquired the mother.


About two years and half" was the reply
| "What did you say its name wasp the
mother asked in tone of voice that was 50


steady and, apparently, unconcerned as to
actually astonish herself.


"Jessie Jessie Caldwell" was the reply,
The mothers heart was now wilder than
| ever. There was no longer any doubt Of it
| she was once more under the same roof with
| her baby, whose childish prattle and gladstone
! features she had not heard or seen for almost
| five months; but she must needs be calm, fol
| the child is not yet in her possession, and
| Miss Stokes, who volunteers to "shOw the


ladies to their sleeping apartments" has been


reinforced by two others either of whom Is
| larger and stronger than those who seek tC


obtain the little head bearing that billow o.
| golden curls."


| Little Jessie Is over here in her bed, saiC


Miss Stokes, as she led the way to one corner


of the room, where stood a crib.


The whole party moved in the direction in


dicated, and the mother of the child bent ovel
the crib and turned down the clothes. SURF


enough there lay her long-lOst darling. Th'


decisive moment had at last arrived, but thu


mother seemed to hesitate.


"That is your child, Mrs. Caldwell; take it,


said her companion.


Miss Stokes rushed 10 her side, but was to,


late, for the mother had already seized tn,


little sleeper and was holding her close t


her breast. A break was made for the door
and Miss Stokes, seeing this, blew the ligh
out. The mother and her companion wer


equal to the emergency, however, for they hat


noticed the position of the doorway and hur


ried in that direction. Miss Stokes and he


attendants were thoroughly demoralized an'


could offer no substantial opposition to tn


carving off of the child. Miss Stoke


rushed down stairs and out into the street L


call the heighbors. This move MATERIAL


assisted the exit Of the kidnapping" party


who followed close on her heels, and, gainin,


the sidewalk, started to climb into the car


riage Miss Stokes, seeing this, nerved her


self for last grand effort to prevent the es


cape She sprang TO Mrs. Caldwelrs sid


and seized her just as she was stepping int


the vehicle. Instantly Mrs. C., the lady VIII


accompanied Mrs. Caldwell, caught her b


the hands and pulled her away. momen


more and both ladies and the child were i


the carriage and bowling down the street a
fast as q fleet horse, urged on by frightene


driver, could carry them.


Arriving at the hotel, they were place


under arrest upon the charge OF kldnapin
the child, an offense under Connecticut la1
punishable by imprisonment in the State


Prison from three TO five years. A prominer
New York lawyer was telegraphed for, an
next morning the kidnapers were brougl
before Justice of the Peace for examination
The prosecution proved that the child wa
! placed in Miss Bulls charge ON the 1st {
April, and that 1t was taken away, as aboy
| described, by Its mother, The defense prove
! that the prosecution told the truth, and the
were glad of 1t. But the charge against Mr.
Caldwell and her lady companion was one
, kidnapping and abduction, and the
,, were guilty, Notwithstanding the chill
alleged 10 have been " stolen" WI
carried away by its own mothe
7 The Justice could take no other vie
! Of the matter. But the attorney for II
! ladies proved that the ladies were actin


under eminent legal advice in going to Dal
I, bury and taking the child They had bee
= assured by lawyers that they had a perfe'
l right to take the child wherever II could |
l found, and therefore their action was robbie


! Of the intent TO commit a crime. This poll