Grandpa Brown abducted mom and was in custody at Brainerd, awaiting extradition.
From the Brainerd Daily Dispatch, April 8, 1935, Page 1.
CAPTION
To Fight Extradition on Charge of Child Abduction.
Claiming that he has as much right to the custody of the three year old child is charged with abducting as Mrs. Donna Clark, Chicago entertainer and complainant, Clifford Brown today noticed announced through his council W.J. Swanson that he would fight extradition.
Brown, in jail here, admitted that he and Mrs. Clark were unmarried by claimed that he is the father of the child. Reports from St. Paul said that extradition papers were being secured there and would be sent to Brainerd at once.
St. Paul—An extradition request from Illinois authorities for Clifford Brown, in custody at Brainerd, was received at the governor’s office today.
Papers for Brown’s return to Illinois will be mailed to Brainerd this afternoon, attaches at the governor’s office said. They will be sent to the county attorney, who will oppose Brown’s expected attempt to prevent removal.
Brown was arrested at Brainerd on a charge of abducting his three year old daughter, Sylvia. The girl brown said, is the daughter of Mrs. Donna Clark, Chicago night club entertainer. Brown said he and Mrs. Clark are not married.
File: Ethel Wight Collection – Part 125 By Don Taylor
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
Nurse Edith Rich, circa 1935.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Edith Rich, State St. Hospital #952.” This photo appears to be of a woman in her late teens or early 20s in a nurse’s uniform.
Nurse Edith Rich, circa 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1938 Portland City Directory indicates that Edith Rich was a nurse who moved to Sebago Lake.
The 1940 US Census listed Edith E Rich, a nurse who lived in Portland in 1935 and Standish in 1940.[iii] (Note: She is 26 years old and was born in Maine.
The 1930 US Census lists Edith E Rich, the 16-year-old daughter of Layman Rich, living in Standish, Maine.
Alternate Individuals.
Do not confuse her with Edith A Rich, who lived at 184 High St in Portland in 1938.
Conclusion
I am sure this photo is of Edith Esther Rich, the daughter of Layman Henry and Alice (Prescott) Rich. Ancestry has three public trees that refer to Edith Esther Rich. Family Search has profile G9KH-X4F for Edith Esther Rich. I have uploaded two photos of Edith to her Family Search Memories.
Nurse Marcella Riley, circa 1936.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Marcella Riley, St. Barnabas Hospital #1016.” This photo appears to be of a woman in her late teens or early 20s in a nurse’s uniform.
Nurse Marcella Riley, circa 1936.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Marcella Riley as a student nurse at 231 Woodford (St. Barnabas Hospital).
The Bangor Daily News, dated 19 March 1939, reported that Marcella K Riley, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Gillespie, would marry James J. Lee. She was a graduate of St. Barnabas Hospital and a nurse. The photo of Marcella in the paper is clearly of the same young woman.
This photo appears to be of Nurse Marcella K Riley circa 1936.
Ancestry has six public trees that refer to Marcella K. Riley, born 16 Jan 1916 in New Brunswick, Canada, and who married James Joseph Lee on 3 Jul 1939. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Marcella Riley, so I uploaded a photo of Marcella to Dead Fred.
Possibly Ira Rindsay, circa 1936.
“Ira Rindsay?”
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Ira Rindsay, Mar 1936, #1142B.” This photo appears to be of a man in his 40s or 50s.
What I discovered.
A search of Ancestry did not find anyone with the name Ira Rindsay.
A Google Search for Ira Rindsay failed to find any results.
Photo of envelope showing “Mr. Ira Rindsay – Mar-1936
Although the envelope clearly indicates Ira Rindsay, I cannot identify the person in the photo and suspect the envelope is incorrect. I only include the individual’s picture here and have not posted it elsewhere.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Clayton L Rideout and his wife, Vera G Rideout, living at 57 Bradley.
The 1940 US Census lists Layton and Vera Rideaut living at 57 Bradley with their two sons, Reid (age 5) and Paul (age 1).
This photo, taken about 1935, must be of Reid Rideout when he was 1-2 years old.
I have not found Reid in Ancestry trees; however, I have found his father, Clayton Lewis Rideout, in 39 public trees. Also, Family Search does not have a profile for Reid, so I uploaded a photo of Reid to Dead Fred.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. F. M. Revers ℅ H K Pray, 67 Bell St. #729.” This photo was taken about 1935 and appears to be of a young child, about two years old.
Unknown child, about 2 years old, circa 1935.
What I did do to try to determine this individual.
The 1935 Portland City Directory does not show an H. K. Pray. Walter A Scott is listed as living at 67 Bell in 1935 and 1936.
The 1941 Portland City Directory lists Lemuel E Pray residing at 67 Bell St.
A review of several Ancestry Trees containing Lemuel E Pray failed to find anyone with the surname of Revers that was related.
A review of the 1930 Census failed to discover any Prays with the initials H. K.
I have not discovered any identifying information regarding the child in this photo. I only include the individual’s image here.
Conclusion
I identified three of the five individuals in this photo negative set. Only one has a Family Search profile, so I uploaded that image to their Family Search Memories. Two did not have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos to Dead Fred. The other two photo sets were unidentified, so their images only remain here.
I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have higher quality than those linked here.
For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.
Endnotes
[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt. [ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software. [iii] Standish includes the southern shore of Sebago Lake. [iv] FNU – First Name Unknown.
Grandpa Brown found himself again. He had abducted mom and was being held for the Chicago Police.
From the Brainerd Daily Dispatch, April 6, 1935, Page 1.
Brainerd Man Held Here for Chicago
Officers Charged With Abduction
Clifford Brown, Brainerd, held in the city jail here for Chicago authorities who hold a warrant charging him with abduction of a 3-year-old girl today intimated to police that he would fight extradition.
Brown was taken into custody Thursday upon telegraphic orders from state attorney Thomas Courtney’s office in Chicago.
Brown appeared here about three weeks ago with Sylvia and immediately reported to police that he “expected trouble” out of Chicago. He told authorities he was the girl’s father, and relate that relate under what circumstances he had taken her from her mother. Mrs. Donna Clark, Chicago, nightclub entertainer.
Thursday when Brown was arrested, he again said he was Sylvia’s father, authorities said, but admitted that he was not married to Mrs. Clark.
—–
Chicago—State’s Attorney Thomas J. Courtney said today that extradition papers are being prepared to return Clifford Brown, held in jail at Brainerd, Minn, on charges of abducting a three year old girl.
Brown was arrested on complaint of the child’s mother, Mrs. Donna Clark of Chicago.
She charged that Brown, a former friend, came to her home March 10th and asked to take the child, Sylvia, for a walk. They failed to return and the following day she received a postcard from Brown explaining that they were aboard a bus for Brainerd, she said.
Mrs. Clark said the abduction was “spite work” and that Brown took the child to the home of his mother Mrs. Mary Brown in Brainerd. Mrs. Clark has another child older than Sylvia.
The mother, an entertainer, said she won a bathing beauty contest at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1916. She identified Brown as a former entertainer in nightclubs, now jobless.
Police said the problem of getting the baby back to her mother has remained unsettled when welfare agencies of both Chicago and Minnesota disclaimed the financial responsibility.
Brown, charged by the child mother, Mrs. Donna Clark, a night club entertainer, with taking the child because she refused to marry him, will not ??acy transportation back to Chicago, officials said. Extradition proceedings to return him have been started.
Authorities here said they knew nothing about providing railroad fare back to Chicago for the child.
“The state’s attorney’s office is concerned only with bringing Brown back.” James V. Cunningham, assistant state’s attorney said, “Payment of the girl’s fare is up to the welfare bureau here or to Minnesota authorities—I don’t know which.”
Mrs. Clark said Brown, whom she said had been attempting to persuade her to marry him for several months, disappeared with Sylvia March 10.
Grandpa Brown found himself again. This time based upon a telegram from the Illinois State Attorney. He knew there was going to be trouble, but….
From the Brainerd Daily Dispatch, April 5, 1935, Page 2.
MAN TAKEN HERE
FOR CHICAGO ON
ABDUCTION CHARGE
Brainerd Daily Dispatch – April 5, 1935, Page 2 via NewspaperArchive.
Clifford Brown, of Brainerd, today was in the city jail being held upon telegraphic orders from Assistant State’s Attorney Courtney’s office in Chicago.
According to the telegram received by local authorities, Brown is wanted on a charge of abduction. He indicated to Brainerd police that he would fight extradition.
Warrant for his custody was expected to arrive late today or tomorrow.
Brown, in a statement made to Brainerd police several weeks ago when he returned to this city, told them that he expected “some trouble from Chicago.”
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
Nurse Catherine Reilly, circa 1924.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Catherine Reilly, Queens Hospital #276.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Nurse Catherine Reilly, circa 1924.
1933, 1934, and 1935 Portland City Directories list Catherine Reilly as a student nurse at 218 State (Queen’s Hospital) and residing at 681 Congress.
The 1936 Portland City Directory available at Ancestry is missing pages 716 thru 719, which would include Reilly.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest that Catherine Frances Reilly was born on 5 May 1913 in Bangor, Maine. Ancestry Trees indicate that she was a nurse at Queen’s Hospital in 1934 and 1936. They also show she married Maurice Alva Moriarty in 1937.
This photo was taken of Catherine Frances Reilly (1913-1988) in 1934 as a student nurse at Queen’s Hospital in Portland, Maine.
Alternate Individuals.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Catherine E Reilly residing at 29 School. Also at 29 School is James J Reilly. The 1937 directory only lists Catherine E Reilly.
Determination
Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Catherine Frances Reilly. Family Search has profile GMQJ-59G for Catherine Reilly (1913-1988). I have uploaded a photo of Catherine to her Family Search Memories.
Confirmed to be Catherine Reilly by a niece. She was also in the military as a nurse.
Madge Rhoads, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Madge Rhoads, 124 Bradley St #903.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1930 US Census lists Michial and Camelia Rhodes living at 124 Bradley St in Portland, Maine.
The 1936 Deering High School yearbook shows Madge D. Rhodes in the same dress as in this photo.
This photo is of Madge D Rhoads, daughter of Michial and Camilia Rhoads, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Phyllis Rhodes, 30A Preble St #583.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Phyllis Rhodes, circa 1935.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists John A and Lillian I Rhodes living at 30a Preble, apt 26.
The 1930 US Census lists John, Lillian, and their seven children, including 12-year-old Phyllis living at 703 Stevens Ave. Phillis was born in Massachusetts; her father was born in Canada, and her mother in New York.
I am sure this is a photo of Phyllis A Rhodes (b. Aug 1917) about 1935 when she was about 18 years old.
Ancestry has 11 public trees that refer to Phyllis A Rhodes. Family Search has profile LX4M-X73 for Phyllis A Rhodes (1917-___). I have uploaded a photo of Phyllis to her Family Search Memories. I also added a second photo of her to my Flickr Photostream.
Gordon Renell, circa 1936.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Gordon Renell, 105 Illsley St #1079.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1939 Portland City Directory lists Gordon E Renell living at 105 Illsley in Portland. Also at 105 Isley are Barbara Renell, a teacher; George A C, a driver, and Mrs. Carlene Renell, a bookkeeper.
The 1940 US Census lists Donald G Renell living at 105 Illsley with his mother, Carlene, sister Barbara, and grandmother Nellie Coombs. Donald and Barbara were born in Maine, and his mother and grandmother were born in New Hampshire. The family lived in the same house as they did in 1935.
The 1936 Portland High School yearbook shows a photo of Gordon Ellsworth Rennell, which is clearly of the same young make taken on the same day.
I am confident this is a photo of Gordon Ellsworth Renell/Rennell taken about 1936. Gotfon was born on 25 Nov 1917 in Portland, Maine to George and Harriet Carlene (Coombs) Renell.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. R. P.. Reynolds, 25 Washington Ave #427.”
Robert Ralph Reynolds, circa 1934 (age 2)
Why I believe this to be the individual.
A search for R. P. Reynolds failed to return any candidates.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Charles H Ready and Mrs. Isabelle M Jackson living at 25 Washington Ave. The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Charles H Ready residing at 25 Washington.
The 1930 US Census listed Charles Ready as living at 25 Washington. With him is a wife, Delia, two sons, and a 16-year-old daughter Mary. Mary was born in Maine.
Ancestry Trees indicate that Mary was married to Ralph Plaisted Reynolds.
The 1940 US Census indicates that Mary Reynolds was divorced and living with her parents, Charles and Delia Ready, at 25 Washington. Also with them is Mary’s son, Robert R. Reynolds. Robert is six years old and was born in Maine.
Mary Ready also married Earl James Maguire in 1949.
Find-a-Grave indicates that Robert Ralph Reynolds, the son of Ralph P Reynolds and Mary E Maguire, was born on 12 April 1933 and died on 17 Dec 2016.
I am sure this photo is of Robert Ralph Reynolds, circa 1934, when he was about two years old.
Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Robert Reynolds (1933-2016). Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Robert. I uploaded a photo of Robert photo to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I identified all five individuals. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. One did not have a Family Search profile, so I uploaded his photo to Dead Fred.
I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have higher quality than those linked here.
For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.
Endnotes
[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.
[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.
