The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-27
Narrow Escape OF Three Girls:

A Times reporter on yesterday ran
across the details of piece of villainy,
the author of which has been shown up
more than once in these columns, for he
is no other than J. w. Thompson, the
Texas. For years past the man has paid
periodical visits to Chicago; he has,
entered the homes of the poorer classes
and carried off young girls whom he has,
rs is credibly reported, doomed to lives of
shame. He has generally been aided in
his attempts, it is alleged, by Arthur G.
McCambridge, an alleged dramatic agent.
About the beginning of December
Thompson came here and got some girls
into his clutches, but at the last moment
was baked in his designs. A few weeks
later, through his agent, he made another
attempt, and it was BY the raerest chance
that three young girls from the North
side escaped from his grasp. Thsir
names ara Annie Strauss, Of No. 81 Rec
street; Freddie Buchanan, of No. 142
East Chicago Avenue, and Annie
schaefer, of No. 1853 Clybourn Avenue.
One day fellow who wore the assumed
name of Miller, called at the home of
Annie Strauss and stated that he wished
to engage her for a trip to Kankakee.
He said that he was the agent of MIR.
Emmett, of the Academy of Music,
who was about to put;on the road a COM
Germ to be known as the Arlington Troupe.
He wanted girls with finely developed
figures, to poseas statues In certain acts
Of the play, and would give to each
salary Oslo week. Annie Strauss at
once assented, and vent with the man to
the home of her friend, Annie Schaeher.
The latter, who is poor and ignorant,
but very handsomelgirl Of II, also agreed
to join the alleged troupe on the proposed
terms. Miller next induced Miss Buck.
mann to sign contract, and also little
Swedish girl, whose name could not be
learned. The girls, who ARE ali the
children of respectable hard-working
people, fell easily into the snare which
was prepared for them.
On the day appointed for their de-
parture, Annie Schaeffer was not ready
and she was lef;. behind. Miller, accom-.
panied by three other girls, started for
the depot, but on the way the victims
began to suspect that there was some
thing wrong about their escort. He let
drop some hints of a long journey, of
sunny cline, ETC., and the girls discov.
cred that he had told each of them diff.
erent stories. The train was just about
to start. Miller said: Jump on"
when Annie Strauss asked him to please
show the tickets. Miller wouldn't do
so, but begged the girls to get into the
car, and, as they resolutely refused, he
was finally forced to tell them that he
he was about to take them to Texas.
Without listening to his promises and
threats, the girls got out of the depot
as fast as they could and fastened back
to their respective homes.
The description that the girls give of
their would-be abductor tallies with
that of an individual who is often seen
about McCambridge's rooms, on South
Clark street. There can, apparently, be
no doubt whatever that the notorious ].
w. Thompson, of Texas, was at the bot
tom of the scheme, which 80 nearly sue
ceeded. He annually obtained large
number of ignorant and, in many cases
innocent, girls from this city, and the
authorities think tits about time that the
slave trade in which he is engaged should
be surpressed.-Ca Chicago Tines, Jan. 4.