Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-01
DREADFULLY SERIOUS.
The Dora Steplin Mystery Opens Up an
Awful Situation-A Young Girl Tes.
tifes mt Private OmciaI Hear.
ing - Lawyers and a
linda yVautad.

ing - Lawyers and
Dude Wanted.
The mystery surrounding the disappear
ance of Dora Steplin, who is alleged to
have been spirited away by a prominent
attorney named James" deepens as the
investigation into the case proceeds. About
2 o'clock yesterday afternoon Alderman
Hartman, who is conducting the investi-
CATION, received word from a
private detective that a young girl whose
appearance answered the description of the
missing Dora had been seen getting on
board the steamer Mayfower, bound for
Mex ee's Rocks. He Immediately sent Con-
stable Schentzinger and Detective Altemyer
to McKee's Rocks in search of her.
At late hour last night they had not re-
turned, and Alderman Hartman said he
was pretty certain they had not been sue
cessful in their search. He gave
it as his opinion that Ban bara Step
lin had been secreted in some
out-oi-the-way place in the city, by ber
alleged betrayer, and that the persons who
have reported that they saw her In different
parts of town have been mistaken.
had i3 pretty but badly frightened young
ladies in his Office, whose ages run from IA
to II years. They had been brought there
by sorrowing, anxious parents, who wanted
the Alderman to question them rigidly,
hoping that by so doing, light would be
thrown upon the mysterious actions of their
daughters, in the same line as Dora's during
the past three months.
Attorney Thomas 81. Davis conducted the
examination, which was held in the private
Office of Alderman Hartman. Only one of
the young girls was examined. She is but
IA years of age, and her parents are promi-
nent people in Bayardstown, Southside.
For the present the Alderman refuses to
give her name to the public. During the
examination she was in high state OF ex-
citement, and frequently interrupted the
proceedings by bursting into tears. The
story she told, as related by Alderman
Hartman, is as follows:
During the past three months she has fire.
quently remained away from her home over
night Her parents tried to prevent repeti-
tion; but she eluded them. On these occasions
she came over to house in Strawberry alley,
sleeping on the bare floor There were great
many girls who slept there and three young
men. The house contained only two small
rooms.
At this point all the girls in the little office
were crying loudly. When the noise had
quieted little. Attorney Davis pressed the
girl to tell who the three young men were. She
gave the names of two of them, who are Dromi-
nent lawyers, having their offices on Grant
street. She said she could not remember the
name CO the third man. He had given her his
card, but she had torn it up and thrown it
away. She described him as dude"
who wore a blue suit, patent leather
shoes, standing collar and straw
hat. The third young man Is also lawyer.
At this point the investigation was again
brought to a standstill by the hysterical crying
of the girls and Alderman Hartman continued
it until next Wednesday evening. Alderman
Hartman refuses to give the names of the I'M
plIcated lawyers. Yesterday afternoon he re-
ceived the name of another Hyear old girl
who is alleged to have been betrayed, and led to
the house in Strawberry alley. Her parents
live on Sandusky street. Allegheny, and her
father is a prominent citizen. A charge of in
corrgibility has been entered against each Of
the girls by their parents. The charge against
the attorneys is still a secret.
The mother of Dora Steplin (Barbara)
was visited at her home on Birmingham
street, Southside. She had heard nothing
of her lost Dora. The old lady was present
at the hearing on Saturday evening.