The record-union., 1891-04-25
LOUISE FRATUS' ABDUCTION.
A Clever Shasta Constable Runs the
RascaIs to Earth.
They are Overhauled IN Ho1lister-The
Girl CIings to Her Despoiler-
Taken Back to Shasta.

To Constable C. II. Behrens of Shasta
City belongs the credit of performing one
of the cleverest bits of detective work
accomplished in these parts for some
time.
On the night Of March Sd last, Louise
Fratus, the fourteen-year- daughter of
well-to-do Portuguese farmer, disap-
peared mysteriously, leaving a note
behind. saying not to follow her, as she
was going far away, and for time her
distracted parents were utterly at a loss
to account for her disappearance. The
matter was reported to the authorities at
Redding, and after a diligent but fruit
less search those officials gave up ali hope
of locating the girl.
| HOME TALENT APPEALED To.
Then the sorrowing parents appealed
| to Constable Behrens of their own town.
The young officer took hold OF the matter
in earnest, and soon became convinced
| that the girl had been stolen away. Sus-
picion rested upon a notorious Portuguese
named Joe Silva and a friend named
! Brown. Silva though fully fifty
years of age, had been frequently
seen paying attentions to the girl,
and it was known that she was
considerably enamored with him. She
| working for an American family named
| McNegs. Silva had formerly made love
| to Louise'S elder sister, but her parents
| interposed opportunely and sent the
young lady to Santa Rosa, where she was
taken care Of by an aunt.
! Then Silva devoted himself to little
! Louise-probably to revenge himself
upon the parents, as many who know
him believe.
HEADED FOR SACRAMENTO.
Constable Behrens learned that Silva
| and Brown left Shasta at the same time
the girl disappeared, ard he also sue
ceeded it learning that they had checked
their baggage for Sacramento. Armed
with warrants, he immediately set out
upon their trail, and arriving III this city
consulted with the authorities here
Police officer Gibson was detailed to
assist him, and the.two searched the city
high and low for the fugitives but with
out avail.
Somewhat disappointed but not yet
hopeless, Constable Behrcns returned to
Shasta, but after working quietly there
for week or two, got on the scent again.
He came back to Sacramento, but
merely waited here until the first south
bound train left the depot and he boarded
1t. lie was now possessed of information
to the effect that Silva and Brown really
had the girl with them, and that they did
not stop in Sacramento longer than an
hour, having boarded the train bound for
Santa Cruz BehrenS went direct to Santa
CrnZ, and after diligent search there
learned that his
BIRDS HAD FLOWN
To Gilroy. From Gilroy he traced them
to HOllister, and there he overhauled
them. He was sitting in the hotel one
day when he recognized Brown on the
street, despite the fact that the latter had
shaved OF his beard and otherwise dis
guiSed himself.
/ When placed under arrest Brown pro-
tested, and declared that he was innocent
He was badly frightened, and by the use of
a little strategy the constable caused him
to dlVulge the whereabouts of Silva and
the girl. The two were living together in
a small back room Of a third-class hotel,
and the foolish girl had become so thor
oughiy attached to her vile companion
that she screamed and chung to him when
Behrens arrested him. She declared that
she would go to Jail with him and in
fact, would follow him to the end of the
earth. 1t was with difficulty that she
was quieted. Silva and Brown were
locked up in the Holiister jail, and Louise
was placed in safe-keeping in hotel.
The party left Hollister Thursday
night, and they arrived in Sacramento
yesterday afternoon. AS they had to wait
here for the Oregon express Silva and
Brown were taken to the City Prison,
where they were registered as zen routes -
while Louise was taken to a hotel. At
1850 o'clock this morning the party re-
sumed its journey nOrthward.
TRUE UNTO DEATH"
Louise Fratus is an unusually hand
/, some child, well-developed and large for
her age. She appeared to be in great
grief while stopping here. She thinks a
great wrong has been done in separating
her from her aged lover, and declares
that she will be true to him TO her
, dying day" She says she went with
Silva voluntarily.
Silva was sullen and reticent when
spoken TO about the affair. He insisted
that he was all right and had done
nothing wrong. He said he had married
the girl, and had no intention of project
ing her upon a career Of shame. He de-
MED that he had stolen her away, and
stated that she asked to be allowed to 90
with him. Silva is a hard visaged, re-
pulsive looking individual. He is said
to have served a term in the State Prison
for felony, and it is also stated that he
has wife in Portugal, and two sons re-
siding in San Francisco.
Brown would say nothing about the
affair except to deny that he assisted
Silva in the abduction of the child.
Silva and Brown will be jailed at Red
ding, the county seat of Shasta, where
they will be tried, and the girl will be
/ fnl-o Il 70 hp,