The sun., 1891-01-22
Mr.. RHET,S SIDEOFTHE CASE
HE DENIES THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO
ABDUCT TIE GIRLS FR0MJERSEY,tHTE

aro Capable OF such Conduct.
William P. Rhett member OF the well. known
South Carolina family Of that name 10 looked
UP In tho Tombs OH Q charge of abduoting
little girls. Rhetts arrest was reported In
THE Bun yesterday morning. According to
the story told by Detective Vail Of the steam
boat squad he was In the aot Of enticing To-
year-old girl into O cab at the Cortlandt street
ferry whom he was arrested. Vail said that
about two weeks ago a citizen camo to the
river police station st Pier A, and said that q
young man was in the habit Of enticing little
girls from Jersey City and taking them OF in o
cab. presumably for immoral purposes. Capt
schmittberger detailed him to look after tho
case and he had kept pretty steady watch at
the Cortlandt street ferry since. On Tuesday
night, he said he WAS standing under the shed
that faces West street when he saw man and
four little girls come ont Of the gates from
ferryboat and walk mp to Edward Lally. one Of
tho night hawks who keeps his coach At the
stand outside the ferry house. He suspected
Immediately that this was the man he was
looking for and he stepped quietly behind
carriage. Tho man talked with Lally q mo-
mont and then opened tho cab door and told
the girls to get In. The girls ranged In aRe
from eight to twelve years. The largest and
the one that appeared to be the oldest hold
back.
Come on" said one Of tho other girls to her:
he will give you lots Of nice things"
The girl still refused. Then. tho detective
says, the man tried to coax her, but It was no
use. Nearly fifteen minutes had elapsed when
the man seized her by the arm and tried to
drag her into tho cab. At this moment one Of
the other night hawks saw the detective and
said something in whisper to Laly who said
quickly: Wel II those girls are going with
you you can't have my cab"
At the same time he shut the cab deor Then
the detective ran around to where the man was
standing and seized him by the coat collar with
ono hand, while with the other he reached to
catch two Of the girls. Tho other two had run
into tho ferryhouse. He only succeeded In CATCH
ing one. The man. the detective says. reached
around toward his hip pocket Two OF the
night hawks seized him. Finally he consented
to accompany the detective.
On tho way to the police station he pro-
tested his innocence OF any intention OF wrong.
He said he had not tried to induce the Girls to
go with him in the cab. and did not want them
to go with him. At the Church street station
he said he was William P. khett. clerk. Of "a
West Seventeenth street, and asked the Ser
geant to send for his lawyer. John Abnev. Tho
girl said she was Mamie Williams. 10 years old.
Of Jersey City. She said Rhett had tried to in
duce herto get into the cab. The girls who
222 Mulberry reet. New York, and Katie Kell;;
sold newspspers and iowers st the jersey
City ferry she she said She also said that they,
ya e9 Ss tsap 9a G TRES
they had told her he had treated them nicely.
a1d them ns dshng
morning By Lawyer .ASney., He Is s's q GOOD
looking young man. MAJ J WITH m dark hair and eyss: y
osher f ana uses N Tster Te she sds
was was talk tafins e With The three other ts eiris o IL
on s sabsa baat fe wa e
them M on % The way way over but when they s got oil
the boat. she said he ssked IS her whethsr she
shs ans 5d In re a,bsf ss s;
Lawyer Abney talked for Ehett. He said
Der d sirls. Who % waniea him to buy W paPers
were very persistent He, paid no attention to
them and wont on board boat On the way
e It ON ss he
again and wanted him to buy papers and
H. ssa1 as
rested. The lawyer asked that Rhats Should
Tain Taiator or asreed lie i1ed Hs at sio6o, A wSieS
the young man did not furnish:
detectlve says, that no had taken Rhett with
two little Elrls on one r trip before; where he
had Seem Rbs.
Khett Is smployed as a clerk in the office OF
IL eSma4A Rh sh
general iTsighI agent St tie llne; The 9fISs q
has been employed there seven years He
acted AZ Ce and fa% HsSS Of
dreds S i Of dollars day. W he is looked upon by
all his associates as an cxepplary young man;
h s s " uhas hs Ps IN the al aPs
h him Rs%s 70 In Phss
him. and SO do al his assoc iates They ali de-
an bss N.Y.
Taslasked how Rhstt had come COM to to be IN Jersey Syt
with riend from tho South st 10 % sso him on is on
a train. He stayed with him until the trnin
STATED, and p,1 then re returned TO the city" In
I've known him Intimately for seven years.
and toll you that he never had any inclination
a,brcak Of any Kind. and II he was az al in
cclined that way do you suppose he could have
msn s1sry isdh %aa n e A0 Is gentle
a9' t Ssss hsS bsssi ssHi
" his Ss sShsWs wS ffvs @ s
had him dead; ' he said. WAS lust lay
ssS f" s' M s 'ss Ss
Aro Gu You certain @ that he was with tho girls.
an and that he tried to got them 70 go with him In
sspsa tS% just 'sso''s' q: sure as am
that I'm alive"
hhssts sppssrSH,nse S,ns and biz pFeviqYs good
tive assertion that u mistake has been made
brought asaInst him. HIS story q the per
That town is infested with pewsglrls.. varying
They r. 60 home at ~ early hour IN the evening.
ferry until after midnight: They, piek up
naPers % that men 6ov throW away nd;v and Try 70
men who cross. the ferry and often follow
learn all kinds OF wickedness. Not long ago
one OF Them caused the arrest Of young man
whom she accused OF attempting 10 assault
her It was proved that she lied. The least
excuse SS for bIaskIaiI. Il The girls yho secIse
lowing him is probably true. and great mis-