The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-13
AVA REPEATS
HER STORY.
She Says She Can Be Identified
by Chicago People.
a CleW to The Mysterious Woman Discovered
In St. Louis Thought to Be
DlSS Debar.
Special TO THE MORNING CALI

CINCINNATI, Sept. 12.-The identity of
the woman who mysteriOusly disappeared
from Chicago Wednesday evening with one
who as mysteriously appeared in this city
last night is fully established by the de-
scription given Of her by Mrs. Bolton of
Chicago. The said woman was taken be-
fore the Chief of Police this morning. She
told her story in almost the identical lam
guage she used last night Finding no cause
for holding her, the Chief of Police directed
that she be taken back to the House of De-
tention to await some action by her friends.
When seen by the Associated Press repre-
sentative to-day Miss Ava was entirely self
possessed, affable and dignified. Being told
that Mrs. Bolton had given personal de-
scription of her she evinced lively interest
in its details. She was very anxious to iden-
tify herself as the Miss Ava who was lost at
the college. Tell Mrs. Bolton" said she.
"and that will identify me better than any
thing else, that $1,000 in money and coupons
was in her satche, not mine; and
they took it and its contents. Now,
Mrs. Bolton will know from this
that 1 am Miss Ava" She went on
to say that she went to the college to
attend to a matter of business. She carried
money to pay little JeSutlcal tariff, la
Mckinley. They demanded that she pub
licly renOunce her Methodist faith and re-
turn to the church. Refusing, she was struck
heavily on the breast by man. Before this
her SRtchel, with money in it, had been
seized The woman says from the time she
lost consciousness Wednesday until yester-
day afternoon she knew nothing. except a
RI nh ~ M n haI hrnnaha6 w
water and her clothes taken off. She denies
the suggestion that she is Miss Diss Debar
The judgment of the police is that she is in
sane, but she carries herself with remark
able consistency for an insane woman.
When Miss Ava was told of the general
belief in New York and Chicago that she
was the lost Nine. DiSs Debar, she was
furious in her denial. She launched into
TRADE against the police for OBTAINING her,
and assumed the manner OF an insane per-
son as she closed her doors against further
questions.
Miss Ava was extremely indignant when
told the general belief in New York and
Chicago was that she was none other than
the noted Diss Debar. When it was sug-
gested she might solve the puzzle by telling
where she had been before going to Chicago,
she replied that was her affair. She was
quite bitter toward Rev. DR.. Bolton of Chi
cago for not having been more active in her
behalf. and grew quite angry in comparing
had an apology from Bolton she believed she
would prefer Catholics.
Miss Ava still remains In the House of
Detention. Testimony as 70 her identity
with the notorious Diss Debar is vague and
conflicting. 1t was stated at the House OF
Detention at late hour tonight that she
has not received any letter or telegram
from friends or acQuantanceS as was natu-
rally to be expected If she were q we'll
known person of large means.
FATHER KELLY's STATEMENT.
CHICAGO, Sept. 12.-Father Kelly of the
church on Twelfth street. whom Miss Ava
accuses OF completely in her abduction, said
to reporter. in reply 10 her story, that it
was almost too absurd to talk about. He
said that the woman claimed to be CathO-
lie, that she talked about her scheme for the
reformation of destitute and fallen women,
and that she had large estate in England
and share in Mackay'S mines. Father
Kelly was asked about her having property
in the hands of the Catholic Church. He
said she never mentioned such a thing, but
spoke of having enormous wealth OF her
own. The priest was shown picture of
Diss Debar and he said it bore striking re-
semblance to Miss Ava.
. The chief detectives here to-day received
a telegram from Inspector Byrnes of New
York stating that the present whereabouts
of Dss Debar is unknown. The In
sDectOr also says from the description given
of Miss Ava he believes she is none other
than Diss Debar.
Father Kelly says he has witness who
saw Miss Ava enter the church from side
door and pass Immediately out at tile front
carrying bag in which were her money aud
Jewels. Another person saw her get into
carriage, which was waiting around the cor
ner and drive away. Chief of Police
McClaughry this afternoon received rele-
gram from Inspector Byrnes of New York
giving description of Diss Debar which
corresponds 10 Miss AYa's description even
to scar on the cheek. A cut Of Diss De-
bar with the hat and clothing changed with
pen and ink to correspond with those worn
by Miss Ava, was shown to Father Fitzger-
aid, Mrs. Bolton and others. All unhes-
tatingly pronounced it a good likeness of
Ava. Further proof Of identity is found in
the fact that n well-known gentleman met
Diss Debar not long ago and warned her
against trying any confidence games in
Chicago. This information comes from
Mrs. Bolton, who says she is not yet at lib
erty to disclose all the details.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. ia clew TO the iden-
tity of Miss Ava. who mysteriously disap-
peared from Chicago three days ago, has
been unearthed here In a scrap-bo0k in
the possession Of the alleged Ava, now at
Cincinnati, is inscribed the name: ''Dr.
RumiOrd. No. 1923 Chestnut street. st.
Louis" A reporter called at the number
given, but 1t was discovered that the doctor
had left the city three months ago and is
now in Los Gatos, California. Further
than this nothing could be learned. The re-
porter then called on spiritualst whom
DR.. RumfOrd frequently visited while in the
city. There 1t was learned that the doctor
believed in spiritualiSm and all other isns
Of the same kind, as well as being follower
of Madame Blavatsky. While it is known
that RumfoTd did not visit Chicago while he
was here, there is no evidence that Miss Ava
did not come here. 1t is thought here that
Ava is none other than Ann Odelia Diss
Debar.
NEW YORK. Sept. 10. The acting Superin-
tendent of Police declines to discuss the
stories from Chicago concerning the prob
able discovery of the famous spOok priest
ess, Diss Debar. in the person of the So
called Vera Ava. The Chief of the detec-
tive force was asked if he thought the
Chicago Cincinnati woman and Diss Debar
were one and the same. 81 don't think
they are" he said, ''if the description tele-
graphed is correct" replied ByrneS, and