The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-15
PROFANEDCALvARYC CHURCH
ASSISTANT SEXTON BELL. ACCUSED BY
SIX YOUNG Girls.


SIX YOUNG Girls.
The Church TAer -Brises OF
Blts OF Grape and Qther Reiics or Flu.
nerals-One Chiid Says She Was 5tupc.
fed with Stolen Communion Wine.
Early In December OF last year q man went
10 the ofiice Of the Gerry society and notified
Superintendent Jenkins that there was some.
thing wrong In the way Robert Bell. the assist
ant sexton Of Calvary Protestant Episcopal
Church. Fourth avenue and Twenty-frst
street, was acting toward several young girls
who were in the habit OF visiting him in the
church after morning service on Sundays.
Agent Edward v. Gormley and Agent King
watched the church for long time. but dis
covered nothing.
Last Saturday. however. the complaint wa,
| renewed. A man whose homo Is on the east
side told the officers Of the Gerry society that
he had overheard his little daughter talking
with other young girls about the visits OF some
OF the girls in tho neighborhood TO Bell. On
Sunday morning at o'clock Agents Gormley.
King and Schultz were detailed to watch
Bells actions. They determined to find post
OF observation from which they could not be
seen themselves. Their headquarters are
only two blocks up the svspusi and they are
we'll known In the neighborhood. So they
went to DR.. Fred. Haas. who keeps drug store
on the corner liagonally opposite the church
Dr.. Haas has billiard room on the first floor.
from the windows Of which the watchers could
see the church across tho street. DR.. Haas
10 also in plain sight OF the Gerry society rooms
at Twenty-third street. whore Assistant Super
intendent Stocking sat with glass watching
for the agents signal
Gormley. King and Schultz watched all
through tho morning Without result. About Q
O'Clock In the afternoon. however, they saw
two young Girls enter tho Fourth avenue door
Of the church.
They siRnalled to Stocking and he Joined
them. The four officers then entered the church.
Bell was found In tho main aiele of,the church.
They asked him whore the girls were. He do
MED all knowledge OF their presence. The
officers found the two girls hiding behind the
deer that Leads Int the small sIds chapel
Twenty second street police station where be
was looked up. The girls were taken to tho
rooms ,E Of the society; There they sccnssd Boil
Esh eS Ct i o Srsas sSs
he q vsns IL ss Church Gs ss Inn
sssd
girls are Jewessea Bertha says that she went
ss eSd hss sh s
had opportunities to assist poor young girls
o. Of and SsEsa hsr Il III
, sa Si S SIs 3 s1S
offered She had done so, and she knew OF
Bel at the church. They were Minnie Kroter
IS years old: q 81. Attorney street: Jennie
Il Years Old. 81 "a Orchard c street.
and Henrietts bernstein. Is years old. Of ii
story Which SSs Simon told Of
relations With Bell corroborated fully the story
OF Bertha Richter. Minnie kroter and jennie
Levy were arrested and further corroborated
In the mean time Agent King had been left
bou IL o. eve en- WIEN he sas
church: They bad with them little girl about
hss hey hsa co. shsls T.
see Bell. and said that he had made the ap-
They were Dora Mannhemsr and H enrietts
Bernstein; The ur-year.old child was Doras
heiner said that bell had male her drunk on
ooTm I'm vine On . their fl r7t meeting
ssnis Or e:ass q l@s 10 .d i1aGidn' 70 70
gave TR:y IL sseH ana wbs
ribbons which. after funeral. came Into his
shrouds. and bits Of lace. with now and then :
piece OF black or white Grape.
Yesterday morning Bell was arrai9nod in the
forkville Court; Agent GormlSy CHARGED on
assault. abduction. and harboring for Immoral
purposes; and OF violation Of Section 3Os Of
tho Penal Code.
Bell who is aim. spare man Of so years. with
q short moustRohs and small side whiskers
Just turning gray. pleaded not guilty. He had
nothing to say. exce,t that he was too moor to
employ counsel He gave his address ns Is
Pitt street. and said he was an assistant under
taker. He has wife and four children and
two grandchildren
The six girls wers In court Rigeling and
grinnlne. They were shabbily dressed. wore
yachting caps. most Of them. and seemed Ut
terly unabashed.
Bell was hold without bail for examination
to-morrow morning. The girls were remanded
to the care OF tho Gerry society.