Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-10
Irene Robertson Was on Her Way to
an Excursion.
Was With AN ENTIRELY new MAN
Mr.. Wimsatt is Highly Indignant
Over His Arrest.
MAN IS HELD

E. Percy Wimsatt, telegraph operator
in a 14th street brokers' Office, was placed
under arrest after office hours yesterday
by Policeman Cramer on a warrant charg-
ing him with abduction. Late last night he
gave bonds in the sum of $500 for his ap-
pearance in the Police Court and was re-
leased. The warrant was sworn out by
Walter Robertson, whose place Of business
Is at 902 Louisiana avenue.
The parties to the case were in the Police
Court this morning, but Mr.. Mullowney
asked for postponement until next Mon
day morning in order to give the prosecu-
ton chance to get together all their wit
nesses. He did not seem to think that there
was anything in the charge, but agreed to
give Robertson an opportunity of making
as good a showing as possible. Wimsatt
was very indignant at his arrest, and told
a Star reporter this morning that he would
make Robertson suffer pecuniarily for
swearing out a warrant against him.
The First Disappcnrnnce.
The young girl who is brought into un-
pleasant notoriety by the case is Irene
Robertson, a sister of the man who swore
out the warrant 1t is not her first appear
ance in print in sensational case, for last
winter she and niece, Miss Marie Gamble,
left town in a rather mysterious manner,
which will probably be remembered by
newspaper readers. 1t was said then that
they had made the acquaintance of a fasci-
mating young man at dancing school and
that at his invitation they went over to
Baltimore. There he took them on a steam
er, which, he Said would bring them back
here. 1t took them to Philadelphia, how
ever and there the girls raised such fuss
that he ended by putting them train
and sending them back to Washington.
Tra1 10 ,han h,lf ha haC mum har
of relatives in the city, and they called in
to service several detectives, but all efforts
to ascertain the identity of the young man
proved fruitless. 1t was said at the time
that the two girls, neither of whom Is yet
fifteen years of age had aspirations to go
on the stage as dancers, and the mys-
terious man had started them toward New
York with promise of securing them po-
SitionS.
The present case, which ended in VIM
salts arrest, is also surrounded with con-
siderable mystery, and If the case really
does come to trial there may be some in
teresting developments. 1t seems that on
the Fourth of July Irene Robertson. who
had been visiting at Colonial Beach, was
coming back en- one of the river steamers
when she fell in with Wimsatt, who claims
to have known her for only about three
weeks He is rather good-looking and
well-dressed young man, and. although
only about twenty-three years of age has
been married for several years. He lives
with his wife at the home of his father on
street As a married man he admits the
ind.scret!on of his mild flirta ton, but in
sists that it went no farther than that.
What He Snys.
On the steamer last Thursday she was in
the company of some relatives, and, ac-
cording to Wimsatt's statement he left
her at the wharf after their return and
boarded a cable car alone. Since Thursday
nothing was known of the whereabouts OF
inf hot
had been with her on the boat. her brother
made a further investigation of the first
case and decided that the man who was in
volved in that answered to Wimsatts de-
scription, and took out the warrant
charging him with the first case. Wimsatt
admitted last night to the police that he
knew of the whereabouts of the girl, but
denied that lie was in any way responsible
for her disappearance. 1t is said that she
has been staying with girl friend on 9th
street between S and streets, and VIM
salts father accompanied a policeman to
the house this morning with a subpoena for
Irene summoning her a witness in the
case. They were told ct the door that she
had left, although 1t is alleged that she was
there as late as I o'clock this morning. 1t
is said l|at she denies fatty the charges
which her brother has made, and which, of
course, involve her in an unpleasant man
ner.
At the time that the two girls went off
before it was said that the fascinating
stranger was electrician, who claimed
that he could get them free passes on a
steamer. which he was fitting up with cleo
tr!c lights Wimsatt denies being anything
of an electrician beyond knowing how to
handle the keys of a telegraph instrument.
One of the morning papers contains what
purports to be an interview with Wimsatt,
In the course of which he said that he was
once arrested on the charge of theft, but
the facts showed he was not guilty. VIM
satt says that he did not make any such
statement, and that it is absolutely false.
Is known In Alexandria.
Wimsatt Is we'll known in Alexandria,
having lived there the greater part Of his
life He was for long time messenger
in the Western Union telegraph office, and
afterward an operator. He always bore
good character. He married Miss Bertia
Young. daughter of Mr.. Julian Young. and
has no children. He and his wife have al
ways lived happily together and there has
never been a breach.
The Girl Found.
/ This afternoon Walter Robertson, the
girls brother, met Irene on 9th street near
the corner of H street in company with r.
young man said to be named George Nc
Aleer, but whose name was given as VIII
son. They had stopped on 9th street while
on their way to the river front 20 80 down
on another excursion Irene was very
much curprised at the appearance OF her
brother, and she was not at all anxious to
leave her male escort, but her brother is a
powerful man, and could have taken his
sister from the Young man had the latter
made any resistance. He made no resist
ance however, and Robertson -ook his sis
ter to police headquarters. There she had
a long talk with Inspector Hollinberger, in
which she denied having done anything
wrong.
When the inspector had finished his in
vestigation Irene was taken to the first
police station, where she will be cared for
by the matron until tomorrow, when an
effort will be made to get hor turned over
to the board of children's guardians or
sent to the House of the Good Shepherd.
She made 1 strenuous objection to- going
in the patrol wagon, and shed a few tears,
but when given to understand that there
was nothing else for her to do she covered
her face with a veil, and accompanied by
Policeman Sutton she got In the wagon
and was driven to the station.
Subsequently, McAleer, the young man in
whose company she was found, called at
the eighth police station to mako some
inquiries, and Inspector Hollinberger had
the officers detain him there until he could
have him questioned.
Commodore Matthew'S Trip.