The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-18
LOCATES HER SWEETHEART.
a Young Woman Adopts Male Attire end
Traces Him from Cincinnati 20 New
Jersey.


Jersey.
New York, March 17.-Miss Mary
Whitmore last night found in New
Brunswick. N. J., under strange and ro-
mantle circumstances, her sweetheart,
from whom she was separated q month
ago in consequence of his being obliged
to fee from Cincinnati to avoid arrest
on a charge of robbery. Friday after
noon slender. reflned-looking lad
walked into the George street police
station, in New Brunswick, and asked
for a nights lodging. He told Police
Sergeant Kuhn. who looked at him with
surprise. that he was tired and cold
with walking, and that he needed rest.
The sergeant told the youth he would
give him a free lodging II he would
rake down the stoves In the station and
carry out the ashes.
While the boy, who appeared to be
about II years old, was working Kuhn
watched him. thinking it strange that
a young lad with so refined an appear
ance should appear in the role of a
vagrant. After few minutes con-
versation with the boy after his work,
Sergeant Kuhn said to him: Il be-
lieve you have been lying to me. and
you are not a boy at all
The lad looked defiant for a moment.
but under the gaze of the policeman
broke down and confessed. More than
to say that she was Mary Whitmore, of
Cincinnati, the girl refused to make
any explanation about herself. Ser
geant Kuhn gave her a quarter to get
her supper and told her If she would
come back afterward and see the chief
she would be cared for.
After much urging and threatening
Chief Of Police Harding persuaded the
girl to tell her story. Miss Whitmore
said that almost a month ago her
sweetheart, John Williams, had been
falsely accused of robbery and had to
leave his home to escape arrest. Hard
ly a. week had passed, she said, when
the police learned that Williams was
innocent and no further effort was made
to find him. He had said something to
his parents about going to see his aunt
at 14l5 Fairmont avenue, Philadelphia,
but kilograms sent to that address
failed to bring any word from him.
when he went away" Miss Whit
more continued, "he was almost heart
broken, and my constant fear that he
might try to make way with himself
at last made me determined to go after
him. Without saying anything to my
parents, last Wednesday morning. !
took what money / had and started for
Philadelphia. There / learned that
John had started only few hours be-
fore for New York. His aunt said that
he was penniless and discouraged. This,
was enough for me, and 1 took the
first train for Trenton, hoping to head
him off. / knew that he would either
get on a freight train or walk. At Tren-
ton l exchanged my dress for a cheap
suit of clothes, believing that ] would
be more safe in that attire. Then l
went to Railway, and began walking
toward New Brunswick, hoping that
by some chance I might meet John.
about two miles from the place a
gang of rough tramps held me up and
stole every cent ! had. I was terribly
frightened, and when they let me go.
hastened on until l reached this city"
The story touched Chief Harding and
he promised the girl to help her all he
could to find her missing sweetheart.
He gave her money to stay at a re-
spectacle boarding house and told
policeman to 60 with her and try to
get her some clothing suited to her sex.
Just as the frail girl and the big police
man We're about to leave the station
two young men walked in and one Of
them asked for lodging. At the sound
of the voice the girl looked up and
cried for joy: why, it's John! have
found you at last" 1t was the young
man she had Travelled so many weary
miles 10 find. He had been tramping
along railroad tracks and stopped for
shelter.
After the two had talked for an hour
In the chiefs private room, the police
found lodging for them. This morning
they both started for Philadelphia. their
tickets having been purchased for
them. Williams said he would get
money there, so that he and his sweet
heart could get back to Cincinnati.