The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-09

Arrested on the Receipt OF an AHdaFIt
Charging Him With kidnapping the
Girl Who Accompanied Him-The Girl
and They are Both Sent Back Home
Without Accomplishing Their Mission.
In the cell at the city prison last
night was confined a pretty girl of 16
years of age who gave the name OF
Ethel Driskel, OF Hopkins, Mo.
The arrest was made by the chief
Of police on receipt Of the following dis
patch:
Hopkins, No. Sept. s.-Chief of Pc
lice, Wichita: Arrest George Bebout,
low, heavy set, 3 years old, fair COM
plexion, large gray staring eyes; also
E0thel Driskel, with him, small size,
IS years old, brown eyes, jet black hair.
dark complexion. Case Of Kidnapping.
Confer with Mrs. Corw;n. 937 North
Market street. Identify parties and
history Of them. Hold for orders from
sheriff NoIdaway county. Answer.
HARRY MYERS.
The girl was met by a reporter for
the Eagle and asked as to the reason
Of her arrest. She at once began 10
talk about home, and named persons
from Nordaway county, and gave the
following particulars OF her being in
Wichita:
George Bebout, who owned a drug
store in Hopkins, Mo, was tried at
Bedford, Iowa. charged with criml-
rally assaulting a girl named Myrtle
Bristow OF Hopkins, No, at Bedford,
Iowa He was convicted on the testi-
uNny Of Alice Corwin, who now lives
at 9z7 North Market street, this city.
Bebout was sentenced 10 the peniten-
tiary for the term of twenty years.
John Ewing was tried at the same term
OF court for raping the Corwin girl
Il had had several conversations with
the Corwin girl in which she stated 10
me that the whole affair was with the
consent of all parties concerned After
the trial Mr.. Bebouts friends put up q
bond and his case was appealed 10 the
supreme court of Iowa. In the mean
time Mr.. Bebout was hunting for evil
dence in his case.
Il was raised near Clearmont, Noda-
way county, No, and my folks always
believed that Mr.. Bebout was limo
cent Of the crime for which he was con-
victed, and l had several conversations
with both Myrtle Bristow and the Cor
win girl and they both aclxno wIedgei
10 me that there was no assault about
the case, but that the whole trip 10
Bedford was a pre-arranged affair, and
With the consent OF all parties con-
cernei
The attorney for Mr.. B4bout said
that If he could get the affidavit OF the
Corwin girl that ne could win his case
II the supreme court. As I was &C
quainted with the Corwin girl, Mr. Be
bout asked me TO accompany him ID
Wichita for that purpose, and 1 did
go.
We arrived in Wichita this morning
and I stopped at the Manhattan hotel,
while Mr.. Beb0ut went to the police
station 10 inquire as TO whore the Cor
wins lived. He told me that the chief
Of police said he would find out and let
him know.
Il stin stayed at the Manhattan. 1
while Mr.. Bebout went about the city /
hun ting for the Corwins. l was in the /
rarlor Of the hotel when I was arrest |
ed and brought To the station. 1 ex-
pect 70 be sent back 10 Hopkins to-
night. l only know that 1 have COM
mitted no crime, and my only desire
Vas 10 defend a man whom believed |
had been convicted without cause"
In the male department was found /
George Beb0ut. a man about 80 years
OF age, who was was armed with letters
and blank affidavitS which stated that I
a certain case was pending in the Iowa
supreme court. having been appealed J.
from Taylor county. in which the state (
Of Iowa was plaintiff and George Be 7
! T,f, i,
charged with the crime Of criminal as
sault
He stated that he was born and rails 1
81 within twelve miles Of Hopkins, No,
and a the time OF the trouble he was
IN the drug business al Hopkins, hav-
ing bought the drug store OF DR.. Ger
ard, that he and John Ewing. a young
man OF that place, met two girls at Bed
ford, Iowa, per arrangement, and were
arrested tried and convict
ed at Bedford, the county seat Of Tay-
lor county, Iowa; that Ewing had gone
II the penitentiary, but that he had put
up a bond and appealed his case to the
court. and was now hunting
evidence in the case; that he believed Il
would be better 70 have one OF the
COrwin girls companions talk II her.
that he had pursuaded Ethel Driskel
to accompany him. and was never more
surprised in his life than when the Off
GERS made the arrest. He said ne would
return 70 Hopkins and meet Mr.. Ny
ers. who he says was unjustIy alarm
ed, as he had no idea OF Kidnapping
as he had had all the experience with
young girls that he desired
Bebout had some money with MN and
2 good gold watch. He and The girl left
last night for Hopkins, No, with the
prepared affidavit stiu unsigned.
Mrs. Corwin and her daughter, It ap-
pears, were afraid Of BebouI and moved
to Wichita abaut TWO months ago u
get away from him. as he IS said 10
nave made threats OF harm 70 them i
hey did not swear as he wanted them
o in his case
When he went 10 see the police he
lad an affidavit already prepared which
lie wanted Mrs. Corwin and her daugh-
er 70 sign and swear 10, and for this
purpose Re asked the police TO help
lim find them.
Later.-JuSt as Chief OF Police Burt
vas about 10 send Bebout and the girl
back on the north-hound train ne ~
eeived q dispatch from one Of Bebout's
1o7dsmen stating that Behout had
Jumped his bond and szing,ad the COM
~ with a young girl. and asked him
. hold him until the arrival Of the sher-
z. and Bebout was placed again in
prison