The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
VICTIM OF CHEAP NOVELS
WHAT PROBABLY CAUSED YOUNG
LAWRENCE COMEY TO RUN AWAY.
Romantic Story Related by His Young
Partner, Marissa GOodwin-De-
tanned at Police station.

Two young people, giving the names VI
Charles and Leona Patrongschein, who
were taken up at the Union Station Thurs
day upon a telegram from the police de-
partment of Newark n. j., and detained
were only shamming. They claimed TO be
"Icelanders" and unable to speak English
Last night the girl, who is only eleven
years of age, told her story. and 1t was re-
plete with interesting features. She said
her name was Marissa Goodwin and that
she lived at Sharon, Mass. with Mrs.
Felt; that she broke some glassware and
window and was reprimanded for it; that
she was persuaded by her companion. whose
name is Lawrence Comey, to leave Sharon
and go to Louisville, KY, where would be
found a warmer climate; that she took a
letter, written and forged by Comey, to a
man named Derry, who gave her SIS which
she turned over to Comey; that they att
Sharon and went to railway junction
few miles away and then took a train for
Boston, buying tickets with the money
secured from Mr.. Derry. going thence to
New York and then to Newark, N. j.,
where after stopping in hotel they Wis
tied Rev. Charles H. Dodd, who wrote
letter, stating the claims of Comey that
they were from Orkney islands and had
been robbed and being without funds were
trying to get to Louisville. The minister
recommended them to charity organizations
and tickets were secured for them to Louis
Vile over the Pennsylvania lines. They
would have taken the first train from here
to Louisville but for their detention.
The little girl told Of how her mother was
burned to death several years ago, and
Sh e n q
was poor and unable to care for her. She
has several sisters but said they had moved
and she had not heard from them or her
father for several months. She spent most
of the time yesterday. until she consented
to talk. crying, and Matron Reisner did
all she could do to quiet her but without
avail. She Is only eleven years Of age, but
has a bright and intelligent face and an
education much above the average Of girls
of her age. She talks with a French ac-
cent and during her recital frequently wept,
saying, after she had been advised that
she would be taken back to Newark and
probably to Sharon, she was afraid she
would be laughed at by her schoolmates,
and her teachers would not like her any
more, and the woman with whom she had
lived would not take her In again. She
was also fearful that her father, who was
in poor health. would hear of what she
had done and worry about her.
She said she had been induced by Cor1ey
to accompany him and Ii was at his sug.
gestfon and order that she declined TO talk.
She played the game well, AMI told of how
on the train she had been cared for by
men who wrapped her in their overcoats
and let her look out the open windows at
the mountains. She said they had given
her fruit and lunch and many other things,
but because Of the role she was playing
she was unable to thank them when she
so much desired to do so. She said she
had many times, since being detained here.
thought of telling the matron everything
but she had implicit confidence in Comey
l..,I al hos .4f III
sisted the temptation. She said she knew
she was doing wrong but thought he would
make it all right. Though she is very
young and has been subjected to the care
Of charitable organizations, she has much
more nerve and will power than many older
persons and she did not consent to talk at
all until she had been advised that Comey
had told the story in part. holding out in
her role longer than her teacher. She told
of Comey, whom she had known for several
years, having a great liking for cheap nov
els, and that he would often sit up until
and o'clock in the morning reading
ders. 1t is thought Comey, who has much
the appearance of a dreamer, influenced
by his reading, after trouble with his step
father, w. II. Fish, in running away from
home and taking the little girl with
him. She realized that Comey and her.
self were in trouble but said If she ever
got back to Sharon she would find work
and repay the SIS which had been secured
by false pretenses by Comey.
1t is not known what the children are
wanted for in Newark, but a member of
the charity organization will arrive In In
dianapolis to-day to take them back. Comey
was inclined last night to take the affair
jocularly and refused to give any details
of what had taken place. He had So on his
person when ne arrived here He claimed
to have no definite idea of what he
going to do after arriving at Louisville. but
had throughout the trip, and before their
departure, claimed to the little girl to have
an aunt living there.