The Washington times., 1901-10-07
KIDNAPPED AND ROBBED.
Strange story of IA Philadelphia Wo-
mar, verified 10y Police.

maif Verified I,y Police.
! PHILADELPHIA, oct Ga week ago
/ Mabel Kerns. better known as Goodrich,
who for years has been proprietor Of the
most prominent disorderly house in 'he
{ city, went to the superintendent OF police
and rccitod a remarkable story. 1t was to
the effect that she had been induced 20
take a ride in Fairmouut Park with a
young man; that she had been driven 10
! n lonely spot in the midst of a dense
wood when the carriage was stopped ana
a man representing himself as ID. Clarence
I GiI,bonev. of the Law and order Society
approached and told her that she was
under arrest. While he engaged her in
conversation she was suddenly seized by
the cuachrnan. who bound and gagged her
and sh. was then again thrust INTO the
ca'rriare and bEindfolded and was driven
a long distance.
When the carriage stopped she was
taken i1se a place which she said was
co,1ntr- frehouse. There she said she
was kept three days. She was forced to
give the rraen-four in uuInber-her dia-
monds. valued at S2.o9e; and to sign five
Checks, all on the Third National Bank,
one for Sl5j. one for si5 and three for Sl.B
each They also took s5r cash from her.
She was next taken. she said, blind
folded and gagged, and again driven a
long distance. this time coming back into
the city She was taken to house.
where. guarded by two men, she remained
all night The following day, which was
Saturday a week agD. she was again
placed in the carriage and gagged. was
driven some DISTANCE, and then WAS
pushed into the street while the vehicle
was going at great speed. She lay un-
conscious. and when she recovered found
herself at Tenth and Poplar Streets. This
was not far from her house, and, board
ing a car she went there.
The story seemed 50 preposterous to
the police that at first they thought the
woman drunk but she reported the facts
ard added circumstantial details in such
a convincing manner that Captain Miller
sent for Detectives Donaghey and Nc
Kenty. and ordered them to investigate
They did. and as a result four young
men are locked up in Central Station
The ACCUSED men. and there is no doubt
as TO their guilt. for they have signed a
confessian.- are Howard Sloan, who was
for some years a reporter on the "Phila-
delphia Times John Wallace, society
editor of the philadelphia Press d.
Knight Finley assistant cashier Of the
North American" and Owen s, Dunlop,
a barber.
The plot TO rob the woman originated.
it is said. in the mind of a reporter and
the quartette six months ago began TO put
It into operation. Wallace rented house
in Germantown and had it furnished with
goods from an i1staIlmeut house He had
several times endcavored to persuade the
Goodrich woman to go to this house
with him. telling her that he wanted her
10 look 1t il. She declined to go. He then
tod Elr that he had a beautiful white
ana gold piano Of which he had wearied
and desired To- s,l il TO her at "a sacri-
nee. This also failed 70 t, mpt her Final
IN another plaE was hit upon About
three weeks ago man who called him
sell Wilson, good looking fellow who
wore fine clothes, talked fuently about his
wealth and spent money rather freely
hegau 10 visit the house daily. He sug-
eested theatre parties and other enter
tainmeuIs and finally suggested that she
accompany him to Belmont track
She agreed and when he told her that
she had better wear her best clothes,
take a bunch of money. and wear all her
diamonds she did not think Of anything
wrong. a. he had added that there would
be d swell supper after the race and they
would meet some swell people" on the
day agreed upon he ca me with a closed
carriage. on the box Of which was a
weIl-drsssed coackman. They got into the
carriage and had driven some distance
when " ilsoG told her that il would be
impossible to go to Belmont and that he
knew a beautiful drive in the park that
was rarely visited and that after visiting
that picturesque spot they would have a
good supper.
She acquieScod and so when she noted
that the roads were unfamiliar she made
no protest. When they finally stopped it
was Sloan who had, in imitation of the
Law and Order Society man, grown short
side WhiSkers. whp approached and told
the woman that she was to be arrested.
W ilson was Dunlop.
The detectives were as incredulOus as
the sup.rintendo Mt when they heard the
story, but taking the woman they went to
the bank, where they learned that Il check
for $15J had Deen presented three days
previous and SIS all there was in the
bank had been paid out on it.
Mayor Ashbridge, Director English, Mr..
Quirk superintendent Of police, and Mag
istrate Cunningham conferred at midnight
and warrants were issued for the men
named by Finley and they were arrested
today and committed to prison TO await
hearing tomorrow Each man has made
a written confession which substantiates
the story told the police by the woman.