New-York tribune., 1901-04-28
working ON GYPSY CLEW'
DETECTIVE FOLLOWS MCCORMICK
THREAD IN A BIG ENCAMPMENT
IN ALEXANDRIA-PHOT
PIERS ACTION.

a gypsy camp at Alexandria, Va, is the point at
which the Police Department is at present lending
Its energy in the search for missing Willie McCor-
mick. Detective O'Connell spent all day yesterday
investigating the camp Early last evening he made
a long report by telephone from Washington TO
Captain Titus. He was ordered to return 10 Alex
andria TO resume the search.
In his report TO Captain Titus the detective said
that he went 10 Alexandria, and there found big
gypsy encampment. just outside Of the town In it
are three tribes Each of the tribes has a camp of
its own.
When 7 arrived at the encampment." said De-
tective OConnell, Il made inquiries regarding the
boys there. and learned that there was only one
He is q lad about seven years Of age. found one
that could speak passaby fair English He is
uncle Of the Michel girls who at present are de-
tained by the Washington police. / learned that
the tribes in camp at Alexandria Were three OF five
tribes which had migrated to this country from
Russia. The tribes here arrived in this
try about FIVE months ago. The other tribes
left Russia years ago
My informant told that the tribes at Alex
andria arrived Nova Scotia five months ago.
They travelled through portion of Canada
land and finally reached Portland Me. They then
moved TO Boston. At that place all OF the male
members Of the tribes applied for citizenship
papers After staying in Boston a few days the
tribes went to Philadelphia by boat. My informant
says that of the members of the tribes
stopped in New-York.
The camp at Alexandria was established nearly
three months ago. Since coming here the tribes
have not moved at all. The person from whom
got my information vehemently denies that any of
the members visited New-York. He says that il is
the intention to hold reunion Of all of the five
tribes in the near future"
OConnell said that the Michel girls were not re-
leased from custody by the WASHINGTON officials
but were sent TO the House Of Detention
OConnell questioned the photographer who re-
celYed the Gertrude paper from the two gypsy
girls. The photographer is NJ Ketz Kemethy. a
hungarian. His place is at No. 1l09 Pennsylvania
One Of the girls. Kemethy declares, gave him
a paper on which was written the name Gertrude.
She asked kemethy what the writing the pa per
was. He told her. and retained the paper. Kem-
ethy says that few days later he was reading
New-York paper. An editorial regarding the Nc
ethy asserts that he saw the Gertrude in the
editorial He wrote TO the McCormicks and in
closed the slips of paper.
Asked regarding this piece OF paper, Captain
Titus said last night that II a rough piece of
white paper, about inches long by 21A or inches
wide. On one side of the paper, in a schoolgirl
ing was identical with that of Gertrude Mccormick
the sister of the missing boy. Miss Mccormick
had seen the writing on the paper. and she
hesitatingly asserts that 1t is hers She cannot
stances the name written.
Captain Titus says that he watched the news
he does not remember having seen the name of
Willie McCormick's sister. Gertrude. printed. He
thinks ii a most significant fact that Kemethy
should have known the name. The letter and the
Mr.. Mccormick, the father of the missing boy,
at his home last night. said regarding the slip
the slip TO my daughter without letting her know
where got il, and asked her whose writing II was.
She replied: That is my writing, papa l then got
my daughter 10 write her another piece
identical. l believe that this is an excellent cew
and think 1t will lead TO the recovery OF my boy"