The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-09
BRIDE IS KIDNAPPED
Thought TO BE Taken by Rejected
suitOr on Wedding Day.

/ ThOught 20 sse Taken by Rejected
suitOr on Wedding Day,
st. Joseph, Mich, Aug. Miss Irma
! Pellis, a pertty Italian maiden, whose
parents reside in Chicago, was mysteri-
ously kidnapped here last evening. She
was to have been married today to Peter
/ Cassiano and it is believed she was spir-
tied away by William BeBrnia, a re-
| jected sutton.
Miss Pellas arrived on the Saturday at
/ ternOon boat from Chicago with Cassiano.
Bernia was also a passenger. This morn
ing the couple went bathing in the lake.
Cassiano swan long distance out in the
lake, leaving his intended bride in shoal
water. When half a mile out he saw
some one struggling with her. Before
he reached the shore his bride-elect and
her assailant had disappeared. Cassiano's
shoes and pieces Of his clothing were
also gone, so that he was delayed in
reaching police headquarters.
Efforts were made TO capture the al
legged kidnapper. whom Cassiano swears
is his rival. Bernia. One suspect was ar
rested in Benton harbor, but released for
lack of evidence. CThe officers now be-
lieve the girl was party othe plot.
Cassiano and his Italian beauty came
over on the boat from Chicago yesterday
afternoon. They had sat together on the
upper deck talking of the future, paint
Ing mental pictures fer each other Of
happy home and Of life with hearts and
hands working in harmony for each
other. Suddenly their cooling was inter
rupted by the sound OF a steaIthy tread
haL frE d. l.
visaged and sullen. Evidently he had
watched their movement IN Chicago. /
planning TO follow them. Just a word
passed between them. and then the rival
disappeared toward the other end OF the
boat.
Cassiano hurried to make arrange
ments for an early wedding today. and
then he and his intended bride decided
10 90 bathing in the lake. They waded
ard swan for half an hour in the shall !
low water near the shore. and then. 10
prove his strength and skin as q swim |
mer. Cassiano told the girl to watch MIN |
and see how far he could go out into the |
lake
Away out from the shore he turned I
about, waved his hand 10 Irna and start 4
ca back. As ne came nearer he saw /
that she was standing in shoal water. and 7
by her side he could make out Of the
form Of another person
Then he heard the girl scream ard saw
her struggle IN the arms Of q man With
long strokes he made Tor the shore.
swimming with al his speed. but when Re
got within about 80 yards he saw tho
man life the girl il his arms AID dis
appear
Yelling franticaIly for help. h reached
the shore finally. only 10 find the man
who had planned 70 steal his sweetheart
had hidden his shoes and clothes Ihis
delayed him until he found them secreted
behind q bench Ee Tushel OF - the
police station and told his story excitedly.
The police set 10 work n once and word
vas sent 70 Benton Harbor and other
nearby places Ii intercept the ki5napper.
Today 4 man answering the description
II Benz was arrested ~ Benton Harbor.
5ut he proved his Innocence and was re-
eased.
Cassiano IS distracted and insists that
PERM is desperate and VIII iu5v-e y net
-m Tie ri-l rnless she IS rescued o-sckiy.
-he police are inclined % TIE theory ts-t
he pretty italian maiden IS q party %
h= s-fF-e- rfrs-