Evening star., 1901-04-29
POLICE WTH0UTCLUE
No Developments Of Importance Con-
cerning Willie Mccormick.
DISAPPEARANCE STILL 4 MYSTERY
Father of the Boy HI at His New
York Home.
VIEW OF effective S

VIEWS OF ID Effective S
Little Willie Mccormick, who is supposed
to have been kidnapped near his fathers
home at High Bridge, n. Y, the 9th of
last month, has not yet been found. The
investigation of supposed clue found here
ten days ago in the recovery Of a piece of
paper alleged to have been in the McCor-
mick house, has not yet been fully aban-
dOned, so far as Detective OConnell OF
New York is concerned. Detectives Weedon
and Parham Of the local force. who were
detailed to assist the New York detective
have. however, about given up hope OF ac-
complishng anything In the case. Detec-
tive OConnell has made several reports
over the long distance telephone: wire to
Capt. Titus chief of New York detectives.
The slip Of paper on which was written
Gertrude" the name of the missing boys
sister, has been sent to New York, together
with a penholder that was wrapped In the
slip of paper at the time the latter was
left at the photograph gallery Of M. Kets
Kemethy. One of the gypsy girls stated
she picked up the piece of paper in ques-
ton near horse bazaar and used 1t TO
wrap the pen in. What part the pen is
alleged to play in the disappearance OF
local police infer that a similar holder was
stolen from the Mccormick home. Where
the pretty gypsy maiden actually got the
penholder is not known, for the company
has probably manufactured millions of that
particular pattern. 1t is known that the
girl got such penholder from the business
Office of The Star about ten days ago. she
was in the Office making effort to induce
the clerks to give up coin. She Spied the
penhoider, asked for 1t and it was given
her The holder is an olive green one, with
a cork finger rest, and in 1t was Spen-
cerian pen.
Nothing of Importance Develops.
Hannah and Lizzie Michel the gypsy girls
who were released Saturday morning, went
to the camp. The detectives visited the
camp, but learned nothing Of any impor-
tance. They also visited Alexandria and
other places but no trace of the missing
boy was found.
Yesterday the gypsies broke camp, drove
through the city and recrossed the river at
the Chain bridge. and camped short dis
tance from the bridge last night. They
stated to the detectives that they were go
ing to Richmond. The two police expert
ences here were enough for them. The
queen Of the tribe announced Saturday that
Washington was bad place, and they
would not come here again.
Saturday afternoon the police received In
formation that a boy, possibly Willie Nc
Cormick, was living on Virginia avenue.
This boy. it was claimed, ran away from
his home and came here. The detectives
learned that he had been here since early
in March, and also that he was several
years Older than the Mccormick boy.
Capt. Titus of the New York detective
bureau, In an interview yesterday, is re-
ported to have said:
Il have learned by experience how unre-
liable Is the testimony of a child of Ger
trude McCormick's age. child may mean
to tell the truth but its memory is uncer-
tain and it's mind is led unconscously by
that Of an older person. Gertrude McCor-
mick says positively that the handwriting
on the scrap found by the gysy girls was
hers. ] would not place any great reliance
upon this statement II it had not been sup
ported by comparing her handwriting with
that found upon the scrap.
Her statement is further supported by
the fact that paper like that forwarded
from the gypsies has been found in her
fathers house.
Much Requiring Explanation.
IF we assume that the paper which the
gypsy girls say they found In the horse
market in Washington was taken from the
Mccormick home there is great deal
back of this case which must yet be ex-
planned. 1t must have been something
more than chance which prompted the
gypsy girls to take 1t to the photographer
and which impelled him, after retaining it
for three or four days, to forward 1t to
the Mccormick family. am not satisfied
with his explanation. Why should any one
place any value upon such scrap? There
was absolutely nothing in it to suggest the
missing boy, except that it bore the name
Gertrude, which is his sisters name.
When my men went to the gypsy camp
to inquire about the girls arrested they
found their mother and an uncle. Nothing
was said at the outset about the missing
father. We now believe that such a per
son exists, and that he left the camp, ac-
cording to his friends, three or four weeks
ago. We have been unable to fix the time
definitely.
Concerning the father Of the girls, their
mother explained to q Star reporter. as
heretofore stated, that she had left him,
but when she would not say. Capt. Titus.
it is reported, ascertained that John Michel,
the father. disappeared about a month ago,
and the New York detectives will make
every effort to find him.
Catholic Pastor Refers to Case.
The prolonged disappearance Of the boy
was spoken of by the Rev. Father Mullin
in the Sacred Heart Church at High Bridge
yesterday.
II want to explain my position in this
matter said Father Mullin. 1T has been
said that l was harsh in my discipline of
Willie Mccormick and other boys who were
taking instructions. l want to deny this
never made a threat to Willie Mccormick
that would cause him to fear me. l have
never said that Willie Mccormick was a
bad boy. He was the average ten-year-old
boy, brisk and full of life.
Il want us to have q special prayer
here this morning for the return of Willie
Mccormick to his distressed parents and
sisters. Let us pray earnestly for this l
want to say further that 1t was cabled to
Rome that Willie Mccormick was missing
from his home and that he was probably
kidnapped and the entire church all over
the world will pray for his return. 1t is
known in Rome that l offered SIC, 600 for
the return of the boy and the capture Of
proved.
While 1 withdrew my reward tempo
rarily because of the hordes Of mounte-
banks, clairvoyants, fakirs and fortune
tellers who came to see me- there is not
a member of my congregation but
knows that II the boy should be returned
tomorrow and the kidnapers brought to
justice Father Mullin would be ready to
pay $4,000 and probably more. 1 miss
Willie Mccormick from the church. He