Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-15
KIDNAPPING CHARGED.
Robert Reed Arrested-Three Young Girls
Missing. Ial

NDNHTTfNu uilHnuLDI ,y
Robert Reed Arrested-Three Young Girls
Missing.
"Robert Reed, kidnapping.
This entry appears on the court
record at the police station and was
made. Tuesday morning by Acting House
Sergeant Isaac s. Eng land. After court
had adjourned Chief of Police Massey
added to the above the following
"S-20-01," p" which indicated that Reed
is to be given a bearing next Tuesday
morning.
Robert Reed is colored man, about
q or % years of age. He has been
employed by the Diamond State Steel
Co. and boarded at No. S0T Locust
street, the residence OF Mary Rhoads.
On Saturday night Reed and another
man, whose name is said to be john
son, went out of town, ostensibly to
visit friends, and 1t was Thought they
went to New Jersey. They returned on
Sunday, and Monday Reed was arrested
on the charge of kidnapping.
Minnie Rhoads, aged l3 years, daugh-
ter OF Mrs. Rhoads, with whom Reed
has heen boarding. disappeared from
her home, No. e07 Locust street, about
8 O'Clock on Saturday night, as did also
Mary Roberts, aged Ii, of No. sol
Locust street, and Mabel Hubbard,
aged 10, of No. S15 Locust street, aud
they have not been seen here since.
All are colored people. AT the time
the gir.s left home their parents were
at market or otherwise engaged and
their departure was not discovered for
some time. One of the girls is said to
have explained to companion who
asked her where the three we're going
that they we're going to get some cloth
| ing to be washed. 1T is said that the
girls had donned their best clothes, as
II they intended 10 make a trip. So
| far as conld be learned, there were no
men with them when they left LOCUST
street.
Tho matter was reported to the police
on Sunday and they have been working
ON tina case ever since. A oolored man
who was in Palmyra, N. j.. last Sun
day IS of the opinion that the girls
were there at that time, as ne was sold
that three strange girls and two young
men had been seen on the streets
during the day, and the description
of the girls, it is said, tallied with thai
of the Wilmington girls. He has given
this information to the police and also
informed them that If the girls have
left Palmyra they may have gone to
Mt. Holly. The authorities of thost
places were communicated with today,
and Ii the girls are there they will bt
detained and brought back.
The case against Reed was scheduled
for trial at Tuesday morning s session o
the Municipal Court, but was con
tinued for a week at the request o
Acting Assistant City Solicitor Gar
rett, whU said he wanted time in which
to procure a copy OF the law unde
which the action is brought. Deput.
Judge Townsend, In granting the con
. tinuanoe, requested Mr.. Garrett to OH
, tain copy of the law for him. Tn
action against Reed is based upon al
:, act passed at the last session Of th
General Assembly, and as thalaws o
that session are still IN the hands O
the printer their contents are not gen
orally known. Mr.. Garrett will obtai
copies of this particular act from Sec
, rotary of State Layton before proceed
ing with the case. 3,
!, 1t will be recalled that while tn
General Assembly was in session tn
entire country was aRitated over tn
kidnapping of Edward Oudahy @
Omaha, Neb., and the people general
became very bitter against Aidnsppers
and as result of the feeling in Della
ware, Representative Theodore F. Clar
introduced an act in the Legislatur
providing death penalty for kidnap
! pers in this State. The measure re
) ceived the hearty support of his co.
leagues and passed both houses. Thi
. is the law under which the authoritie
2 are acting in the present case.
: Whether there is any evidence tina
: will connect Reed, directly or indi
! rectly, with the mysterious disappear
: ance of the girls is not known, MS Chic
4 of Police Massey is reticent. There
e no doubt that the girls, if they can b
found, will be great help to the caat
! and the police are very anxious to ge
. them back here before the hesrin
) next Tuesday. 1t is intimated that til
2 whole case really depends upon th
g girls, and their evidence is necessar
I TO determine whether Reed Is guilty {
: innocent. A number Of other withesst
have been summoned and were in coui
a this morning, with one exception. On
man did not respond when his nam
s was called.
It A reporter of The Gazette yieite
two of the houses, but very little ooul
Z be learned, other than the fact the CIR
g are missing and it is suspected thd
!. they are in New Jersey. Their relntiv,
II do not know why the girls went ava
or whether they were induced to ea'
home. Being very young, it is though
they wi be perfectly willing to retur,
The whols neighbornood is agitate'