The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-13
GYPSY ABDUCTOR
IN PRINCE GEORGE [
Seventeen, Year Old Girl With
Whom He EIoped Was With Him
THEY FLED WHEN DISCOVERED
Officers Went in Pursuit, but They Have
Apparently Escaped-EmpIoyes
Of Romano Fireworks Co.
Hurt by an Explosion.
Especial Dispatch to The Tlmes.)


PETERSBURG, VA, June PA man
and woman supposed to be a runa way
couple stopped last night at the resi-
dence of Mr.. W. D. Temple, at Prin@n,
George Courthouse, and requested Mr..
Temple to have the horse. which they
very handsome, volunteered the informa-
ton that he and his wife. had driven
from North Carolina.
Mr. Temples suspicious were aroused,
and he began to question them. Inc
questions were evasively answered. Mr.
Temples daughter then recognized the
young girl as Fannie Smith. the seven
teen-year-old daughter Of Mr.. George L.
Smith, a we'll known farmer. who lives
near Whaley, Va, who left her home
Sunday night and ran away with Oliver
Williams, a Gypsy, who had been camp
ing near her home for several weeks.
When Williams became aware that they
had been identified. he drove off toward
Petersburg. Mr.. Temple watched them
until they turned into a road leading
to City Point The police authorities in
TINS city we're telegra phed several days
ago to look out for such a couple and
they We're notified at once Of the appear
ance of the couple at Prince George
Courthouse. Officers were sent at once
to follow them, but they returned from
City Point to-day, having been unable
to find any trace of them.
Williams left Gypsy wife at the camp
near Whaley. Va. The elopement has
caused a great sensation in the neigh
borhood Of the girls home. owing to the
prominence of the family and the popu-
larity of the young lady. 5
MISSIONARY MEETING.
The Woman's r'oreign Missionary So
city of the Petersburg District which
convened at Blandford Church in this
city last night. held its annual meet
ing to-day. which was largely attended
The meeting was opened with PRAYER
by Rev. E. =. PaGham, pastor OF the
church, and the address Of welcome was
delivered by Miss Annie Mann, the re,
Spouse being made by Miss Wheary, OF
Ettrick.
Delegates We're present from Peters
burg Ettrick. Trinity. Gary's Law
rencevlle, West Brunswick and Motto
way Reports from the different church
es were read which showed a large in
crease Of members. Revs r. T. Wlllsor
and S. c. Hatcher delivered addresses
The meeting adjourned at o'clock fo'
lunch. which was served on the GROUNDS
William Parker and John Apperson,
| two employees at the Romaine. Fire
Works factory just across the river. were
| slightly burned in an explosion at th'
| factory this morning. The explosion Sc
| fire to the house, but little damage wa:
| done Parker had Just recovered from
| injuries received in explosion sew
| eral weeks ago.
| BATTLE PARK.
| Colonel James E. Northrop. of Bing
hamton, N Y; Charles Hill. Of Con
| necticut, and J. J. Brannan, of Marys
VILE O. ex-rnion veterans, have been
| in Petersburg several days looking owe
| a National Battlefield Park. These gen
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to the plan and will
| cooperate with the people of PETERSBURG
| in their efforts to have the park estao
| ished.
Mr.. Orlando hlnton to-day returned
from New York, where he went to lool
after machinery for the new dye manu-
factory to be built near Abbotts Pond
| in Dinwiddie county.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. P. Goodwin have re
turned from New York.