Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-10-03
WOMAN PREACHER
ASSAlLS HUSBAND
SwearS Alleged AbduCtOr
HypnOtized Her For
Years

NEWARK. N. j.. oct s.-Appearing
as one Of the principal witnesses
against her husband IN the Second
Precinct Police Court. Mrs. Martin
summer OF No 70 schuyler avenue,
KearnY said he had kept her under
hypnotic spell Tor sixteen years. and
had tried TO poison her and to abduct
one OF his own daughters for immoral
purposes. The Summers have nine
children. Summers. who is caretaker
OF house az No. IS Broad street. "a
charged with the abduction OF Della
Prestage, 10 years old Of No. $50 North
sixth street. whom he is alleged TO
1 haye sent to a dlsreputahle resort con-
Quoted by his daughter. Mrs. Efie Cur
RE, In Binghampton. n Y.
The girl disappeared on last Thurs
day. On the following day her parents
reported to the ppolice that she was
missing. II was learned she had gone
10 Binghampton, and by request OF the
Newark police she was arrested there
by the police OF Binghampton. Later
she was brought back 10 Newark by
Detective Coakioy Meanwhile, inves-
tigaton here led 20 the arrest OF Sum-
mer. A statement made by the girl
confirms Information previously obtain
ed by the police to the effect that Il
was he who lured her from her home
and sent her away She was In court
ana Identified her alleged abductor and
was recognized by him.
The story told by Mrs. Summer con-
"a all
For years, she says. she has undergone
cruel treatment at the hands OF her
husband. When he went away from
her and the hypnotic spell was broken
she said she came 10 a full reallza-
ton OF the DEGRADATION to which she
had been brought and made up her
mind 20 atone for the past by preach
ing the Gospel, IN which work she Is
now engaged.
MY husband is a wicked man." Mrs
Summer said in court, "and has been
so for years. He always abused me
and has left me In dire want on five
different occasions. tried several
times to have him arrested, but never
could find a court or justice Of tho
peace who would stand by me in ac-
cusing this fend Five years age
! when l was seriously m he put poison
in the medicine he was giving to me
At that time / tried TO have him ar
! rested. but the justice said he did not
believe a human being could do such
! a thing. / have several children, and
my husband never supported me. IL,
is a wretched man and would stop al
J nothing Why I had twin daughters
and he took one OF them away from
me. / don't know where she IS. NJ,
D heart Is almost broken. thinking Of tn
man and his actions.
y Il was not surprised when I hear
p what he had done with this little girl
n FOR I know OF several others he ha
n treated IN the same way. This ma
us hypnotist and had me hypnotizet
:. For sixteen years ! was under hi
h power and when he went away IN
last time realized my position and he
gan preaching the Gospel. / viii will
d ingly appear as a witness against hlr
at any time"
= Summer did not seem TO mind tn
d proceedings In court and wore a smll
all the time. except when the Prestag
girls grandmother, from West Clifton
denounced him and said he ought {
be tarred and feathered. Then he grey
slightly pale and betrayed signs o
nervousness. He was sent 10 jail Il
/. default Of $4,000 bail to await trial.
The Prestage girl was taken fron
her mother and turned over to an aunt
Mrs. Sarah Hooker. OF No. 70 Barcla
e avenue. West Clifton. Mother an
daughter wept bitterly when they too
leave OF each other.