Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
HERSWEETHEART VERY RICH
Youths Father Was a Partner Of An
drew Carnegie.
HE WILL INHERIT $4,000, 900
Girls Mother and Her Three Brothers
Were Willing That She
=. Should Wed

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PITTSBU RG, Pa. April 6-The reason
Miss Mabel Mercer the beautiful nineteen
year-od daughter of Capt. George F. Mer-
Ger, custodian of county buildings, ran
away to New York and went on the stage,
only to be forced at the point of a gun to
accompany her father to a semi-prison in
Phiadel phia, from where she made her es-
cape. because of parental objection to
her marriage to Carl Borntrager, nineteen
years old, who on his attaining his major
ity will receive an estate valued at more
than 100000 The young mans father
a partner of Andrew Carnegie in the
Carnegie steel Company, and the boy is
now ward of II. C. Frick.
Ii was through the Pittsburg police that
Capt. Mercer located his daughter at the
Plymouth Hotel. West 3Sth street New
York. and this afternoon Superintendent
of Police McQuaid admitted that he has in
his possession as part of the records of
the ease a large package of letters writ
ten to Miss Mercer by Borntrager. These
father
Must Return Home.
Capt Mercer declares that he will yet
force his daughter to return home. He
says that she is a Maynard girl and he re-
grets exceedingly the publicity which has
been given the family. At a conference
which he had with Superintendent Nc
QUAD this afternoon legal steps to force
Mabel to come back TO Pittsburg were dis
cussed
Miss Mercer and Borntrager became &C
quainted while Miss Mercer was attending
the Pittsburg Academy, a fashionable pre-
paratory school.
Last Thanksgiving they eloped to New
York. but Mr.. Frick and Capt Mercer are
said to have prevented their marriage at
that time. Miss Mercer was brought back
home. followed by Borntrager. He became
very i'll later and the girl nursed him back
TO health
Fearing second elopement Borntrager
was sent away. it is said. to the summer
home of Mr.. Prick in the Berkshire Hills,
Mass. There he remained for some time
Father Would Not Agree.
Miss Mercer demanded that she be per-
mitted to wed. but in spite Of the fact that
her mother and three brothers were agreed
To the match. her father refused to allow
the marriage to take place. Miss Mercer
then fed from home. Joining the Earl and
the Girl company.
Being possessed of unusual beauty a good
voice and thorough musical training. she
was enabled 10 secure speaking part in
musical comedy company which was to
have appeared in New York all through
the summer. Her cousin Albert Doris is
manager of the Blue Moon company. and
he aided her 10 get good position.
Loo Hed in New York.
When Miss Mercer disappeared her father
appealed to Superintendent of Police Nc
quad and the girl was located in New
York. Her father went there and placing
revolver against her head, forced her To
accompany him to Philadelphia Then fol-
lowed her sensational escape. Members
OF the family do not believe that she was
aided by an entire stranger. but are of the
opinion that Borntrager was the man wait
Ing In the automobile which took her AWAY
from the mission home
Deputy Coroner George A Mercer re-
ceived long letter from his sister this
morning in which she told of her impriso,
ment aud escape. She said that under the
name of Doris Bland she has Joined the
theatrical company which will leave New
Acrk Monday for Philadelphia.
Friends of BOrntrager will not talk The
young man is reported TO be at the home of
his brother. Henry w Borntrager. in Home
wood avenue. The latter is superintendent
OF the Homestead Mills of the Carnesia
Steel Company.