Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-17
Charged With Attempt to
kidnap His Daughter.
Mrs. Anna s. Duncan Is Also
Held on Same Charge.
Both Defendants Must Answer to
the Grand Jury.

Dedham, Mass, July 16.-Robert F.
Straine of Boston and Mrs. Anna s.
Duncan of Springfield, were held for
the grand jury in $1,000 bonds each
at the conclusion of hearing before
Judge Emory Grover in the district
court here today, On the charge of as
sault and battery with intent to kid
nap Strainc's daughter, Dorothy. and
her governess. Miss Marie Blanc. from
Miss Straine's boarding place in
Wellesley on June 10.
Several witnesses were heard. in
Guiding Miss Straine and Miss Blanc
and at the conclusion of arguments by
attorneys for the state and the defence
Judge Grover announced that probable
cause was found and he would hold
both defendants for the action Of the
grand jury.
Dedham, Mass, July 16.-After sew
eral cuntinuances, the cases Of Robert
+. Straine of Boston and Mrs. Annie
$. Duncan of Springfield, both charged
with assault and battery with intent to
kidnap Miss Dorothy Straine and Miss
Marie Blanc, at Wellesley on June 10.
came up for joint hearting before
Judge Emery Grover in the district
court here today. A number of wit
nesses were present and it was ex-
pocted that their testimony would oc-
cupy the greater part of the day. Dist.
Atty. Thomas e. Grover, assisted by
r. w. Boyden, conducted the case for
the government while Judge Harrison
A. Plympton and r. H. Denney APP
pearcd for the defendants.
Mrs. Mary CLANCY of Boston, tho
first witness. testified that she kept a
lodging house in Boston and that
Straine and Mrs. Duncan visited her
several times in June. engaging four
rooms. They hired a carpenter to make
alterations in one of the rooms, which
they said they wanted to use for q
French teacher who was very nervous
ana for another woman. They had
some OF the windows barred and new
lock put or one of the DOORS
August c. Mcdonald, a Boston car
penter. told of making the alterations
IN Mrs. Glancy's house.
The last witness for the prosecution
was Dorothy Straine, the daughter of
inc defendant Straine. Her testimony
IN the main was corroborative OF that
given by Miss Blanc, her governess.
Miss Straine told of leaving the Dana
School commencement at about TO- =.
NJ. and reaching her boarding place.
70 which at about IL o'clock came Mrs.
Duncan and Straine. Mrs. Duncan an
reared first at the door and Miss
Strainc in person answered the sum
mons. Mrs. Duncan asked for Miss
that Miss Straine was not I'm. Miss
Blanc appeared about this moment at
the door and corroborated the state
ment, witness said. that Miss Straine
was not at home. She had seen an au-
tomobile in front of the door which
frightened her. She closed the door and
locked it, ran up stairs and hid in a
closet. locking the door Of her room.
Then she heard crash and Mrs.
Duncan pulled open the closet door and
seized Miss Straine. The girl resisted.
Mrs. Duncan dragged her to her knees.
Sill Miss Straine refused to yield and
finally she was thrown down upon the
floor. she testified. Mrs. Duncan placed
one knee upon her and with her hands
upon Miss Straine's neck attempted to
choke her.
Miss Straine said that her father came
into the room and cried: ''Strangle her"
The witness said that she replied: 'If
you will let me, 1 will get up" At this
time all were on the floor and Dorothy
was held down, while her fathers hands
were about her neck At this point, said
Miss Straihe, two men, Mclean and CD
linane. came into the room. Miss Straine
did not know whether they had come to
help her and she asked them what their
intentions were. The men replied that
they were there to assist her. She was
not sure of their motives, however. and
opened the window and screamed for
help. Then she came back and released
her maid, cutting the ropes that bound
her.
Miss Straine said that she had always
tried to be good to her father. but that