Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-25
LOCAL POLICE ADVISED
INVESTIGATION OF CASE OF Al
LEGGED KIDNAPPING.

An investigation was made here today by
headquarters detectives of a proposed Eng
lish society melodrama." with vaudeville at
| tachments, which is announced to be given
| in this city in a few days, ''in answer to
Rev. DR.. Thomas Dixon's 'Clansman.' The
occasion Of the investigation was some in
formation received by Capt. Boardman,
chief Of detectives, of the arrest In New
York Of colored woman named Mary A.
Pitts, charged with procuring young white
girls to come to this city and take part in
| mixed race dramatic company"
Detective Frank Helan made inquiry
into the matter from this end, but did not
find anything here it was stated upon
which he could base legal proceedings. 1t
was found that the Pitts woman had en-
gagged hall here for the purpose of Civ
The Clansman' Also that white girls
would perhaps take a prominent part in
the presentation. Should any of the white
girls be under the legal age, 1T is stated,
then legal proceedings will follow.
1t was also learned that the hall in ques-
ton has been rented for four nights by the
woman named.
In New York newspaper it is said Mary
A. Pitts, colored, thirty years of age, living
at 80 Mott street, was arrested and locked
up in the Alexander avenue police station
on technical charge of conducting an en-
ployment agency without license.
Girls in Custody.
The detectives making the arrest also
gathered in four good-looking white girls,
whose ages ranged from fifteen to nineteen.
They informed Police Capt. Shevlin that
they were about to start for Washington,
D. c., with the Pitts woman.
I'VE are going to be actresses" one of
them said, with a salary of fifteen dollars
week. We are all to play in the Mixed
Race Dramatic Company
Capt. Shevlin placed the three youngest
girls in charge Of the Children's Society.
They were held as witnesses against the
Pitts woman.
Policeman Young of the Alexander ave-
nue. station uncovered the alleged hdnap-
ing plot. His regular post takes in the
Pitts woman's house. The place is known
as "black and tam boarding house. The
woman is also said to conduct an unli-
censed employment agency there.
Several days ago a young girl whom
Policeman Young knew told him she was
going to leave the city and become an
actress. By questioning he learned that
Mrs. Pitts had been advertising for young
girls to join a theatrical company. eau
| tioning the girl to say nothing to any one,
Young communicated the details to Capt.
Shevlin. Later the girl informed the police
man that Mrs. Pitts would start for Wash
ington with several girls at o'clock Sun
day afternoon. Young prevailed upon the
girl not to join the party.
detectives Stevens and Wood and
Policeman Young yesterday afternoon went
to the wOmanS house, where they found
Mrs. Pitts with four girls about to start
for Jersey City.
AT the police station the girls gave their
| names Mary Brereton, fifteen years old,
of No $40 East 156th street; Isabella Car
ney, seventeen, of No. AIS East SD street;
Catherine Fitzpatrick, sixteen, of No. 1853
East 164th street, and Kate Froleich, nine
teen. of No. 6,l6 East 152 street
Children's Society in Charge.
after the girls had been closely ques-
toned by Capt. Shevlin all except Kate
Froleich, who was released, were placed
| in charge of the Children's Society. The
Carney girl, who said she was seventeen,
was dressed in short skirts and appeared
several years younger
Mrs. Pitts, when arraigned before the
sergeant, denounced her arrest as an out
rage. She told Capt. Shevlin that she was
going to Jersey City with the girls by
the way of the 23d street ferry. In a
satchel which she carried were a bundle
of contracts. These, she said, she planned
to have the girls sign as soon as they
had crossed the river.
The managerial name on these con-
tracts was W. r. Griffin, No. 1900 U
street, Washington, D. c. They were
supposed to represent the engagement of
Race Dramatic Company for a season
of forty-eight weeks. Mrs Pitts said the
show would open in a theater at Wash
ington on March Is.
THE four girls told the police that on
several occasions Mrs. Pitts took them
down town separately to the New Am
sterdam Hall, at 9th avenue and 43d
street There She would try their voices
and teach them a few steps in dancing
She told them they would receive SIS a
week and perhaps $50.
Capt. Shevlin tried to communicate
with the parents of the young girls as
soon as they had been arrested. At the
home of Catherine Fitzpatrick her parents
told detective that she had left home
in the morning to go to mass at ST. Au-
gustnes Church. In the afternoon, when
she did not come home. they became
alarmed. At the Carney girls home her
father said his daughter left at noon
saying she intended to spend a day or
two with an aunt who also lives in the
Bronx. Both families were amazed to
learn of the circumstances surrounding
their arrest.
Capt. Shevlin, through Headquarters
has communicated with the authorities
at Washington in order to find out more
about the alleged theatrical manager
Griffin"