The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-19
DISPATCH. RICHMOND VA TUESDAY MARCH m 1907
he heads and shoulders Of the two


officers
All this was denied iast night to n
Times-Dispatch reporter by Mrs. Nc
Laren and MIR. Powell. Mrs. Powell was
TOO Ill at tho time to he interviewed, and
II was stated by her husband that the
sensational reports of tho case In the
papers In the past few days were the
cause Of his wifc's illness.
IL wish to state emphatically that
said is entirely wrong" said Mrs. Me-
Laren. II did not tell n reporter that
I had attacked the officers when they
came for my niece. said that
wanted to do something violent to
them when they threatened to put
possible ! might have resisted, but
they desistcd in their threat.
"The officers evidently believed we
had Lotto hid away, but that was
not fact. She was here, but out
the first time they came for her, and
we did not try to hide her from them,
for we realized that she was patient
at tho asylum, and should have re-
mained there. We had the feeling Of
human beings, however, and did not
like to see her carried away from us,
and probably displayed como temper
In our conversation, but we did not
resort to violence, although 1t made
my blood boil when 1 saw two stall
wart men attempt to put that frail
girl In handouts.
ut was really not sensational
thing. and all of na have been very
n family matter. The poor girl Is
back mt the asylum, and ! hope you
will say us little about the case as
possible"
Mr., Powell reiterated what was said
by his sister-in-law.
"rhe girls father was notified that
she had come to Richmond" he said,
and she was met at the depot by
her home, and did ali they could Tor
her until she was taken back. was
not present when the officers came for
her, but was told OF the clrcum-
stance and what Mrs. McLaren has
stand the situation"
Mrs Powell was quite Ill. under the
care of physician, and Mr.. Powell
IS very much concerned about her.
lady was present at the interview, and
corroborated what Mrs. McIaren and
Mr.. Powell had said.
What Officer Says.
Miss Willis Is alleged to have es-
capped from the asylum on Wednesday,
night She came to Richmond Thurs
day morning. Mr.. Eugene Cloves a
passenger on the train, saw Miss Willis
and photographed to the officials at Will
liamsburg, and also to the relatives OF
girl In Richmond, The latter were at
the train to meet heY and the former
came on tho next train. On Thursday
| afternoon the officers went after Miss
Willis, but she was on the street with
her sister They went again the next
afternoon. and 1t was at that time the
scene related above Is alleged 20 have
| taken place.
Deputy Bowls said that he was forci-
bly,. handled by the ladies' In the house.
and that some one endeavored to hit
! him with a poker. but that ne was not
| struck. The incident, 30 far as he Ia
concerned he said, Is closed,
II did nothing but what / believed
my duty" he said. ''and I tried to be
a gentleman. and would not have
| touched one OF those ladies' II they had
hit me with an AK. we had to use n
little force in getting the young lady
| to the carriage, but neither Mr..
Sweeney or myself resorted to ungen-
tlemanly tactics. I could realize the
position they were In. and was as kind
as l could possibly be under the sad
circumstances. We had no intention
at any time of placing the girl in
| hnndcuffS.n