Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-20
NO HARM DONE TO
UNFORTUNATE GIRL.
Friends Of Miss willis Bs||Vsvs
BaIIsy's Conduct Toward Her
Was Honorable.
HEARING HELD IN WILLIAMSBURG
Superintendent Brunk Does No,
Know Whether Patient Left the
Asylum Voluntarily or Was Aided
in Her Filsht-says She Made
Her, Escape Alone.

WILLIAMSBURG, VA March 49,
Tho preliminary hearing of charg
cs against j. j. Bailey, IL telegraph
opcrltOr, at Grove, Va, began be
fore Justice Ill Il. Armlslcud sInortly
after noon. He Is charged with
abductlng. secrcting and attempting
To mi!ireut Miss I.ottie Willis, of
Richmond, an inmate OF the VII.
linmsburg ASYLUM.
commemorative Attorney Henley
ana Colonel George Wayne Ander.
son, of Richmond, appeared for the
prosecution. Lawyer John l.. JeI
fross, OF Norfolk, represents the
accused.
The court barred all spectators
newspaper men.
Nh. Henley announced that an
inipaftant wtncss, Robert Ford, a
tlef&pcakc and Ohio engiener,
cGula not ari1ivc until O'Clock.
lr was decided to proceed with
thcPcaaa and to hear Ford later
c5pNl'n Dyrl Willis. father of
Ness 'Luttle Wlll,s, testified to tic
girls ago. eighteen, ana Ito ;llc tact
OF her having been adjudged insane
and sad GMe had been sent to the
asylum nearly year ago. Sine
hiNl been furloughed a short time
last winter.
Or, IBrunk. superintendent OF tie
asylum, testified that Nliss Willis
wns mi;ased shortly after 0 O'Clock
last Tuesday ,rI!g,.t while the reg,l.
l9r Tuesday dance was IN progress.
He had seen her during the day
and She seemed TO be melancholy.
He testified tllNt e,le was subject
TO attcaks Of mcladlcholia mt inter.
walls, These camo on gradually.
Sho was in good physical health.
He id not know whether she ler;
Ne asylum voluntarily or was aidcu
In her flight
Ill. r. Hart, telegraph operator
at Grove, was awakened ABOUT 4
O'Clock Tuesday morning to go on
duty. When he entered the station
me saw Bailey Mt the Instrument.
a cab, IN which there was a woman,
stool nearby. He did not know
VINO tae woman was, nor did Bailey
have anything To say. In the tenn
ncrary absence of Mr. Hart for a
few moments the cab ,isai.ocured
and II short Time laicr Bailey. say.
Ing he was going Tor a drink on
water, left the building. Hart did
ncH taear from Bailey again until
about o'clock, when Bailey tele.
grarhod from Lee Hall in regard
to personal matter that had moth.
ing 10 do with Nlis case.
Bailey Did Girl No Wrong.
II Is the opinion of several Rich.
mona relatives of Miss Willis
that she suffered no ,indignity at
the bands OF j. j. Bailey.
1T was alleged THAT on escapinc
from the asylum, Miss Willis MADE
'iler way to Grove Station, 4 on the
chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, where
enc WIS detained overnight by Bailey
10Y f2ul and criminal purposes. The
nest Thursday morning the young
ialy made her escape TO Richmond
presumably with money procured
from Bailey.
According TO statements made by
relatives CT The young woman mere
MISS Willis. upon ARRIVING In Rioh
mond, commended tho Kindness OF
Bailey III her aunts.
ohe said she escaped from the
asylum. made 'her way through sew
crai miles of woods In the night
and arrived al Grove Station IN
! much distress.
Here she met with the operator
M,lom sho requested to assist her
tilo man ct first refused. but. ac
ooraing 10 her account. later sun
plied her with the money with wiaich
70 MroNhe dor her immediate needs
ms money was utilized by Miss
willis in making her trip to Rich
inoiid, aud 1T was the young lady's
expressed desire that the funds be
returned TO Mr.. j alley.
Never once. while in Richmond
Is Miss Willis SAID to have init
mated ANYTHING suggesting improper
conduct on the part of the yount
operator and to Officer Bowls on hel
return TO Williamsburg, referred t.