The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-07
GIRL TELLS OF PLOT
Miss Mabel Mercer Says Her
Father Kidnapped Her.
LURED AWAY FROM NEW YORK
Placed I'm ReformatOry Institution
Near Philadelphia, She Escapes,
and, Aided by Young Man ia Auto,
She Returns to New gOrk-Is Pre-
pairing 10 60 on the Stage.

New York, April 6.-Pittsburg. which
furnishes this city with much Of its SEN
sational material now comes TO the front
with a kidnapping Of a pretty young
woman by her father. her foreible deten-
ton in a Philadelphia convent, which
she had been required at the point Of a re-
VoiYer 10 enter; hsr escape and return
TO this city 10 go on the stage: her fear
OF recapture. and her determination 20 re-
main away from the espionage Of her
parents. The recital is made by the
young woman herself who is Miss Mabel
Mercer, a pretty brunette, vino Is living
at the Hotel Plymouth 287 West Thirty
eighth street. under the name Of Doris
Bland. she is the daughter Of George
Mercer. custodian Of the public buildings
for Allegheny County. a man Of wealth.
and figure in politics. She is Just past
eighteen years old, Is vivacious, and is
inclined 20 follow her own devices. The
story Of her capture and escape is as
follows:
She ran away from her home in Pitts
burg two months ago coming 70 this
city. Her reasons for leaving home she
declines 10 make public. She had left the
Plttsburg Academy. where she was a
pupil. and this so displeased her father
that there was a disagreement IN conse-
queuee. When she reached New York
she found an engagement with a the
atrlcal company. Then she went 10 see
a lawyer and he Informed her that her
father could not require her to return.
Told Her Mother Was III.
According to her statements, when she
approached her hotel, on March q. she
saw cab with her father and another
man awaiting her, He told her. she says.
that her mother was dangerously i'll, and
that he had come 10 take her to her bed
side. She agreed, and was driven rapidly
to Pennsylvania Railroad train. She
was surprised. she said, when. after they
had passed over the State line and into
Pennsylvania, 20 see the man who was
with he- father leave them. She learned
after reaching Philadelphia that ne was
a detective.
There she continues, she was taken 10
Germantown, although she he'd unsuccess-
fully tried 20 escape while they were in a
restaurant. When they reached German
town her father directed that they be
driven 20 the Midnight Mission" an in
stitution for girls. At this point her story
approaches the weird. She says her
father informed her he was going to put
her where she could do no HARM and
when she protested he drew revolver,
saying: II you don't go in you know
what I'll do 10 you"
Forthwith she entered the convent.
where she remained until she managed TO
escape after feigning illness. She had
been with the other girls closely guarded.
One morning she was locked In her room,
but she made such a prOdigiOus noise that
a matrOn soon came
Il sDrang out into the hall and turned
the key in the door, thus locking her ia,
said Miss Mercer.
Il had nothing but the ugly uniform Of
the institution on, and / knew that if 1
did get out the chances were that I
would not get very far away. However.
/ was desperate. ] had pinned a ten dol
Lar bin 10 my Waist-an the money / had
left The window ! got out OF opened
upon the roof of a porch. II was pro-
teeted by a sash OF interwoVon iron. but
I managed 20 lift up one end far enough
20 squeeze my body through. It was a
hard task, and left black and blue marks
on me that I have yet.
once out on the roof I slid down an
iron rod 10 the porch below. After accom-
plishing this feat there was stu a dis
lance of fifteen feet to the ground. I was
very much excited by this time. as 1t was
broad daylight, and I knew that my
chances Of getting away were slim.
reached my hand under the cave OF the
porch. and as I did 30 I encountered
barbed wire. evidently intended to make
escape from the building more difficult
The wire cut my arm dreadfully. ] lost
my balance and fell TO the ground That
I was not seriously hurt was pure chance.
1 was stunned for moment. ] got on my
feet as soon as possible and made for the
street. There I found an automobile with
a young man in IT,
Il was a sorry looking object Ny
Bingham uniform was torn. 1 had no
hat and worst Of all, I had lost my
money.
Jump in and we'll get away from
here, said my automobile friend. lie
took me to a train and I came TO this