Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-03
CHARGE OF ABDUCTION
VIM. M. Dempsey Accuses
Former Business Partner.
SUIT FILED FOR DAMAGES
Alleged That Robert Dickson Induced
Girl to Leave Home.
TRIAL BEFORE DISTRICT COURT
Madeline Dempsey Found in Winches-
ter by Her Father After Search
of Two Weeks.
TRIAL BEFORE DISTRICT COURT


Fredericksburg Evening Journal, who went
to Winchester, Va, yesterday morning and
found his missing daughter. Madeline fif-
teen years of age. as stated in yesterdays
Star, returned to this city with the child
last night. He called at police headquar-
tiers and conferred with the police officials
about what he could do In the matter OF
prosecuting his former business associate.
Robert S. Dickson, Tor the part he is al
legged to have taken in the matter of his
daughters disappearance. He had been
told by her that she had been induced to
go to Winchester by Mr.. Dickson and
wired his attorney. W. d. Carter. to have
Dickson held. Dickson was arrested in
Fredericksburg and taken before Mayor
Wallace, where he gave bond for his ap-
pearance today. Counsel for Mr. Dempsey
also instituted suit against Dickson for
5000 and upon the strength of this suit
AN attachment is said to have been issued
against the stock of the Dickson Hardware
Company.
MI Dempsey conferred with Inspector
Boardman and Detective Hartigan, and
later procured warrant for the arrest OF
Dickson upon charge of abduction. The
warrant alleges a violation of the provi-
sions of section SIC of the code. which pro-
yides That whoever leads, carries or en-
tees away a child under the age of sixteen
years, with intent unlawfully to detain or
conceal such child SO led, taken or en-
ticed away, shall be imprisoned for not
more than twenty years or fined not eX-
eeeding 81 1000 or both.
Will Be Brought Here for Hearing.
When the warrant had been issued Mr..
Dempsey and the detective boarded the
1855 train for Fredericksburg for the pur-
pose of arresting Dickson and bringing him
here for a hearing. Madeline "Madge,"
as the child is Familiarity known, returned
home with her father, but she will have to
return here as a witness should Dickson be
brought here for trial.
But" said Mr.. Dempsey, her mother
hasn't seen her in long time. and is anx-
ious to see her. will return with her when
her presence is desired.
Mr.. Dempsey brought with him from Win
chester a letter that his daughter is alleged
to have received from Dickson, who was
known at Winchester as Wv. NJ. Miller"
the initials wv. NJ. M" appearing in the
diary that was kept by Madeline from April
IS until the day before her father found her
In the town in the Shenandoah valley The
letter referred to was shown to Assistant
United States Attorney Given at the Police
Court, and he listened to the story tod by
Mr.. Dempsey. 1t was largely due to the let
Ter that the prosecutor decided that Dick
son had violated q law in this Jurisdiction
While the letter was not given out for pub
ncation, 1t Is known that the writer of 1t
coached the child as to how she should
conduct herself, and what she should say
She was told in the letter to never appear
az If she were lost, but always to act as If
she knew just where she was going and
what she was doing. 1t is said the writer
also told her that some talk was being in
dulged in by few residents of Fredericks-
burg. but that nothing definite was known.
He also suggested that unless she followed
ms advice both would "be in the SOUP
The diary referred to showed that Made
line Is a mere child, and the Investigation
made by her father convinced him that she
did not realize what her goin. away at the
suggestion of married man meant.
The Girls Diary.
The diary Is as follows:
Thursday, April 1S-Went to work at 8
O'Clock and got home at $780,
Friday 19th-Worked all day at store in
Washington: Give up my position and got
my money, $3.50.
Saturday 2Oth-winchester. Va, Got
here at 1875 o'clock. Had dinner and sup
per at o'clock.
Sunday, 21st-Went to church with An
ME "a frienD morning and evening
MONDAY 22d-Went down town and
bought me a waist
Tuesday. 23d-Did not do much of any
thing. Slept good DEAL
Wednesday, 24th-Nice day. Sent my
Washing 10 negro
Thursday, 25th-'R NJ. M got here at
/ O'Clock. Went walking and up to the
cemetery. Then came home and got sup
per He left on the 5.oo train for Wash
ington.
Friday. 26th-April showers. Feel real
blue. Went down town in evening with
Annie.
saturday. 27th-went down town and
bought a hat, cost 50 cents. Fine day and
rather cool.
Sunday, 2sth-Nice day. Went to church
in morning without any coat. Then came
home. read a good deal and went to bed
early.
Monday 29th-Stin nice weather Went
to the dentist to have him look after my
teeth. Am going to have them cleaned to-
= morrow.
Tuesday. 3Oth-Nice day. Made lot Of
candy. but II was failure. Went to dentist
to have my teeth fixed.
"Wednesday. May 1-Rainy day. Got q
letter from r. NJ. M Played store. Still
In W"
MILLER" Arranged for Board.
Madeline Dempsey was known in Win
chester as Miss NJ. A. Richie, and she rep
resented that she was from Pennsylvania.
She was there, she said. for the benefit of
her health. Robert s. Dickson, her fathers
former business partner, it Is alleged, went
to Winchester, and introduced himself as
w. NJ Miller. He engaged board for Made
line at one of the best boarding houses In
the town, telling people there that Miss
Richie" was his niece. His letters to he
were addressed TO My dear niece, and
concluded: with much love and kisses" One
of the letters indicated that the writer was
to meet her at Roanoke and Richmond
later.
1t is said that while the child was living
at home with her parents she frequently
visited the Dickson home. and it was be-
cause OF the attention paid her by Dickson
that she was sent to this city to live with
her sisters. When her disappearance was
reported to her father, the latter came
here and instituted an investigation. He
was armed with a revolver, and Detective
Hartigan arrested him. His story gained
the sympathy of those who heard it, and
Judge O'Neal released him when he was
arraigned upon a charge of carrying con-
cealed weapons Mr.. Dempsey was armed
for Dickson. He had learned that Dickson
was going to send his wife and two children
10 East Liverpool Ohio, and that he was
then to meet Madeline. 1t was stated that
Dickson was to obtain divorce and marry
Madeline. Railroad trains Were watched
but Dickson failed to materialize, and 1t
was not until after Mr.. Dempsey found
his daughter that he was able to apply for
a warrant.
In conversation with a Star reporter this
morning Mr. Dempsey said he had had but
little rest since he reached this city nearly
two weeks ago.
MI Dempsey's Statement.
'I have been on the go night and day