Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-28
PRETTY WOMAN SAYS
WOOER HER
YOUNG MATR0M CAUSES OIL
FOREMAN'S ARREST
Accused Makes Light of Charge and
Declares She Was in His Rooms
Solely Because She De-
sired to Be There

Accused by Mrs. Estelle Vanmeter,
the pretty young wife of Charles van
meter, living at 1109 Orme avenue, OF
having abducted her in daylight at the
muzzle of a revolver, forced her to ac-
company him to his apartments at sl2
Boston street, and there kept a prisoner
for two days, F. w. DeLong, foreman
for the Summers Oil company, was ar
rested by Sergeant Grogan at Fifth
street and Central avenue yesterday
and taken to the central police station,
where he was booked on a felony
charge.
This is the first case of its kind that
has ever ben brought to the notice or
the police of Los Angeles.
Soon after belongs arrest Mrs. VAN
meter swore to a complaint in Police
Justice Frederickson's court charging
belong with having abducted her and
keeping her forcibly in illicit relation
ship.
According to her story to the police
and to the prosecuting attorney, Mrs.
Vanmeter became acquainted with De
Long some time ago, when he was in
charge of oil deliveries being made to
brick company near her home. She
says she met him only in a casual way,
and she thought nothing more about
the man until he appeared at her home
and enticed her to his room by telling
her that he would lend her a horse to
ride. Then, after getting her there,
forced her at the point of a revolver
to enter his room. She declares he
kept her locked in and kept her pris-
oner for two days, from 10 o'clock
August 20 to 10 o'clock August 22.
The police say Mrs. Vanmeter asserts
she was allowed no opportunity to es-
cape during the time she was detained
in the room of DeLong, because he kept
the door locked while he was with her
and when he was absent
She further stated, say the police
that DeLong has been following herself
and husband since she succeeded in
making her escape from his room.
When searched at the station a large
revolver was found on DeLong and he
at first was booked on charge of car
rying concealed weapons, but later this
was substituted for a felony charge.
DeLong told the police that he was car
rying the gun for self-protection.
DeLong admits that the woman was
at his rooms, but declares she came
there of her own accord. He asserts
that there are two telephones in the
house; that the doors to his apart
nents were unlocked; that he was at
home only part of the two days in
question, and that there were a num-
Der of persons in the house that she
could have notified of her predicament
He was surprised at the charge
brought against him. and says he is
innocent of having taken the woman
to his room under any promises or
threats, and the sole reason for her be-
ing there for two days was because she |
wanted to be with him.
This is corroborated by the police, |
who say that belong told them the |
same story and declared that he |
thought the woman was single, and |
when he learned otherwise attempted |
TO meet her husband and try to effect |
4 peaceable settlement.
DeLong was arraigned in Police JUS
ice Fredericksons court yesterday af-
.ernoon and his preliminary examina-
ion was set for August 81 and his
ponds fixed at $4,000.
He was taken back to Jail and later
released on bail which was furnished
)y Mrs. Emma Summers, the "oil
lueen," for whom belong worked.
Vanmeter, who is a barber, is said to
ave advised his wife to keep the mat
er quiet and avoid publicity.