The San Francisco call., 1908-11-16
TIRES OF RESTRAINT
OF HER HOME LIFE
Art Student Enters Paulist Day
Nursery Under Name OF
Edwarda Chase
Denies Love Affair With Rev.
Payson Young; Is Working
in Candy Store

herself by her mother, mrs anna L
Mack The girl, according TO her own
statements, elected to forsake her
home and relatives without a word OF
farewell, to take up her residence IN
the Paulist day nursery in the eastern
city under an assumed name.
The reasons she gave for her strange
actions are considered whimsical, and
il is further shown that she is anx-
ious to disguise her feelings toward
Rev. PaysOn Young. the man who has
figured prominently in the case ever
since the girl disappeared
Seemingly unconcerned about the ter
ribIe anguish which she caused her
mother and relatives. and oblivious of
the fact that the police departments OF
several cities have been running down
every cleW which might lead to her
discovery, Edna Clark has calmly an
nounced that she will continue TO re-
side away from her home despite the
protestations Of her family. On the
other hand, every effort will be made
10 induce the girl to return to her
home in Alameda, and to the mother
and grandparents who have suffered
greatly since her disappearance on Oc-
tober ..
Al 1880 o'clock yesterday morning
Captain Petersen of the Oakland de-
tective force was notified by Mrs. Mack
that she had received letter purport-
ing to be from her daughter. The
missive was turned over to the police
and was verified last evening by the
Chicago police department
During the afternoon A. Z. Yates,
an uncle OF the girl. who has been IN
charge of the search. accompanied by
his wife. called on Captain Petersen.
After consultation lasting for almost
an hour Yates was asked If press rep
resentatives would be allowed to see
the original Of the letter. He refused
absolutely, but said that Captain Peter
sen would give out d copy. He was
asked to allow the newspapermen to
see the original in order to compare ii
with the copy and again refused.
EDNA CLARK'S LETTER
Following is a copy Of the letter
given out:
Dear Mama: Realizing that you must be
worrying as TO what had become Of me, / just
want 20 tell sou that 1 am safe. in addition 70
one or Two other things. There were two reasons
First because couldn't stand the idea Of
having 70 account for every move I made. Not
because WIS going 10 do anything wrong, be-
cause ] WASH Z. but for girl Of such nature
as mine 10 feel that she can't do a single thing
or make the slightest move whatever without
telling her mother everything about il is bound
10 20 against the grain II is no new thing
for TO feel this way, because it has been
The second reason you may know or suspect.
Il is as strong every bit, If not stronger. than
the hrst-the church After that one time two
years ago have been doing my best 10 get the
idea Of the Catholic church out OF my head.
but the seed was planted too deeply to ever
forget it, As i told you before. / believed IN
the Catholic church before I became a member
of ny own. II was on account Of you, and you
alone, that I remained out and at times made
light Of II or declared such q thing was absO-
lutely out Of the question; yet I have been
arm Catholic at heart, and nothing could ever
shake my belief AS far as q convent is con
,erned I would not be a
have position and am with q Mrs. Dowd-
EDNA.
II you wish to write. address Edwarda Chase,
- Eldridge court, Chicago, III.
The girls actions are inexplicable
TO me-" said Yates. Everything has
been very different from what would
expect of Edna. have nothing further
TO say"
Mrs. Mack was still suffering from
the nervous attack brought on by her
daughters disappearance when seen
last evening.
WILL URGE HER RETURN
7 am glad Edna's found. but 1 really
am not able to discuss the matter to-
night 1 have wired to relatives in
Minnesota, who will go to Chicago and
discuss with her the matter Of her
coming home"
event was closed so far as the police
department was concerned. Previous
10 this, however, he stated that Rev.
Payson Young had admitted TO him the
kissing Of the girl.
When interviewed in Chicago last
night Edna Clark, unaware Of the pub
lication Of a letter in her own hand
writing. dated October 81. 1908. denied
that she had entertained any affection
companied her in leaving home.
In the letter written by her to Edna
Reynolds, her chum. FIVE days before
she disappeared Edna Clark said in ref
erence to the clergyman among other
things:
Haven't I a reason to be happy?
Yesterday was the first time in eight
days that I saw him. and was becoming
so blue that I hardly had a smile for
any one I'm undoubtedly madly in
love with him.
The idea Of your insinuating the
other day that there would not be much
confessing Of sins when I was there,
and that IL would be mostly q confes-
sion Of love. How shocking.
He said that some time he wanted
me to join an order called The Contra
ternity Of the Blessed Sacrament.
told him / would when our engagement
-hurch Did ] tell you expect TO see
nv sweetheart on the boat today?"
The only statement made by Rev.
aTr. Young when informed that the girl
lad been found was:
7 am glad that Miss Clark has been
found. IT viii be very, very welcome
news 10 her mother, who will be much
relieved.
The reasons for Edna Clark so soon
forgetting her affection for Young will
probably never be known. and she has
refused to give any reasons, other than
those contained in her letter to her
mother for quitting her career as an
art student to go TO work in a strange
city.
Information from Chicago leads to
the belief that the girl has embraced
the Roman Catholic faith since her dis
appearance. instead of the Anglican
Catholic church. of which Rev. Payson
Young is minister, and for which the
girl had previously expressed a prefer
ence.
DISPATCH FROM CHICAGO
The following dispatch was received
from Chicago last night.
~Edna Clark, the missing Alameda