The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-03-06
VAL ORAISO MAN
IN BIG SENSATION
Dual Life of Businesn Man
Amazes the People of
That CITY.

Chicago March 6-Miss Lillian Nc
Dermott a comedy young woman re-
siding with her parents at $40 South
Albany avenue, who says she was max
ing arrangements to marry George La
Force, a shoe merchant of Valparaiso,
Ind, on St. Patricks day, yesterday
was arrested in connection with his
disappearance.
Mrs. La Force the missing mans
wife is back of the proceedings, and
believes her husband met with violence.
The police do not exactly agree with
the wife's views, but as Captain
| O'Brien says, believe Miss McDermott
has him planted" somewhere. They
are trying to make her tell so that
the heart broken wife might be con-
soled.
La Force departed from his home for
Chicago three weeks ago with a large
sum of mony to carry out some bust
ness transactions. His wife has been
seeking him ever since, but she con-
Quoted her search quietly until the
bank at which he does business received
a check against his account made out
In the name of Miss McDermott, after
which Captain O'Brien was communi-
Gated with.
Explains Check Incident.
1t was learned that La Force and the
young woman were together practically
all the time until Tuesday of last week,
when they quarreled and parted. after
which he has not been seen. Miss Nc
Dermott, while detained at the Harri-
son street police station last night
previous to being admitted to bail on
a disorderly conduct charge, tearfully
explained away the check incident by
declaring it was for money she ad-
vanced La Force, but again the police
differ by asserting that La Force spent
a large sum of money with her.
According to Miss McDermotts story
she was deceived by La Force, who
she asserts, posed as unmarried and
pressed his suit for her hand ardently
She says he was a frequent visitor to
her home after she met him in her suit
and cloak store downtown six years
ago. and that she disposed Of this bust
ness about a year ago after date had
been set for their wedding. Suisse
quently she procured a place in the
; cloak department of a large store.
Wrote to business Addresses
Miss McDermott says she CORE.
sponded with La Force regularly, but
sent all her letters to his place of bust
ness at Main street, Valparaiso
which arrangement she believes was re-
sponsible for Mrs. La Force not learn
ing sooner OF their friendship.
Il am a devout Catholic and would
die before 1 would violate the rules OIL
my faith" she said in her cell. Dis.
| appeared! Yes, no wonder. Perhap:
he is now fooling some other girl The
day of our marriage was approaching
and there was nothing else left fol
him to do but disappear. True, he may
] have been killed
= i told him I never could think o
: marrying him unless he stopped drink,
5 ing. But his conduct didn't improve
t and when I located him in a Yves
/ Madison street saloon with another wo
man I declared our relations at an end
: Then he promised to go home, bu
s said he didn't have the necessary 81
4 cents for fare. l borrowed 81 from
t woman friend. and told him we mus
= part forever. That's the last I saw
= him. I believed he had returned home
and cannot account for his continue,
n absence"