Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-27
WOMAN'S DARING ACT
Kidnaper Attempts to Jump
From Moving Train.
is FOILED BY BRAKEMAN
Eludes Guards and Makes Rush for
Rear Door.
DENIES NAME IS McDERMOTT
Declares She Is Not Related to Chi.
cago Family-In Hospital Ward
at Mercer Jail.

PITTSBCRG. March 27.-Making a SEN
sational attempt to escape from a train
going at the rate of thirty miles an hour:
denying that she had hand in the kid
naping of little Willie Whitla. asserting
that she Is not Anna McDermott OF Chi.
cago. saying that numerous other stories
are absolutely incorrect, and through II
all strictly maintaining the great air OF
mystery that has surrounded her. Mrs.
James Boyle. wife of the man who kid
naped the Whitla boy. left Pittsburg to-
day for the jail at Mercer. Pa.
Although three officers accompanied her
on the Bessemer and Lake Erie train
from this city to Mercer. Pa. she scared
them SO badly that the experience will
never be forgotten.
The train had reached the Bakerstowu
HILL one mile south Of Valencia
Sheriff Gumbert occupied the last chair
In the car. with Mrs. Boyle directly in
front of him on the left side OF the car.
She was Tn,s.,, not handcuffed m Opposite her
front Of the woman was Detective GIL
bert Perkins.
Made Rush for Door
Brakeman Campbell passed through the
car and opened the rear door. Before
the officers were aware of her actions
Mrs. Boyle jumped from her seat and ran
toward the door. A sharp cry from the
detectives warned the brakeman, who
quickly slammed the door. AS the brake
man shut the door look Of anger and
disappointment flashed over Mrs. Boyies
face, but. turning to one side, she opened
the lavatory door and stepped into the
room. Slamming the door she began
working at the window, but did not have
sufficient time to open the window before
Sheriff Gumbert followed her. Fearing
the woman might dive through the WIN
dow. Detective w. W. Perkins ran to the
| rear platform and stepped down on the
steps OF the car in an endeayor to catch
| her should she go through the window.
Immediately the car was In an uproar.
Mrs. Boyle was taken out OF the lavatory
| and escorted back to her seat. and the
guard never Jagged again. As q precau-
tinary, measure handouts were placed on
At every station between Pittsburg and
Mercer large crowds OF persons congre-
gated and cheered her and struggled with
the police in their endeavors to see and
a serious charge. her journey to Mercer
1 was more like the triumphal journey OF
some person of renOwn.
This afternoon both Boyle and his wife
are locked up in the jail at Mercer. where
| they will remain until brought to trial for
the KIDNAPPING, which probably will be dur
ing the early part of May.
Denies She Is Anna McDermott.
At the railroad station Mrs. Boyle was
asked for an interview. "Go ahead" she
said
Are you Anna McDermott Of Chicago?'
the reporter asked.
A shake of the head was the response.
Members of a family OF McDermotts
have seen your photographs and unhesi-
| tatingiy declare you to be daughter and
| a sister,
"why should a respectable family want
| to claim me. especially when I am not
related to them? Besides, my first name,
even, isn't Anna. It's Helen
VIII you tell me your real name?'
Boyle" was the laconic answer. and
the young woman compressed her lips.
Where were you married?"
Again the smile appeared and with per-
feet self-possession and cool poise re-
| turned. she placed a gloved finger over
her veil-covered lips in token of a seal.
IF you are not Miss McDermott, wouldn't
it be kind to tell who you are. and where
you came from. to relieve the McDer-
motts. if for no other reason?"
They will find out their mistake with
out my saying anything.
Crowd at Butler.
BUTLER. Pa, March 27-When Mrs.
Boyle arrived here this morning the Off
GERS were maintaining strict guard
over her. The officers refused to talk or
the attempted escape Of the woman. Will
liam Campbell. the brakeman. was be-
sieged by a crowd of 200 persons for par
ticulars concerning the sensational affair.
and admitted to them it was true.
The stop here was less than a minute.
GROVE CITY. Pa. March ga crowd
numbering over 1000 gathered at the
station here today and attempted to seq
Mrs. Boyle. They cheered the woman
and endeavored to board the car, but
were restrained by police.
MERCER, Pa, March 2.-The woman
who was arrested with James H. Boyle
for kidnapping Willie Whitla was brought
to the jail here today from Pittsburg.
While I'm Jail here the woman will be
kept in the hospital ward under an armed
guard.
Boyle has already been brought here.
but the two will not be allowed to see
each other. They will have hearing
Monday.