The San Francisco call., 1909-03-21
KIDNAP AGED WOMAN,
ABUSE AND THREATEN HER
PlOtters Exposed in Monstrous Scheme by
Investigations of The Call

OF his death. which occurred suddenly
on Christmas day. 1907
Miles an Associate
Associated with Van Diern in various
enterprises during his stay in COLORADO
was T. g. Niles. who claims 10 have
been at one time district attorney in
Central City. At the time Of his death
Van Dieru's affairs were in an unset
tied condition and the widow knew
nothing Of business methods she
became involved in litigation over
81 coo life Insurance policy which her
husband had in the Knights OF Honor,
but finally disposed Of all her interests.
She was in Denver. awaiting a settle
1aent OF the estate in Europe, when she
received a letter from Miles. who had
come to san Francisco. urging her TO
come here and saving that he could
thus look after her affairs better. IN
This letter. according TO the statements
OF the widow, Miles told her that ne
had consulted a spiritualist IN regard
20 her affairs and that she would get
all of her money If she trusted TO him
and did not listen to knockers" She
came 10 san Francisco, arriving here
last November Miles secured room
Tor her AT 393 Fifth avenue. with a
Mrs Hartman. She remained few
davs and then expressed desire to en-
gage In some kind Of business until
her affairs were settled.
Gets Her a Shanty
Miles next secured a shanty al 1886
Point Lcbos avenue and Installed the
widow there She was TO open little
etore but il never materialized. In
ghe meantime Miles and his son, Ed
Ear. "a private at the Preside, We're
constant visitors and supplied the
widow with what she ate. which, ac-
Cording TO the stories told by neigh
bors. was very little.
About two months ago Miles. Mrs.
Van Diern says. told her of the Won
slerful psychic powers OF a Nine. Young
IN O'Farrell street and suggested that
1hey should so and hear her She
finally went and became curious. Her
experiences from that time on can
best be told i'm the language in which
she recounted her story TO the British
consul Wellesley Moore. a representa-
tive Of the district attorneys Office and
e. Call reporter yesterday afternoon.
y went 10 hear this Nine. Seals, who
breaches for Nine. Young. Miles took
Ine there three times. / then went to
see Nine Young. and from that time I
lost control over myself for a number
of DAYS 7 sang and used baby talk
and similar things. / never had any
trouble before that nor since. although
7 have been extremely nervous since
my recent experiences.
He Takes Her Out
Three weeks go last Sunday Miles
came 10 my room and suggested that
We 20 FOR q car ride. I consented. and
we went downtown 10 Market street.
5Ie took me TO a drug store. and say
5ng he had some matters to attend TO
sn his Office. asked me if I would wait
= little while. He returned later and
brought with him Howard James. who
SIS his partner He introduced James
TO me. and Immediately this man asked
me why I did not go TO hear Ormour.
an sstrologer- I said ] would some
time and James then suggested that
we 90 10 Alameda and meet his wife
7 consented. and We crossed the ferry.
We had been in James house but
very short time. when this astrologer.
Ormour, arrived, and by some means
secured an influence over me- ala
many nonsensical things, which 1 can
remember. but was helpless in their
hands
Leaving James house Nj Miles sug
gested that we go TO see Mr.. Ken
nev in Fruitvale as he had some bust
ness TO attend to with him. / naturally
thought he had. and went. / had been
III the house but short time when Mr..
James and Mr.. Miles left. and 1 was
alone in a room with Kenney. He as
sured me that they would be back, and
finally invited me to have some supper
] sat down to the table, but when / no
ticed peculiar glauces directed toward
me ] refused TO eat, and demanded that
they allow me to leave the house. They
refused and when 7 insisted checked
me with sheets which they tied around
my limbs and throat. One who was
Jess brutal than the rest made them de-
sist. but allowed them to place me in
2 sheet and drag ne upstairs, beating
me and sitting my screams.
Il was placed in a room, my clothes
were taken OF Of me, and a woman
and her daughter then came IN. They
beat and abused me, finally using a
thick leather strap like a cowhide
] begged them to desist, as I had done
nothing. but they would not listen.
J0or three days I was treated this way
Mr. Miles came on the night Of the
third day, and I asked him to take me
away. He assured me that he would
come back IN an hour and get me. He
did not come back, but my clothes
were returned to me. ] was kept there
six days more. being treated brutally
and all OF the time food was sent to
me which was not fit for dog TO eat
one man in the house. the same who
had taken pity on me when I was be-
sDg strangled, brought me some food
once in a while.
Next to Sanitarium
Il was finally taken from this house
by a Mr. Allen. who said he was a po-
lice officer, and I was taken TO a sani-
tarium opposite the city hail in Oak
1snd. where they treated me kindly. ]
was released from there two days later
and have the papers signed by the
court.
Ny experiences in that house where
Kenney was would drive any one in
sane. but with few days rest in the
sanitarium after I arrived there ] felt
well enough to come home.
After I left the courthouse with Mr.
Miles he wanted me 10 go with him
saying that he had some business, but
] refused, fearing that he again in
tended TO put me in some house where
would be q prisoner
Tie gave me 25 cents and left me- ]
asked a girl TO direct me TO the Rich
mond district and she told me to fol-
low a cetrain carline. That was in the