Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28
ARRIVES IN PITTSBURG
Engages a Lawyer to Assist Alleged
Kidnaper.
LATTER CoNFEssEs IDENTITY
Admits That She Has Told Many
Lies, But Declares She Was
Formerly Ar..a McDermott.

PITTSBURG. Pa. March 21.-William
McDermott. the retired Chicago fireman.
who believes that Mrs. James ii. Boyle.
one of the alleged kidnapers of Willie
Whitla. is his daughter, has retracted his
declaration made yesterday that he would
not assist the girl, and on his arrival in
this city today is said to have retained
an attorney to look after the case. Nc
Dermott did not get a chance to see Mrs
Boyle, as the woman had been taken to
Mercer. Pa, before he could visit her
After the departure of the prisoner it was
learned that her sudden removal from
this city was due to fear on the part of
the detectives connected with the case
that McDermott would institute habeas
corpus proceedings to secure the release
OF the girl he believes is his daughter
McDermott Is said to have made his ar
rangements so quietly today that few per-
sons knew he was in the city and 1t is
impossible to locate him tonight A note
on the door leading to the Office of At
tOrney William j. Jordan. who. IT is re-
ported. will protect Mr.. McDermott's in
terests in the case. said that the lawyer
would not be back until Tuesday.
1t Is thought that he has gone to Mer-
him.
mIS. 0Oy1eS ADMISSION.
A special to the Gazette-Times of this
city from Mercer. Pa. tonight says that
Mrs. Boyle admitted to the correspondent
that she was Anna McDermott. and that
ther father was William McDermott Of
Chicago.
According to the correspondent, the
young woman. when told that her ia
Their was in Pittsburg and had retained
lawyer to look after her interests,
said:
I'm tired and sick of the whole bust
ness. There is no use denying it any
longer. 1 am Anna McDermott and my
father is William McDermott of Chi
cago
Il have told so many lies lately. but
now 1 will tell you the truth. Yes. he
is my father"
My early education continued Mrs
Boyle. was received in the public
schools OF Chicago. and then later I was
sent to a convent in Wisconsin. What
was its name? Well. that is not neces-
sary. MY mother has been dead for
several years. I really am Mrs Boyle
We were married three years ago. No,
we have no children, but I am very
fond of little ones.
Afraid to stand trial? No. When 7
go on the stand and tell my story it will
throw an entirely different light on the
KIDNAPPING episode. Until then 7 would
dSh tHe PUBIC 10 WltnnOlQ It's Judgment.
Iswant you to correct one thing for me.
In no way am I related to the Whitlas or
Bulls in Sharon.
Il mean to stand by my husband
through this affair. do not know what
his connection with the whole dreadful
thing Is but / am sure he was not the
instigator OF the kidnapping plot I will
not say whether he had any knowledge
or not
The Hearing This Week.
SHARON. Pa. March PIT was stated
here tonight that at the preliminary hear
ing to be given Mr.. and Mrs. Boyle next
week. only enough evidence will be pre-
scented to warrant the prisoners being
held for the grand jury, which convenes
the third Monday in April. 1t will likely
be we'll on in May before the trial is
held.
An effort was made here and in nearby
towns today to stop the sale of postcards
bearing a photograph of Willis Whitla
Many of the cards were confiscated. Mr.
Whitla is greatly incensed over several
offers that have been made to him by
various vaudeville houses throughout the
country to use the child as an attraction
to make money. One theatrical manager
in a letter to the father of the boy, said
that with the child as a drawing card,
1000 could be made weekly the hero
worshiping public paying 81 seat to see
the lad.