New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-18
GIRLS STRANGE STORY
BOUND TO TUB IN HOTEL.
Nay Haze Been Victim of Remarks
able ConsDracu.

Chicago. Feb 17.-Ella Gingles, young Irish
girl, was found unconscious to-day, dashed to
the supports Of a bath tub in the wellington
Hotel Whether she was the victim of plot, as
she inooherently alleges in her few conscious
moments chose fantastic means to retaliate
| on a woman whom she believed to have been
her enemy, is the question with the police.
charnbermaid found the girl in a public
bathroom The tub and sink contained blood
coIored water. An empty bottle that had con-
tanned claret was found in the room. The door
was locked from the inside. When an entrance
was forced. the girl found clad only in a
night dress, her hands tied with light binding
cord. and fastened to the legs at the head OF
the tub. A second cord, drawn tightly about
her knees, held the lower portion of her body to
the lower legs of the tub. The girls face
showed cuts and bruises.
The girl also apparently suffering from
laudanum poisoning. A two-ounce bottle which
had contained laudanum was found in the room
towel was tied tightly under her Jaws. When
the cords which bound her to the tub were sew
cred the girl rolled over. and a wet cloth was
found stuffed in her mouth. Her clothes, in
Guiding her outer wraps, found in corner
of the room. She was removed to a bedroom.
and restoratives administered by DR. Wat
son, the house physician. but she recovered only
sufficiently to babble Historically:
Don't let her come nearer Don't let her
make me drink any more; It will kill me-
The words cab" and pepper" occurred in
her talk. Later in the day, after she had lain
several hours at the Frances Willard Hospital
whittier she was taken, she recovered con-
seriousness for several minutes.
CARRIED OFF IN A CAB.
To Captain Of Detectives O'Brfen she told
strange tale OF having been attacked near her
rooming place. No. I74 La Sale avenue, last
night. by & man and One OF them
struck her and the other threw pepper in her
eyes She was then hustled into q cab. She
knew no more she told the captain. until she
regained consciousness at o'clock last night
In a strange room.
She recognized the apartment as belonging
to the Wellington Hotel. she said and wrote a
note to her friend. Miss Mary Joyce She
threw 1t over the transom with q pecilIed note
the envelope asking some bell boy TO mail
IT. The letter ran: Mary: Will be killed at
wellington Hotel Come quick-Ella" It was
this note which set the police on the trail to-
day. 1t reached Miss Joyce at a. m. in the
office where she is employed stenographer
to P. H ODonnelL a lawyer who is attorney
for Miss Gingles. At the hotel the detectives
found that no ELLA Gingles" was registered
there. Their inquiries. however. led 10 the dis
covery of the bound girl
No bell boy could be found who had picked up
any letter in the hall and mailed It Manager
McC1intock OF the hotel stated that Miss Gin
gless story ana the postInark on the letter
ceived by Miss Joyce were inconsistent The
postmark showed that IL had been stamped
at the postoff1ce at Q o'clock last night. Ac-
cording to this, he said. IT must have been
mailed at the hotel not later than o'clock
at night an hour and q half before Miss Gin
giles said she regained consciousness.
A CHARGE OF THEFT.
The name OF Miss Agnes Barrett was brought
into the case in the course OF Captain OBrien's
brief talk with the patient at the hospital. Miss
Gingles said she recognized the woman who
helped seize her Miss Barrett. who conducts
a lace shop in the Wellington Hotel Building
A few weeks ago Miss Barrett caused the arrest
OF Miss Gingles, who is nineteen years old, on
a charge OF stealing $50 worth Of lace from the
store where she employed Miss Gingles
came to Chicago two months ago from ireland,
and, being expert lace maker, found employ
ment with Miss Barrett
This employment ceased with the theft charge.
The case was not pressed. but the Irish Fell
lowship Club believing the girls story that she
was prosecuted, and that the lace taken was
some she had made herself. and which belonged
to her took up the case An Indictment charg-
ing the theft was brought In order. it was
planned that the girls name might be cleared.
MIR. ODonnen was retained to defend her
Mr. O'Donnelrs version of his clients trials
is as strange as fiction. We were just about to
go to the states attorney with the details of as
forfi conspiracy existed Mr.. ODon-
nell declared TO reporters Suddenly the case
has ended Now we must that the punish
ment is swift and sure. A horrible act has been
Derpetrated and the laws of God and man set
aside. 1t is worse than murder" Mr.. O'DonneH
then outlined a story OF how the girls youth and
beauty made her the object of persecution on
the part of a man who, he said, was well known
in several states
81 believe, after investigating" said Chief
O'Brien night that the girls story Of how she
was bound and cut is untrue. believe that the
persons named by her her assailants are in
nocent. The girl could have broken the cords
which bound her to the bathtub."
Agnes Barrett told in detail OF where she
had been up till noon to-day. Il have not seen
Miss Gingles for three weeks" she said. THE
nightdress Miss Gingles wore marked A Bar
rett' does not belong to me. 1t had never been
laundered. and so there was no reason for the
mark on It."