Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-14
.LE1|T|A WHITE OWEN
UNDER GRAVE CHARGE
Indicted for Abducting Daugh-
ter of James H. Harris.
Other True Bills.

An indictment for abduction was re-
ported today by the grand jury against
Letitia White Owen, fifty-eight years old,
| who, it is said, claims to be the founder
of the American Girls and Boys League.
Mrs. Owen is charged with taking th.r-
teen-year-old Marian Bernadette Harris
from her fathers home at SOB 9th street
southwest July Il, 1910, and with detain-
ing her outside the District against her
/ fathers will.
United States attorney by the child s
father, James II. Harris, an electrician
in the employ of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, Mrs. Owen
represented to him that she was a half
sister to his father. She spent two weeks
visiting him and persuaded him to let
her take the child to Boston, to remain
until last September.
Instead of going to Boston, however, i,
is said, Mrs Owen Travelled about, giving
free lectures" concerning the American
Girls and Boys League, and used the
child to pass the plate when taking up
the collection which followed the lee
lures.
Obtains Letters of Introduction.
Mrs. Owen, for the purpose of facili-
tating her work. it is stated, obtained a
letter of recommendation from DR.. J. w.
FriZzell, pastor of Ingram Memorial
Church. She used this testimonial, it is
declared by counsel in the case, as an
introduction to clergymen before whose
congrega tons, Sunday schools and auxil-
larry societies she delivered lectures.
Several letters passed In correspondence
between the father of the child and Mrs.
Owens, after her departure last summer.
The father sought the return of the child,
but Mrs. Owens appealed, it Is under
stood, to him to allow her to keep the lit
tie girl. Later on in the correspondence
the claim is said to have been made by
the woman that Harris had agreed to
let her have the permanent custody of
the child. Marian is a daughter of Harris
by his first wife.
The father stoutly denies that he ever
agreed to give UP his child or to allow
Mrs. Owens to adopt 1t.
Others Indicted.
Other indictments returned by the
grand jury today include Arthur w.
Wollney, non-support of wife and minor
child; George A. Tracy, non-support of
wife and minor child; George Reucher,
non-support of wife and minor child;
Harry c.. Lewis, non-support of minor
children; Edward H. Johnson. non-sup-
port of wife and minor children; Miles
K. Crenshaw, non-support of wife;
Leonard Chambers. alias J. Brown. nom
support of wife and minor children; Mar
tin Buliston, alias Martin Bolster, non
support of wife and minor children; Har-
old E. Pine. alias G. n. Howe, false pre-
lenses; William Yates, housebreaking
| Thomas ]. Bruce forgery and uttering
Clementine Morgan, keeping disorderly
| house; Charles Price, alias Charles Mil
| Ter, assault with dangerous weapon; John
! Bradford, assault with dangerous weap-
on; Victoria Lee, arson; Jerry Murphy and
Daniel Nolan, housebreaking and lar
| ceny; Leroy Johnson, carnal knowledge,
and Lottie Burke and Lena Spl1ggs, rob-
berry and attempted robbery.
| Edward J. Schartz, foreman OF the
grand jury. and his associates on the
! jury will take a much needed vacation
i during the coming six weeks, unless some
| important matter arises to require their
attention.