The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-10
Says She Saw Men Lure Julia Con-
nors from Play to Death by
Al Stab Wounds
CAUSE OF TWO ARRESTS
Men Released in New York, and
After 48-Hour Delay Detec.
tives Have No Clew

New York, July 9.--The police, in
the task of detecting the degenerate
creature who stabbed 12-year-old
Julia Connors to death with Al
strokes of a double-edged knife,
have been set back nearly As hours,
tricked and fooled by the stories of
an amazing child Florence Molz.
Charges by her caused the arrest
of man and youth, whom the
authorities later discharged with ex-
pressions of regret. Coroner Shon-
gut ordered that the men be set free
while the Molz child whimpered
that the stories she had told were
untrue.
The first story Florence told Nhe
police was that she saw Julia being
dragged into the lot where the
child's body was abandoned by the
murderer. But the time she set was
broad daylight and 1t was proved
that many children were at play in
the lot and saw nothing of Julia
Conners or heard her screaming.
Then she told how two men tried
to lure Julia Connors and her away
from their play. She said Julia ac-
companied the men, but that she
was too wise for that" She also
described the attack on Julia.
Takes Police to Cellar.
When the detectives demanded
that she show them the cellar,
where she said the men attacked
Julia, she led them to the coal and
ice cellar of Giovanni Geressi.
Geressi, mild hammered man of 80,
married, and with family, was
taken into custody. Next the de-
tectives took Florence to Cretona
Park to show them the spot where
she had said she and Julia Connors
were accosted. AS they approached
the place a young man rose from a
bench and started to walk away. In
stantly Florence pointed him out as
one of the men who had lured Julia
into the Third avenue cellar. She
said this young man had committed
offenses against children in the
parks for several days. The youth
was arrested.
In front Of Coroner shongut and
Police Captain Price the child re-
peated her story, Her invention Of
detail, her coolness under cross-ex-
animation puzzled the officials. The
girl sat before them, youngster
with large, traight-looking, solemn
brown eyes and saucy, upturned
nose, as she told her story.
Admits Story is False.
She swore she knew the youth by
his walk, by the pattern of his
clothing, by his face. The young
man was able to rove his unques-
tionable responsibility, and that he
was at work at the time the Molz
girl accused him of being with
Julia Conners.
Florence's mother arrived with de-
tectives
"Do you know that your little
girl is in the habit Of telling lSss?"
asked Capt. Price.
"She always tells the truth, +"
cried the indignant woman.
Then the child's story was repeat
ed to her.
"How can you tell such stories?"
demanded the mother,
The coroner ordered the dis
charge of the youth and of harmless
old Jefferson Kelly, arrested after a
spree, and finally of Geressi. Flor
ence had admitted that all her
stories were false.
"As for this little girl, | hardly
know what to do" said the Coroner.
II think 1t advisable that she be
held by the Children's Society in or.
der that her own extraordinary case
may be fully investigated"
The police then returned to the
scene of the crime, but they have
found no clew to the murderer OF
Julia Corners.
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