The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-25
MYSTERY WRAPS
DISAPPEARANCE
OF DETROIT PAIR
Philip III. Cole, Young Attorney,
and l5-Year-Old Bride, Are
Strangely Missing
FEARED THEY'RE VICTIMS
OF WHITE SLAVE PLOT
Bogus British NObleman and
Woman Companion Figure in
Odd Case

Mystery surrounds the strange dis
appearance of Phillip H. Gale, young
Detroit attorney, and his l5-yearold
bride. formerly his stenographer. They
left the city following the wedding.
last Saturday night, in company wit'l
Sir" Frederick Idlegray who claim
ed 10 be a relative OF he Duke OF
sutherland, and a stately blonde WON
AN who posed as his wife.
Federal officials in Detroit, Chicago,
Cincinnati and New York are search
~iug for the quartet IL Is feared that
The girl.bride whose maiden name
WASH Luella Stratmann, may be the
victim OF white slave plOtters and
her hlfSband has been used by the oth.
or woman and ldegray as dupe.
Mr.. Gales mother is a widow, and
lives az No 1876 Garland-aye. with
another daughter and a son. The
mother. who was inyeigled into Civ
ing her consent 10 the marriage, Is
nearly craZed by the fear that her
pretty daughter has fallen into evil
hands
Gale, who is "a years old. has been
out OF college but few months.
His friends fear that the young man
IL either the victim Of drugs Or is
under some sort OF hypnotic influence
exercised by ldlegray and the latter's
woman companion.
When the report OF the strange dis.
appearance was brought 10 Frederick
Schopp, local white slave agent, three
DAYS ago. he Immediately started an
Investigation that disclosed some in
terestlne facts He learned that the
four purchased tickets for Chicago on
the night OF Gales wedding. but as
yet the Chicago officials have been
unable 10 obtain any trace OF the
Quartet. The girls mother heard,
Wednesday morning. that her daugh.
ter and Gale had left Chicago for
fncfhnati nut Agent Scfroup Said no
such official report had come TO his
attention
Gales law office is al No $40 Free
Press building. He first became ac-
quainted with Sir" ldlegray about
six months ago through business
transaction On closer acquaintance
the Esnglishman. who was first in
tioduced To Gale as Frank Richie
confded to the young attorney that
he was an English nobleman, and
that he was travelling under an as
sumed name as he was heir TO vast
estates In England and enemies were
trying to put him out OF the way"
lie showed Gale cablegram. which
had pparently been sent from Lon.
don, Eng. containing the information
that he Sir" Idlegray had fallen
heir 10 sl5.000,000 through the death
OF an uncle Gale was employed by
him 10 make will and he named
Gale and the Duke of Sutherland. who
he said, was relative, as admlnistra
tors OF his estate, Luella, Gales
stenographer. drew IN he necessary
papers. Both the attorney and his
stenographer were much impressed
Gale completely lost his head when
his friend Sir" ldlegray offered him
the position of confidential secretary
at salary Of SIS ZOO year A writ
ten contract was drawn up and
signed by both parties.
Gale constantly talked To his friends
about his titled friend and his own
fine position. They laughed at him
and vainly attempted TO bring him TO
his senses lie talked and acted like
man intoxicated. his friends say.
Shortly after Gale became Sir"
Idlegray's secretary" Luela STRAIT
mann showed diamond engagement
ring 10 her friends. She. too. was
enthusiastic over Gales prospects
She told her mother all about the won
uerful Englishman and Gales rare
good fortune The mother in turn
was impressed and she gave her con
sent TO her daughters marriage to-
Gale, giving her daughters age as
10 so that a marriage license could
he obtained The wedding was TO take
place Christmas day.
Ten days ago Sir Idlegray was
taken sick or pretended to be- in
Gales office. He said he had been
poisoned by persons in the employ OF
his relatives in England who were
anxious 10 get him out OF the way. so
they could secure his fortune He was
taken TO the StratmaDc nome and
stayed there for three DAYS With
him was the safely blonde woman,
VINO claimed to be his wife. The noble
man" told Mrs. Stratmann that his
case was something Ike Harry X
Thaw's, claiming that an attempt WAS
being made To place him in an in
sane asylum. When Mrs. Stratmann
showed him communication warn
ing her TO forbid the marriage OF her
daughter to Gale, Sir .ldlegray said
that that was part of the deep plot
agains thin and implored the mother
TO consent TO the immediate marriage
OF her daggher. Gale and the girl were
married in the Stratmann fiat. Satur
day night. the Rev. y. +. McDermand,
OF the Jefferson-ave Baptist church.
performing the ceremony. The quartet
left on Michigan Central train soon
after the wedding, Mrs. Gale
promising 10 let her mother hear from
her frequently but no word has come
from herr
The only way | can explain the
strange affGir is that Gale was used
as a dupe by the smooth couple 20
obtain the girl for their own pur
poses" said Agent Schopp. Wednes
day. Gale must have been either
arugged or temporarily unbalanced To
allow himself 10 De boaxed in that
way"
Sir" Idlegray Is said TO BE- about
q years old and his woman com
panion, about 20.