The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-10-03
GIRLS DISAPPEARANCE
PUZZLES THE OFFICIALS
Miss Stella May Crockett GOne-POIiCe
Think She Was Kidnapped or En-
tiCed Away From Home

the puzzle which the local, county
and police authorities have been asked
to solve. Search warrants gotten out
thru Judge Grant by D. G. Crockett,
father Of the girl are now in the hands
of the police, but as yet no trace OF
the girl has been found. The whole
affair is clouded in mystery, since it
cannot be determined whether the
girl left her father of her own free will,
was enticed away or kidnapped.
Mr.. Crockett who was related to ].
F. Pratt by marriage to one OF the lat
ter's daughters arrived here last week
from Sacramento, California, for few
days stay, with the intention of letting
his girl visit her grandparents. Last
Sunday she disappeared, and since
that time no trace of her could be
found.
Several years ago Mr.. Crockett OBJ
tanned divorce and at that time, he
SAYS, was awarded the custody OF the
child. Shortly after that the girl dis
appeared and for five years he was un-
able to locate her. About four months
ago he learned that she was with hei
mother in Sacramento, California, and
he Immediately set out for that place
from West Virginia, where he now
makes his home. After long search
he finally found the girl in that city
living with her mother. Being the
legal custodian Of the child he took
her from her mother and started oui
on the return trip via this city. Shortly
after her arrival here she disappeared.
Several reports have been issued the
past week that the girl had been seen
in the city, but none Of these could be
corroborated. The common belief is
that the girl left her father OF her own
accord, with the intention of returning
to her mother, however this remains tc
be proven. While the father OF the
girl is saying little about the case ne
is inclined to the belief that she was
either kidnapped or enticed away by
some member of the Pratt family. Mrs
Londerville, a daughter of Mr.. Pratt
who resides in Seattle and who has
been here on visit to her father anc
mother for the past ten days had in
tended to return to the coast last Sun
day, but was detained by the police
pending an investigation. She was
allowed to return home on No. l Tues
day afternoon, after it was found tha
she was not implicated in the case.
Mr.. Crockett left Tuesday for Spo
kane, threatening that he would place
the case in the hands OF Pinkerton de
tectives.
That it is very unlikely that the CIR
would have to accompany her father tt
his home in the east, even though she
should be found is the belief OF Mr
Pratt who says the girl is almost Il
years of age. According to legal ad
vice given him a child is given tht
right after IA years of age to choose
between her parents as to which ont
she cares to live with. The girl hav
ing lived with her mother for the pas
five years is no doubt more attached tC
her than her father whom she had no
seen until few weeks ago when the,
met in California. Mr.. Pratt says tina
while here she seemed to be dowr
hearted and threatened suicide rathe
than accompany her father home. Tit
last we saw of her according TO Mr.
Pratt was last Sunday afternoon shortl.
after one o'clock, when she bid all th'
members of the family good bye an(
started down the road from his place
That is the last seen or heard OF he
since that time and whether she full
filed her threat or is now speeding to
wards Sunny California is a question
that as vet is unexplained.
The father D. G. Crockett aroused
much coincidence here in his behal
by the story he told Of having spen
hundreds of dollars and several month
time hunting for his girl but to al
Echo reporter Mr.. Pratt who has knowr