The Washington herald., 1913-12-07
Mask IS lifted
in GIRL MYSTERY
Mary Louise Ferris Held to
Await Word from Officials
In Indiana.
HERE SINCE SEPTEMBER
Young Women Thought to Be Wanted
in Connection with Alleged Viola
ton of Postal Laws.

Mary Louise Ferris, called the maid
of mystery since her arrest several days
ago because she had 5000 in cash and
diamonds on her fingers and could not or
would not explain how she got them, last
night was stripped Of part of her mask.
When the police had learned all they
wanted to know about the girl, District
Attorney Wilson dispatched a telegram
to United States District Attorney Miller.
at Indianapolis. asking: do you want
Mary Louise Ferris for violating the
postal laws"
II Mary Louise Ferris is so wanted she
will be taken to Indianapolis, and If not
she will be released by the police, ter
minating the case. The story of the
woman, as told exclusively in The Herald
yesterday, dates back to August.
In that month Martin and Emma Fer
ris, husband and wife, of Princeton, Ind,
were arrested and subsequently indicted
for fraudulently using the mails in an
alleged matrimonial bureau swindle. Ac-
cording to information which has reach
ed the police here, the couple used two
girls in the scheme.
Ferris Here in September.
Both girls vanished at the time of the
arrest of Martin and Emma Ferris. Mar
tin shortly after was released on bond.
According to the story told last night
by DR.. George Niver formerly of Phila-
delphia. who says he is a friend of Mar
tin Ferris, the latter appeared in Wash
ington in September with Mary Louise
Ferris.
I'm in trouble in Indiana" Ferris is
quoted as saying, land l want you to
take care of this girl until things are
Strengthened out"
Accordingly, DR.. Niver. whom the girl
is said to have referred 20 as Uncle
George Anson,' took Mary Louise Ferris
in charge. He arranged for her lodging,
saw she was comfortable, and treated
her with kindness.
Several days ago. Mary Louise, who is
supposed to have worried herself to the
point of hysteria about the trouble in
Indiana. was found crying at Ninth and
streets northwest by a prominent
society woman" a self-suppOrting gov
ernment clerk, who took the young
woman to her home.
For several days the woman tried TO
fathom Mary but failed, and finally ap-
pealed to Maj. Sylvester. Detective
Sergeant Guy Burlingame arrested Mary.
The police wanted to know who she was,
where she came from, why she came
here, how she got so much money and
gems, and other details.
Mary wept, grew hysterical. and said
nothing that the police could substan-
Chief of Police Haley, of Princeton. and
found that Mary probably was the girl
who had vanished from that city.
Like the Mary under arrest here, the
girl who had left Princeton was about
twenty-four years old, inclined to hys-
terra, tongue-tied, and subject to de-
cided lisp when excited.
Release Is Sought.
4 newspaper yesterday employed an
attorney in behalf of Mary and sought
to obtain her release on habeas corpus
proceedings. This action obviously was
an attempt to force Mary to tell about
herself in court where all might hear.
Justice Barnard allowed Mary TO tell
Just enough about herself to convince
him she should remain in the House of
Detention until District Attorney Wilson
learns whether she is wanted for break |
ing postal laws in Indiana
Therefore Mary again slept last night
in the House of Detention. While she |
is being detained the police will con- !
tinue to seek that one missing detail !
about her, viz: Where did Mary get |
the cash and diamonds?"