Arizona republican., 1913-10-10
HIS VACATION
 WAS CRIMINAL
Robert Maehl, an Attache of District Attorneys Of flee in Los Angeles, Held Yesterday for Violating White Slave Act

After an examination yesterday be- fore Tinted States Commissioner Johnstone, Robert F. Maehl of Los An geles, was held to the federal grand jury in the sum of $1200 on charge of violating the Mann white slave act, in bringing across the California Arizona boundary, Mrs. Charles Starck, also ot Los Angeles for immoral purposes. Maehl and the woman left Los Ange- les on Monday arriving here the fol- lowing day and took lodgings at the Irving where they registered as man and wife.
 The attention of returning shriners had been directed to them and after their arrival in the city their coming was reported to the office of the United States marshal who directed an inves- tigation which resulted in the arrest of MaehI and the holding of the woman as a witnesse.
 Mrs Starck Is a handsome young woman of tWenty-One with a little girl. Maehl is an unhandsome man of about sixty, to whose appearance the loss of an eye has contributed nothing to his advantage. When approached by the officers, Mrs. Starck attempted to con- ceal nothing. She admitted that she had erred but she said that she had been forced to it by circumstances.
 She said that Maeh1 had long been friend of the family while her parents lived in Los Angeles. Some years ago her parents left for the east where they now reside. She was then a half grown girl and was put into the charge of Meah1 as an informal guardian who looked after her until three or four years later she married Charles Starck After that Meah1 was frequent visi- tor at her home and at length his wis it's became distasteful to Starck. Then she begged him to stay away, he threatened to kill her. The situation between herself and her husband be- came strained and at last Starck de- serted her and her little daughter. She found employment as a cashier and in that way supported herself and child aided now and then by Meahl whose attentions became more and more pres sing. Notwithstanding the siege of Meahl their relations were not criminal until lately.
 Meahl had for some time been em- plOyed in the office of District Attor- ney Fredericks of Los Angeles county as a blind pig hunter. He drank
 
 such that he was advised to take a vacation and pull himself together again. His vacation was to last a month and he decided to spend it in Phoenix. He asked Mrs. Starck tc come with him and on his statement that he could find work for her here at more remunerative wages, she de cided to come.
 Meahl purchased tickets for both and after they entered a Pullman at Los Angeles, Mrs. Starck learned that Meahl had engaged a single berth When Mrs. Starck refused to enter il they had a quarrel. MeahI began drinking heavily and in a short time he had wrought himself into such a frenzy that he attacked the woman and chOke6 her. Some of the shriners who were on the train interferred and forced Meahi into the smoking car where they kept him until the train reached Mari copa on Tuesday morning. Arriving al Phoenix, they went to the Irving where they occupied the same room and Mrs Starck's admission to the officers O. what occurred there it was deemed that the violation of the Mann law ha( been consummated.