Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-31
SAYSSHE WASLURED.
Young Girl Alleges Use of
Hypnotic Power.
ENTICED AWAY FROM HOME
Mrs. ]. Laurence Nichols of Wash.
ington Arrested in Baltimore
Result of Charges.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, January 3l.-DeclarinG
that she had been controlled for more
than a year by hypnotic Influence, and
deceived and enticed from her home in
Texas. Miss Ruth Elizabeth Summer. an
attractive brunette of seventeen years.
told remarkable story yesterday after
noon at the central police station follow
ing her arrest with Mrs. ]. Laurence
Nichols of Washington, as they were
about to take car at the Washington,
Baltimore and Annapolis railway termi-
nal for the capital.
Mrs. Nichols is locked up at the central
station on the charge of attempting to
kidnap the young girl. Warrants were
also issued by Justice Supplee for the ar
rest of Mrs. Nichols husband, who is
fifty-five years old and a jewelry sales
man for large New York firm. He is
charged with violating the white slave
law, with perjury and with fraudulently
enticing the young girl from her home in
Texas.
For the past nDnth the girl has been
living at the Young Woman's Christian
Association and has been working at a
laundry on Biddle street She asserts that
after taking her from her home on the
pretense that he was going to give her a
position as his secretary, Nichols took ad-
vantage of her and that they Travelled
about the country as husband and wife.
Engaged as Secretary.
81 met Nichols in Texarkana, Tex. my
home city, the girl said. Il was walk
ing in park with some girl friends when
he accosted me. file asked if / would like
to travel all over the country as his sec
rotary He talked with my father. and
as he was fifty-fve years old my father
granted me permission to go with him
as his secretary.
I'VE Travelled to various cities, when he
asked that 1 pose as his wife. which
did. He seemed to have an influence
over me, which 1 could not shake off. He
forced me to say things and under
threats he made me tell untruths."
On January n the girl was arrested in
Baltimore. With her was William Hal
brick, also of Texas. who was on a train
with Ter while she was returning to Nor
folk to Nichols after having visited her
relatives. Nichols appeared against Hal
brick here when he was arraigned on the
charge Of white slavery. That charge
was dismissed Nichols stated under oath
his wife.
Says Nichols Lied.
When questioned about this by Justice
Supplee yesterday the girl stated:
mo. 1 was not his wife and he lied to
the court. I said that / was his wife
because I was under his influence. After
We left Baltimore we went to Washing
ton, and there he abused me and j ran
away and came to Baltimore and went to
work in a laundry. I want to do what
is right. / engaged room at the Young
Womens Christian Association. Nichols
seemed to have learned where / was, and
he wrote threatening letters and, in fact
came here and attempted to forcibly take
me with him to Washington. He Gre
ated considerable commOtiOn at the assO-
cations rooms.
Il did not want to go back with him.
but 1 felt that his influence would force
me to. because he threatened me and did
almost everything man could do to
make girl feel ashamed and be glad to
get away from people who thought she
was respectable
Several days ago member of the firm
where the girl is employed communicated
with John j. Grgurevitch, special agent
of the Department of Justice, ard Sam
'uel FL Pentz, secretary OF the Society
that an effort had been made to take the
girl from the laundry.
Arrests Follow Disclosures.
While Grgurevitch and Pentz were
working on the case with Patrolman Gull
lison. who is doing SPECIAL work for
Pentz, the woman, Mrs. Nichols, came to
Baltimore with another woman and yes
teriay they went to the laundry and sue
ceeded i'm getting the girl away from the
place. They had reached the terminal
station when the authorities arrested Mrs.
Nichols and the girl. while the third
woman disappeared
Mrs. Nichols explained to the court that
she did not intend to kidnap the girl.
Il came here to bring her to- my hus-
band. who is in Washington. He wanted
10 give her enough money to send her
back to. Baltimore The authorities
doubt the woman's story. They believe
she was party to Nichols plan.
The girl WAS relea Sed hy IuSfice Sum