Evening star., 1914-08-11
.F|NDLARK|N GIRL
IN SCHOOL CELLAR
Police Rescue Child, Prey Of
Negro. After Four Days
Imprisonment.
ABUSED AND STARVED.
BUT SHE WILL RECOVER
Janitor Jailed. Defes the Officers to
Prove Guilt-Victim Was Bound
With His Necktie.

NEW YORK. August 1l.-Catherine
C. l-arkin. the thirteen-year-old girl
who disappeared mysteriously last
Friday morning. after attending mass
at st. Johns Roman Catholic Church.
kingsbridge avenue and 231st street,
was found yesterday afternoon in the
subcellar of public school No. I, where
she had been made prisoner by
negro and held without food and with
only small bottle of water
The girl was found by Police Com
missioner Woods. Capt. Carey Of the
homicide bureau. Lieut. Williams of
the bureau of missing persons, Serst.
Harry A. Taylor. Guy Scull. the commits
sioner's private secretary. and detec-
tiVes from the Bronx bureau
In the school the commissioner was
Joined by District School Supt John
Lavelle. The detectives scattered to
every part of the building. Sergt
Taylor and Detective Repetto of the
bronx bureau chose the cellar.
Faint Voice Through Trap.
Taylor and Repetto went through a
subway to the annex and passed over a
trapdoor made of glazed glass Two
panes or glass in this door were
broken or the sleuths would not have
discovered that there was a subcellar
and a trapdoor.
What's this?" asked Repetto as he
leaned down and placed his eyes against
one OF the holes In the trap door.
As he did so another pair of eyes met
his own and faint voice said
Please. please. mister. get me out Of
here"
could 1t be forced open
Commissioner Woods and the district
superintendent came on the run. The lat
ter had key to the door He ex-
planned that the only other one was in
possession of George W. Webb. a West
Indian negro assistant ianitor of the
school
The door was opened quickly and Com
missioner Woods dragged out the missing
girl. She was miserable looking little
object. Her cheeks sunken and bloodless.
were smeared with dirt. The white frock
she had worn to mass was torn soiled
and bloody. There were wounds about
her neck and her golden hair was matted
and tangled.
The girl collapsed when the commits
sioner drew her forth. She was carried
to his automobile and taken to her home
Arrested Negro.
Get that negro" the commissioner told
his men
Three detectives dashed up the stairs to
IA room on the third floor. There they
found Webb sleeping They arrested him
and took him to the Bronx detective bu-
reau.
Commissioner Woods asked if it would
be safe for him to see the girl and was
told that 1t would. She then told him her
story. often being compelled to stop be-
cause of weakness.
She said that after her sisters left the
church she started home. She was passing
the school, where she was an honor pupil,
when Webb, whom she had known as a
school employe. called to her She was
admirins flowers in the yard
Come in here and I'll show you some
more pretty flowers" he said.
II went" Catherine told the commits
sioner. and was on the first floor of
the school when he seized me and put
q revolver to my head. He told me he
would XIII me if | screamed
Gagged Her With Necktie.
The girl then said the negro choked
and beat her and dragged her to a room
on the second floor. where he gagged
her with his cravat after stufing his
handkerchief into her mouth
She fought with all her strength. but
he brought twine and tied her hands
and feet.
The girl says Webb carried her to the
cellar and then took her through the
subway to the annex. Reaching the trap
door. he dropped her and unlocked it
Then he dropped her down to the bot
tom of the pit.
Il heard him lock the door" she said,
and | lay there OH those pipes unable
10 move. At last I managed to get to
my feet. 7 don't know whether it was
night or day. I don't know how long /
had beer there. 1t was pitch dark and
hard to breathe.
After | got TO my feet ! rubbed my
arms against the stone sides of the
room and the cords soon were worn
away. After my arms We're free
loosened my legs and feet.
Then Webb came again. He found
me again and beat and mistreated me
This time he left me small bottle of
water. which I could drink by turning
over ON my side. But ! could only set
& sip at a time.
II got no food all the time | was in
ths hole.
Freed Herself Twice Vainly.
The girl said that twice again she
managed to rub the cords against the
stone. wear them away and free her
legs and feet and each time the negro
came back and bound her. She said
that several times she heard footsteps
above her, hut was afraid to cry out.
She was afraid the negro would kill