The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-01
CATHERINE
WINTERS
Continued From Page One.

Continued From Page One.
reason that the county clerks office
was closed and all the deputies lett
the city last night, knowing nothing or
what was happening in the WlneIs
case. Consequently, bench warrants
were not issued.
Neither the dentist nor his wife ap-
pear to be greatly ~perturbed by the
action of the authorities.
Public Sentiment Divided
Sentiment on the part of the public
is divided.
Former Prosecuting Attorney H. H.
Evans made this declaration:
"If DR.. Winters will only tell the
truth abou t the matter-what he
knows-this battling case can be
cleared up in a short time. This was
my contention while in office"
Cooper Says He Has Abb.
Cooper did not seem surprised when
arrested. He said he could prove an
alibi. He blamed Mayor Watkins for
his predicament. The mayor had tax
en- a personal interest in the search
for Katherine ever since she disap-
peared. He directed that the cellar
be torn up and two policemen and two
street department employees were hard
at work To-Day.
Disappeared March 20, 1918.
Catherine Winters disappeared on
March 20, 1913. She had gone out to
sell needles for a church society, and
the girls parents said they thought
she had gone to a friends house for
dinner, and gave this as their reason
for not informing the police until the
next day of her failure to return home.
All sorts of rumors and alleged clues
were run down by the authorities all
over the country.
The little girls picture and descrip-
ton were scattered broadcast over the
country. Business men of Newcastle
and DR.. Winters raised a fund Of
$4,000, which was offered as a reward.
All sorts of stories were repeated.
One of these was to the effect that
the girl had been seen in the company
of a band of gypsies who had encamp-
ed near Newcastle. The nomads were
headed towards Chicago and gypsy
camps round South Chicago were
searched.
Gypsy Bands Trailed.
Detectives visited gypsy camps in
Riverside, Cicero, Summit and Forest
Park without result. Then one day a
from Hubbard Wood. They left so
quickly they forgot to take their three
horses along. The rumors spread that
the band was fleeing with the VIM
ters girl. Detectives got on the train.
and the police of Waukegan assisted
in the search. The band finally was
caught, but the girl was not found.
Believed Girl Was Killed.
Mrs, Winters. the girls stepmother,
continually expressed the belief that
the girl had been killed, but her faith
er apparently was firm in the convic-
ton that she had been kidnaped and
was still alive. Once he made y trip
to Platteville. Wis, to see I. v. Whis-
tier, a half brother of the first Mrs.
Winters, mother of the missing girl.
It was said that Whistler's faith
er bequeathed a sum of money to his
daughter. Mrs. Winters, on condition
that it should go to her children.
Whistler was to receive the money in
the event Mrs. Winters had no chill
dren.
Received $4,000, From Mother.
Catherine received $4,000 on the
death Of her mother.
It was rumored a man answering
the description Of Whistler had regis
tered at a hotel in Newcastle under
the name of IT. Winter" about the
week the girl disappeared. That was
about the time. according to DR.. Win.
tiers. that Catherine came home and
said a strange man in q buggy had
asked her to go for a ride and then had
given her 81 and sent her home.
The fathers trip to P%latteville re-
suited in no new developments.
Father Charges B%lackmaiI.
Last July it was reported that DR..
Winters had located his daughter. He
at first admitted this >and then denied
it. He had Mrs. James ]. Vance Of
Adrian, Mich, arrested on a charge Of
blackmail. He said she had offered to
give him information of the girl if he
would send her SIS. He asserted she
was trying to defraud him..
Since then the case has attracted
but little attention. Private detectives
have worked steadily in hope of win
ming the reward, however. and the po-
lice of several large cities were con-
| tinually instructed to be on the watch
for a girl of GATHERINGS description,