The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-23
LOVER
THREATENS GIRL;
POLICE GET HIM
Elmer j. Pearce Accused of Us
ing Lurid Language To Miss
Grace 0'Neil
SAID HE'D KILL FATHER
AND BATTLE HER IN BLOOD
Believed To Have Plotted With
Confederate To Kidnap
Young Woman

charged with making the most
lurid sort of threats against Miss
Grace O'Neil, Is years old, OF No. 50
Cantield-aye. east, and her father.
Thomas W. O'Neil. Of the firm or
O'Neil 4 Hoffner, fish and game
dealers, Elmer j. Peace, a travelling
salesman for Armour 4 Co.'S tertil
izer department, was arraigned be
fore Justice Gainey at noon. Satur-
day, on warrant sworn out by the
strikingly handsome object of his un-
requited admiration. He pleaded not
guilty, and was held under $500
bonds, with two sureties for exami.
nation May %.
The warrant alleges that Peace
threatened TO shoot Miss O'Neil, but
some OF the things that he threatened
10 do, as told by Detectives Hayes
and Mite, who have been working on
the case, were extremely. picturesque
and served to keep Miss O'Neil on
the verge of nervous prostration for
several weeks.
He threatened to use the poison
needle on her" and said. 1t is alleged,
that he had started many young
woman on the downward path, and
Another threat was that he would
shoot her father down on the door
step OF his home, and would then
wash Miss O'Neil in her fathers gore
| before Staying her, too.
His fortunate escape from police
trap laid for him last Wednesday
and the coincident appearance OF
man well.known to the police, at the
point OF rendezvous, where Detectives
Hayes and Mite were In hiding
gives groundwork for deep-laid plot
that is exceedingly interesting, and
in which Developments are expected
soon.
The detectives allege that last We'd
nesday Miss O'Neil often threatened
with death, when Peace called her
up on the telephone and was repuls'
ed was ordered 10 meet her tormen-
tor on Broadway. She kept the ap'
pointment, DeteetiTes Hayes and Nil
te hiding in nearby doorway. Peace,
il is alleged, had threatened TO shoot
her. II she came with an escort, and
also to shoot her escort.
Peace did not appear. That night
he called Miss O'Neil up and said
Hayes and Mite were there.
fooled you"
Hayes and Mite remembered see
| ing a paroled man, who seemed great
| ly interested In their presence there
and who probably was spy for
Peace. At any rate, the paroled man
the following day, sought work with
O'Neil & HoffneT as a delivery man
The detectives allege that the O'Neils
received a threat that Miss Grace
would be "doped" with q poisoned
needle and taken away from her home
in a wagon.
They are now looking for the pa
rolled man.
The following day Miss O'Neil wss
told, over the phone, that Peace was
going TO shoot her, through the win
dow or her home. II she refused 70
meet him.
Peace was arrested shortly after
O'Clock, Saturday morning. III his
room In the Hotel Charlevoix, the po
lice having had the room under sur
veillance.
Peace was madly infatuated with
Miss ONeil, since being introduced
TO her, last summer. in the summer
home OF the O'Neils, on a lake neai
Flint Mr.. ONeil had met the young
salesman and took him TO his home
to dinner, introducing him TO his
pretty daughter.
Ever since that time Peace has
been bothering Miss O'Neil 1t is al
legged, trying to force her TO mee'
him, and threatening her with deatf
when she refused
He is a stout. well-built man OF 20
and is said TO be from St Louis
though he made his headquarters IL
Chicago and travelled. through Michi
gan.
Miss O'Neil and her father witness
ed his arraignment in police court
the young woman staring at the mar
in the fascination OF terror when he
was not looking in her direction ano
averting. her gaze whenever he sought
TO catch her eve.