The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-16
SAYS USED HYPNOTIC POWER.
Mrs. Nelms Talks About the Loss Of
Her Daughters.

Atlanta, July 12.-Time and inves-
tigation apparently are deepening the
mystery surrounding the disappear
ance of Miss Beatrice Nelms and her
sister, Mrs. Eloise Nelms Dennis,
members of wealthy Atlanta family.
Attention first was called tc the
strange case by a telegram from the
Atlanta chief of police to the chief of
police of San Francisco. This mes
sage requested the Californian to not
ify Marshall Nelms that his mother in
Atlanta had received a letter from
her daughter, Eloise Dennis, stating
that she had killed her sister, Beat
rice, in New Orleans, and intended
killing her brother.
The letter was postmarked San
Frsucisco, July 8. Nelms is on his
way to Atlanta.
No trace of either young woman
has been found since that time. The
police of FIVE widely scattered cities
are as much at sea tonight as when
they first began to investigate the
mystery. A maze of clews evolved
indicate that the principals may have
met foul play.
Nelms, before leaving San Fran
cisco for Atlanta, July 10, showed
telegram he received July s, signed
Mamma" which read:
Look out for Eloise. She has
killed B."
Search of San Francisco and Oak
land failed to locate Mrs. Dennis.
According to Mrs. Nelms, the let
ter conveying the alleged threat
against her sons life was signed in
the handwriting of Mrs. Dennis, who,
she said, left her June 10 for San An
tonic, Texas, and was Joined at New
Orleans June 13 by Beatrice. On
June 13 Mrs. Dennis cashed a draft
for s1,450 at a New Orleans bank,
supposedly to close up Mexican In
yestmests. A telegram from New Or
leans June IA said the sisters were
leaving for Houston, on their way
to San Antonio. A week later Mrs.
Nelms received telegram from
Houston signed "E. and b." saying
the sisters planned to stay there
few days longer. The last word from
both was dated New Orleans, June
%, and said, Going farther west"
After the aid Of police in New Or
leans, San Francisco, and San Anto-
nio had been called in vain, Mrs.
Nelms called for assistance from Vic
tor E. Inness, formerly United States
attorney of Nevada, who was located
in Portland, Ore.
The case was complicated still fur
ther when Mrs. Nelms declared Mrs.
Dennis had been engaged to Mr.. In
ness. Inness denied the engagement.
He said he had acted as attorney for
Mrs. Dennis when she obtained a d.
vorce at Reno, fourteen months ago.
Other startling statements made
by Mrs. Nelms, were that 1nness
welded a hypnotic influence over
Mrs. Dennis and that he had prom
ised to turn over to Beatrice deeds
for Mexican property he was suppos-
ed to have purchased for her. 1t was
to get these papers, Mrs. Nelms as
serted, that Beatrice Nelms went to
Houston. Another statement, later
denied by Inness, was that he had
in Atlanta early in June.
When located in Portland, 1nness
declared Mrs. Dennis had told him
she made several attempts to kill
herself and that she had planned to
kill her sister. He denied emphatl-
cally the statements of Mrs. Nelms
and said he never had represented
Mrs. Dennis in any Mexican invest
ments.
The latest clew which apparently
has only added to the confusion was
the tracing of an express package,
sent to Beatrice Nelms in care of
Mrs. Margaret Mindes, of San Anto-
nio. Mrs. Mindes, according to Mrs.
Nelms, came to Atlanta early in June,
saying she was an aunt of 1nness.
She is said to have connection with
certain Mexican investments Of Mrs.
Dennis.