Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-02
ABDUCTION OF 11-YEAR. OLD DAV-
EXPORT GIRL BRINGS cRlTl-
cIsM ON POLICE.
HOLD NO CHILD SAFE ON
STREETS EVEN IN DAYLIGHT
Girl Returns After Absence Of Two
Days and Tells Story Of Abuse by
Strange Man-ChiId Badly Frightened
and Some of Her Statements Con-
fict.

Davenport. June >. That Myrtle
legged abductor, is too badly frightened
to tell exactly what happened during
her absence. is the belief of the Daven-
port police who are investigating the
various conflicting stories told by the
girl upon her return Friday afternoon.
Just what caused ner fright and seem
ing anxiety TO avoid telling the cir
cumstances surrounding her disappear
ance has not vet been ascertained.
The child was questioned by Police
Matron Hill Saturday night. but per-
sisted in telling the same story about
her abduction III front of the Columbia
Theater Wednesday afternoon, enlarg-
ing upon her original story by stating
to the matron that her captor had
made improper advances and indecent
proposals TO her, but failed TO accom-
plished his purpose When asked why
she had not told this to the police Of
fcers who had questioned her, the
child stated that she could not tell it
to those men"
Officers Not Convinced.
Lieutenant Frank P. Lew and Detec-
tive P. ]. Phelan. who are in charge OF
the case, are far from convinced that
the girl is telling the truth and state
that they are working on various clues
that will eventually clear up the
clouded facts with which the case is
completely surrounded They state that
it is impossible that the girl could
have been driven around the tri-cltles
for two days and TWO nights without
attracting the attention of some person
who mad read of the case. Neither Of
ficer believes either the story of the
abduction or the one in which she
stated she had spent the time with
young friend in Ripley street.
The mother of the girl has been
closely questioned by the police on
various occasions, as has the step
father, F. E. Hartwell, but neither has
given the police any clue that will
clear up the mystery.
Case Attracts Attention.
The case is attracting a great deal
of interest in the tri-cities and the
police are making valiant efforts to
throw some light on the actual occur
rences. Many calls nave been received
at police headquarters from women in
curing as to whether the alleged abb
Guctor has been caught.
Matron Hill is also inclined to doubt
| the childs story, altho she was unable
I to discover the reason for the evident
ifalsehood She says that the child
seems frightened but as with the police,
the matron was unable TO find out what
i has frightened her. Since he girl has
/ told of the mans actions the depart
mert has redoubled its efforts to dis
! cover the team and the driver but 50
far no trace has been found.
This case probably has aroused
more attention on the part Of the pub
/ lie than any that has been under po-
! lice Investigations for many years.
| Mothers of young girls thruout the city
| have interested themselves in the affair
and are insisting that the detective de-
! partment of the police force ferret II
| TO the bottom.
! They hold that if it is possible for
! a little girl to be enticed without her
| consent, in daylight on the streets and
/ forced 10 stay away from home for
! two days no child is safe. II is prob
J able that unless more activity IS shown
| in trying to ascertain the true facts in
! the case, that the police department
| chiefs fill be compelled to face delega :
tons of mothers. who are vitality in
| terested in preventing repetition of
| such occurrences.