The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-21
GANG OF SLIAvIR|S
 IIAD HER
Little Petrino Girls Story is Corroborated By Investi- gation of Police and Phy- sicians- Was Prisoner in Ansonia Lodgings.
Man Who Had Casual Ac- quaintance Lures Her To Outskirts of City Then Forced Her to Board Late Trolley For Another City.

Startling facts in connection with the kidnapping of Mary Petrino aged 16, daughter of Pasquale Petrino, 24O Lexington avenue, from this city on May 3, came to light this morning involving the actions of a, sscadeta be- lfeved to belong to a well organized band of white slavers who at least temp made headquarters in this city.
 That Mary Petrino did not volun- tarily leave this city on the first Sun day in May, as at first intimated by the police yesterday. but was forced on a car at Stratford and Seaview avenues by threats of death, was carried to Derby and since been kept a prisoner at No. T and 22 Front street, almost under the eyes of the Ansonia police, leaked out etoday.
 With capture in sight of the man alleged to- have. taken the Petrino o girl from this city and officers of the Bridgeport police department in that city waiting % take both man and girl into their custody, a Teak oc- cured which resulted in the Bridge port officers returning to this city. < Later rPasquaI1e Petrino. not satis- fled that the chase should be given up, waited an opportunity and brav- ing the danger that might have been offered by the gang went unarHned Into the house where his daughter had been detained a priscner and Nbrought her back to this city. In- vestigation by the authorities here shew that the young girl has been grossly rnistreated and probably es- caped a life of shame by the merest chance.
 In explaining matters today to Su- perintendent Birmingham, Detectives Petruscheu and Bray signify the be- lief that their movements were care fully watched by a, gang and that in- formation was carried to the man wanted in time for him to make his escape from Ansonia, while the girl was temporarily hidden in that city.
 1 Petrine. at his Lexington avenue store told a graphic story of the man. ner in which youths partook of his hospitality while individually at tempting to 1betray the innocent girl s confidence. < 1 A custom prevailing in this city is I that the homes of well-to-do Italian storekeepers are open on Sundays and holidays to their friends. It was on these days that Louis Terracino, ar rested in New York and Bridgeport as a suspect, but since released and en-
 
 the Kidnapping. with others now known to have designs upon the little girl, came to tie house
 One of these men, known to the girl, and also well known to the police of Bridgeport, Derby, Ansonia and Wa 1 terbury met her on the street on Sun day, May 2. He asked her to go for a walk. At the corner of Seaview and Stratford avenues she was told to get | on a. car bound for Shelton and Derby. She demurred. The man, who had been later joined by several compan- ions unknown to the girl. threatened to shoots her if she did not do as she was bidden. It was 9:30 at night and none was in sight. She feared to make an outcry on the car. Transfer for Ansonla. was made at Derby. They arrived at Ansonia at 12:3e and she was at once taken to P Front street, where she was locked in a room and made to write a letter to her parents tenng that she was to go to New York and no fear need be entertained for her safety. Later she was made to write two similar letters, all of which were sent to Bridgeport and renailed by .nembers of what Petrfno and the
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