New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
GIRL, "A, ACCUSES
TWO DETECTIVES
Child's Story of Life in
Flat Causes Arrest of
Policemen

Gertrude Hilten, fourteen and pretty
to look at, although she is n self-con-
fessed pickpocket and other more
dreary things, sat in a room in Police
Headquarters all last evening and told
TO Chief Inspector Schmittberger and
Deputy Commissioner Lawrence Dun
ham the story cf the life TO which an
other woman held her until her arrest
When the child had concluded her
tale, which began with her deserting
her Job in q corset factory at the sug-
gestion Of a man she had met. and
ended when she was taken to the Chill
dren's Society, charged with stealing a
wallet belonging 10 Captain Richard
Verbugge, of the Dutch army, detec-
tives went out and arrested two men
en- the staff of Inspector Honest John"
DAILY, Of the Tcnderloin.
Girl Accuses Detectives
The girl charged Detectives William
+. Loeb and Andrew Bornkessel with
visiting her At an apartment on West
1O9th Street during the month of Oc-
tober. and there violating Section 2110
Of the penal law.
When the two detectives were
brought before her last night Gertrude
identified them without hesitation. So
did Mrs. Ro%ena McGarry, with whom
the child had lived. The detectives are
locked up in Police Headquarters for
arraignment to-day. Loeb is married
: and has been on the force twelve years.
Bornkessel is also married and has
worn the blue for four years.
But Gertrude's accusations are not
directed primarily against the two
policemen. one Ruth Howard, alias
Lillian Lichtenstein, was with her that
night, a few weeks ago. when the little
girl, IL is said stole the Dutch army
officers bank roll. Ruth was arrested
and held on a charge Of abduction.
Yesterday she was released, at the re-
quest of Assistant District Attorney
Burke, and, as she was leaving the
Washington Heights Court. she was re-
arrested. The charge was not made
public.
According 70 the story told by Ger
trude Hilten, who sat very gravely by
the side Of Juan Butts, Of the Chill
dren's Society, as she talked and an
swered in the most natural manner in
the world all the questions that embar-
rassed police officials put TO her she
became the property of the Howard
woman when the man who found her on
the elevated platform grew tired Of her.
The woman trained her. she explained.
The child's mother died years ago.
She has been living, up to the time she
ceased to be an employe Of the corset
factory, alone with her father. There
were many things which he never ex-
planned TO her. According to the story
rhe told the police, the Howard woman
made up for this deficiency.
Taught TO Steal
"The first night went out made
S25," the little girl said, in a matter
Of fact tone.
She says that Ruth Howard taught
her. among other things. TO steal She
from the elevated station TO the door
of the Chldren's Society.
For a time. she said. she lived with
the Howard woman. The woman each
night rented her a dress. she declared,
i'm which she could 20 forth.
"There was one with fur on. She
used to charge me $50 to wear that one
day. There was pair Of shoes that
! liked. These cost me S25 day TO hire
/ them
When the girl was taken by the Chill
dren's Society she told her story to
Butts, who began an investigation OF
| her case II was during his work that
he met the McGarry woman, who cor
roborated the child's story. She had
| lived. Il is said in the apartment kept
nv the Howard woman at the same time
tbat Gertrude was there.
Butts then took his two witnesses
10 Police Headquarters. After hearing
their story, Deputy Commissioner Dun
ham swore out warrants before Mag
istrate Murphy and had the two detec-
lives arrested. Ruth Howard will be
examined to-day. According TO Butts,
ne is very wealthy. He says that he
.nows her 10 have $4,000 in one bank
IN this city.
GREAT BEAR SPRING WArER-5oe
of