Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-11-23
TWO GIRLS, LURED
TO CITY, GO HOME
CONTINUED From Page One.)

EleLcn9r, VINO uNeS at the Atlas nOJeIy
and who was waiting in the taxi while
the driver went to the rooming house to
get the young women.
1t was at 8 O'clock Sunday morning
that the taxi stopped on the east side of
Illinois street and Lawson ran. across
the street to the rooming house. 1t was
the second time he had taken Miss Bel
cher from the rooming house that night
the police allege, the first time being
when Lawson took both the Livingston
and Belcher girls from the place and put
them In a taxicab with two drunken
men. The taxi was driven to Riverside
Park, according to the police. Liquor
was said to have been in the automobile
and there was a fight, after which the two
girls we've brought back to the rooming
house.
When Lieutenant McMurtry and Ser
gsant Dean saw the girls being led from
the rooming\ house to the taxi they
leaped on to the running board of the
car and the arrest of Lawson and Fletcher
followed. The story told by Miss Bel
cher led the police to enter the room
ing house, where they arrested Miss Liv-
ingston and Wright.
Wright had registered at the rooming
house as mr.. and Mrs. Harry Sparks"
and Lawson had registered as 'Mr. and
Mrs Jack Lawson" While his real name
is Tharel Lawson, he is better known as
Jack.
They had remained at the rooming
house three weeks, but Immediately after
Turing the girls TO Indianapolis they are
said to have engaged two rooms at 6S7
West Morris street, but the people living
at that address became suspicious and
ordered the two couples to move.
Lawson has confessed that he wrote
the letters which lured the girls to In
ilanapolis, the police say, but Wright
denied that he wrote a letter eigned
Harry Sparks" assuring the girls that
tbs statements in Lawson's letters were
true. He said that Lawson wrote both
letters and wrote the second in a differ
ent handwriting so it would fool the
girls.
The Federal authorities are holding
the taxicab driven by Lawson, as in that
automobile he is alleged 20 have trans
ported the liquor.
Some idea Of the type Of men into
whose power the young women were
lured by the promises OF wealth and
mansions Is given in Wrghts police
record, while the divorce records of Su-
perior Court Room 2. show something
Of Lawson's past history.
Wright admitted he had been arrested
twice, one time on Il charge OF breaking
Into building at q park and the other
time on the charge Of stealing auto
mobiles. The later charge was brought
against him a year ago and be was con-
victed and served sixty -day sentence
he said. Since that time he claims he
has worked for q dairy company on
Forty Second street.
her attorney, Elias W. Dullberger, filed
suit for divorce against Tharel William
Lawson, and on Nov. s, the divorce was
granted by Judge Lynn d. Hay
Lawson did not appear. according TO
the records, and his wife was given her
maiden name. Georgia Johnson.
In ner complaint she charged that her
husband cursed her and struck her and
did falsely accuse her Of going out
with other men," that he nagged and
quarreled with her and that he refused
to work or provide for her the necessities
Of life, although able and capable Of
doing so. She charged he said he wished
he had never been married, that he did
not love her any more and that he loved
another woman better. She averred that
she was a good. true dutiful and obedient
wife. loving and affectionate and a good
housekeeper.
lie complaint stated that she married
Lawson Sept. u, 1918, and lived with
him until February, 1919, at 1872 Lexing-
tor avenue. At the time the divorce com
r'aiut was fled she was residing at 667
River avenue.
IHe county clerks records show that
Louis L. Kiefer, a justice OF the peace.
performed the wedding ceremony for the
AaN -
divorce complaint, and, In the records.
it shows that Lawson stated he was
born at Danville, Ind, Nov g. 1876,
which would make his age ~. instead
Of q, as he gave his age to the police
when arrested.
He stated that his father was Harry
f. Lawson residing at 2256 Martindale
avenue which is the address that
Tharel W. Lawson, the taxi driver, gave
at the time Of his arrest. In the ap-
plication FOR a wedding license Lawson
gave his occupation as a 'motorman."
Wright talked freely OF the case. plac-
ing the burden Of blame on Lawson.
HE framed It," Wright declared. HE
wrote the letters to the girls and he
asked me to meet them at the depot and
take them to the house on Morris street.
They never met any other men but us
while at that house"
II told them the truth about the sup
posed death Of Lawson's mother in De-
troit, also that Lawson was not worth
a dime and that was not worth a dime.
That was a few days ago and they
planned to break away and return to
their homes Monday, but we were ar
rested Sunday.
II never forced the girls to meet other
men. They did 1t willingly and Lawson
arranged it. Yes, I knew they were
meeting other men, but never had any
thing TO do with 1t and I never saw Law
son take any money given 10 the girls
by men"
The girls told the police Lawson took
the money away from them after they
met men in his taxi. Wright said, Il did
borrow money from the girls, but j al
ways paid # back"
A letter from the father Of the Belcher
girl reached Mrs. Eagan, sergeant Of the
women police, after the girls had started
home.
The letter, brief and poorly written,
explained that the girls parents wanted
her to return to French Lick and also
that ''the grandmother Of the Livingston
girl would welcome her home as her par
ents are dead"
The Livingston girl is married and
her husband is a sailor in the United
State Navy, the police say.
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