New-York tribune., 1921-05-10
10 Girls Break
From Bedford
AT Twilight
State Troopers Called Out
TO Hunt Fugitives, Who
Dash for Liberty While
Matron's Back Is Turned
Protest at New Director
DIR. Baker Believes Women
Fled to Show Disapproval
of His co mn mn a N d g

BEDFORD, N. Y, May 9.-Ten in
mates of the Bedford State Reforma-
tory for Women here escaped from
Robertson Dormitory at twilight to-
night. This is the largest number ever
TO escape from the institution at one
time, and in spite of the early alarm
sent out none OF the ten had been
taken into custody at late hour.
Mrs. Mary Stanton, matron of the
dormitorv, had the twenty young
women who are under her charge on
the porch of the large cottage through
out the afternoon, where some of them
had been engaged in sewing and others
in writing and reading. They remained
there after the usual hour.
At $3.50 o'clock Mrs. Stanton went
into the cottage and left the twenty
girls on the porch. She intended to be
gone only minute. She was detained
longer than she expected. When she
returned ten of the girls were gone.
After questioning the remaining ten
briefly the matron telephoned the ad-
ministration cottage of the reforma-
tory and general alarm was souned.
State Troopers in Pursuit
Besides the men guards, the local
police were notified at once and an
effort made to watch all the highways
leading from Bedford. Later Superin-
tendent Baker got in touch with the
state troopers at White Plains, who
were ordered out at once to join in the
search.
Many Of the citizens of this town,
learning that the state would pay $40 a
head for the arrest, or information lead
ing to the capture Of each one of the
escaped women, Immediately formed
searching parties and began to search
the countryside.
Keepers at the reformatory expressed
the opinion that the girls would prob
ably travel in group. AS far as it is
known no elaborate preparations were
made for the break. The prisoners were
all clad in the uniform Of the institu-
tion and, it. is said, they carried no
food supply.
1t is believed that the fugitives head
ed for the Connecticut border. Many
of the inmates Of the institution are
held for misdemeanors of minor nature,
It could not be learned, however, il
there were any of these among the ten
who escaped. The administration
Office of the reformatory refused to
make public the names of those who
fled. Three were learned from another
official source, however. The names
given were Marie Cannon, Henrietta
Lane and Rose Weitz.
Girls profesf New nireefor
DR.. Amos T. Baker, who took charge
of the institution a week ago, said the
break was protest against him per-
sonally. He declined to explain in de-
tail what this was. He also said that
it was protest against the transfer Of
q group OF girls from one Of the regu-
lar dormitories to the psychopathic
cottage.
at was just sudden impulse" said
DIR. Baker. ~ don't think these girls
have gone because they desire freedom.
1t was movement against me. / think
that the girls left as a protest against
the transfer to-day of other inmates to
the psychopathic cottage"
It is five and half miles from the
reformatory to the state border. A
mountainous and wooded stretch of
country stands between the escaped
inmates and this objective. In view
of the fact that the women are travel
ing on foot and had only half an hour
headway of their pursuers, officials of
the reformatory were confident to-
night that they would not reach Con-
necticut before they would be over
taken.