Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-05-27
STATE DISCREDITS
KENWORTHY STORY

KENWORTHY STORY
Convinced that the variable story Of
Gertrude Kenworthy, % year old
daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs William
Kenworthy, about her widely adver-
tised abduction Saturday night is false,
States Attorney George W Stone Of
Vergennes has dropped the case
against her alleged assailants In
the hearing Tuesday afternoon when
the young lady was asked to identity
Marshall Broughton, Clara Allen and
daughter Edith, all of New Haven,
who had been brought here as sus-
poets, she said that she had never seen
any Of them before The county pro-
secutor said to The Register last eve
ming that he is of the opinion that
the story is a fabrication of the rela-
tives of the girl in bid for the adve--
tsement of sensationalism.
If the story is mere invention, the
relatives of the girl are good actors
for in talking to a reporter they show
ed no hesitation in framing a likely
story, The difficulty confronting the
states attorney was in the principal
herself Gertie is minus the complete
possession of her faculties and in her
fright would readily reply in the at-
tirmative to any and all questions,
whether implying a contradiction Or
not. Mr.. Stone said that her rela-
tives had threatened Gertrude with
jail ii she did not confirm the story
that they told for her Under the
strain OF the cross-examination, how
ever. she failed to remember her pre-
vious testimony and the bottom fell
out of the states case in her vindica
ton.
While awaiting the arrival OF the
officers with the suspects from New
Haven Tuesday afternoon, a Register
reporter had a long talk with the
mother, Mrs. William Kenworthy, an
uncle, John Kenworthy and Gertrude
herself. The girl did little more than
nod approval to the story as told by
her parent and uncle, however Dur
ing the long wait she complained Of
bruises on her right leg and cried with
the pain from the injury alleged to
have been inflicted by her assailants
The story as told by all three was as
follows.
Mr.. and Mrs. Kenworthy had re-
tired early Saturday night, leaving
their daughter Gertrude on the piazza
steps in the refreshment of the cool
evening breeze. She had prepared for
bed and was attired in a light waist,
kimona and wore a pair Of boys shoes
"Gertie did not have to wear boys
shoes, interpolated the mother, but
did so out of her own preference. She
is very hard on shoes anyway" At
about l0:30 o'clock girl, supposed to
be Edith Allen, approached Miss Ken
worthy on the steps, and taking her by
the wrist. threatened to slap her face
if she refused to follow her. She led
her to a waiting Ford touring car and
pushed her into the rear seat with two
men, alleged to be Frank Hurlburt aud
Marshall Broughton, both OF New Hl-
ven Mills.
The party returned to Middlebury
and were provided with gas at Cas-
wells garage by Arthur Forrest, whose
OF them led to the sue
2essful search later by the officers and
1er discovery in Bristol
The car was driven directly to New
Haven Mills, according to the Ken
worthy story, and the girl forced TO |
-ema:n overnight at the home of Mr.. |
1t was there that she said |
'he was assaulted by her two compan-
ons of the trip and Frank Nimblitt, |
llso of New Haven Her relatives said !
hat she had shown to the states at
orney bruises and scratches that she |
-eceived in her struggle against the
men
Sunday morning Gertie was forced |
walked with him to Bristol She said |
hat on the long hike he threatened |
o Strangle her and throw her into
he river if she told anybody OF her
experiences. In Bristol she said that
he was first led to the home of Mr.
md Mrs. Nelson Hurlburt, Miss Al
ems parents, but was refused lodg
ng for the reason that there was no
work there for her. Hurlburt is said
o have led her across the street to
he home of Mrs. Charles Smith, who
promised her employment in the care
'f her eight children at the weekly
Of S100. Gertie said that
he told Mrs. Smith of her supposed
bduction. 1t was there that the Off
ers found her late Sunday night
Mrs. Kenworthy said that she and
Ter husband did not discover their
Dss until late Sunday morning They
notified the police and
,hief James Barron, Night Officer
,harles Shaw and Gertrude's brother
lrthur J. Kenworthy went to work in
he search. An advertisement of her
escription was sent to the Monday
1orning paper
Mrs. Kenworthy said that her
laughter had never been Dermitted TO