The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-19
Girl FOUND IN
ATTIC, SICK and
AS A PRISONER
Frieda Bennett, 8, Rescued
From Her Fathers Home.
Probation Officers Had Been
Told She Was in the East.
MARRIES A bad" WOMAN?
Father Accused of HarbOring
"Disreputable Character"
Threats of Violence Against
Officers Who Came Near.
Probation Officers Had Beer
Told She Was in the East
MARRIES A bad" WOMAN?

For five long months little Frieda
Bennett, . years old. was held pris-
oner by her own father. Clarence Ben
nett. 251O West Eighteenth street, ac-
cording to the story she told officers
who rescued her today.
Weak and ill from her long con-
finement. the little girl was taken to
the county detention home and a ply
sician called. She is expected to re-
gain her strength in few days. it was
said. Bennett is said to have impris-
oned the child to prevent county pro-
baton officers from taking her away
from him.
The case began in September 1920,
when complaints were received by the
probation officers that Bennett was
living with a woman not his wife and
that they were frequently heard quar-
relins. The probate judge declared
Frieda and her 13-year-old brother
Mark. dependent and neglected chill
den and placed them in the care of
the probation officers. Bennett is al
legged to have been living with Olive
Robbinson, referred to in the court
records as a "disreputable charac-
ter"
Bennett appealed the case to the
district court, where, on December 4,
1920. Judge George Whitcomb af-
nrmed the decision of Probate Judge
Ralph Cav.
Promised to "Be Good"
Bennett afterward called on Judge
Cav and assured him that if he would
let him take the children back he
would make good home for them
and not permit the Robinson woman
to come to his place again. Upon this
promise he was allowed to take his
son and. daughter back.
short time later officers received
Intelligence that Olive Robinson was
again staying at the Bennett home
and a second time the children were
taken away by the probation officers
In March, 1921, Bennett again ap-
pealed to Judge J. d. NJ. Hamilton
who had then taken office, for his
children and was again allowed to re-
turn the children to his home upon his
promise to provide them a respecta-
bic home.
About this time Bennett and the
Robinson woman are alleged to have
been married. Probation officers OBJ
tanned possession of Mark, the little
boy, and took him to the detention
home. The father declared, however,
that he had sent the little girl 70 rela-
tives in Pennsylva mia. Judge Hamil-
ton issued an accusation in contempt
against Bennett on the theory that he
had violated n court order by taking
the Robinson woman into his home
again.
Boy Ran Away.
Mark later escaped from the deten-
tion home, ran away from his father
and was later located by the probation
officers living with another family.
When his surroundings were ascer-
tanned to be respectable, he was al
lowed by the court to remain there.
In the meantime. Frieda was being
held a prisoner in the attic of her
fathers home. She said he had told
her that II she went out of the house
Eut ufsD ii
ly from Gear and partly thru force it
is alleged, the little girl was confined
so closely that even neighbors did not
suspect her presence at the Bennett
home. Frequently when probation Of
ficers went to the house the doors
were found locked and the blinds
drawn.
Meanwhile Bennett filed a divorce
petition against his wife Then the
rumors of the little girls imprison-
ment reached the ears of authorities
Bennett Was Not Homo.
Bennett, it was rumored, had made
threats of violence against any proba-
tion officers who again came upon his
premises. This morning, accompanie1
by Oscar Perkins and Robert Pendle-
ton, deputy sheriffs. Miss Eva Corning
went to the Bennett home Bennett
was away, but his wife, despite a re-
straining order issued against her
Thursday, was there. She gave up the
little girl without protest. Thursday
she is said to have gone to the pro-
bate court and made an affidavit con-
corning Frieda's imprisonment.
Miss Corning lifted the sick little
girl from the cot on which she was
lying and took her Immediately to the
county detention home, where she will
be cared for. Judge Hamilton fnti-
mated today that the father would not
be allowed another opportunity to get
possession of his children.