Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-06-22
RICH BROKERI is
SAID TO HAVE
KISSED TYPIST
Breaks From His Grasp and
Falls Fainting-Starts
Drive on Male Vamps.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, June %. - The
arrest and Identification Of VIII 4
liam T. Pursell, wealthy Chicago in
surance broker, 60 years old, as the man
who seized Miss Irene HOerger, II, in his
arms and tried to assault her when she
applied in his Office for a position as
stenOgrapher, has started a wholesale
drive against the male vampire" spe-
cies of the genus homo said to be alto
gether too Indifferent to the laws Of ILL
nois
Bess c. Sullivan, assistant States at
torney, who has been intrusted with this
campaign, is preparing to confront the
broker with three other girls, all minors,
now in Chicago institutions, for having
been mistreated at a certain Office in
downtown Chicago which the police were
never able to locate. If they identify
Pursell three serious charges will be
lodged against him in addition TO the
charge of disorderly conduct which Miss
Hoerger has preferred.
Because Of the falling finances of her
mother, q widow, Miss Hoerger was re?
Gently obliged to quit high school to
seek a position. At an employment Of
fee where she applied she was sent to
detective agency which had appealed to
them for a stenographer. When she
stepped from the elevator and was about
TO enter the agency's office she saws she
was accosted by an elderly man, who ad-
vised her not to go In. On seeing her
determination to do so he asked her to
drop in his Office, across the hall, on her
way out.
FINDS MAN
AWAITING HER.
On leaving the agency's Office, where
she was informed the typist Job had been
filed. Miss Hoerger found the elderly
man awaiting her. Thinking he had a
position she might fill, she accepted his
invitation to step inside. After asking
her numerous questions, which she be-
lieved had some relation to employment
he suddenly asked:
Have you a sweetheart"
Atonished, the girl replied she had
none and he asked her:
How would you like to lie my sweet
hearth"
He offered me money, automobiles,
OF anything I wanted said Mics Hoer-
ger, in reporting the incident. Il started
to get up and he rushed to me, strug
Cling in an attempt to kiss me. I forced
him away and as l started for the door be
grabbed me again, wrestling for some
minutes, still trying to kiss me. Then
he 1eu back suddenly.
My Godr he said, what have done?'
He put a dollar bill in my hand and
told me TO come back tomorrow. l don't
know why I didn't faint. He seemed ag-
itated and followed me to the elevator.
Then l ran to a downtown store, where
q friend Of mine works"
Before she could reach her friend she
tainted and was taken to a washroom.
While attendants attempted to revive her
the girl mumbled the story. It reached
the ears Of James Vail, superintendent of
the stores detective force, and he took
her to central station.
With Sergeants Nagel and Mallow, the
girl returned 20 the office building. Pur-
sell was sitting IN the office alone Be
fore the detectives could Identify them
selves or state their mission he ran to
the girls side, pleading with her not to
cause his arrest.
She went over the entire story ~-'--
detectives while he listened. Wher 4
finished he made simple denial and az
taken TO the station.
when l rushed out" said Miss Hoer-
ger, "he said Here's $780, and pushedS
a single bill into my hand. 1t must have
dropped to the floor"
Pursen said he had given the girl
some small change, a haf-dollar, he
thought.
When the case was called in court Pur-
sell failed to appear. The judge de-
clared his bond of $500 forfeited and or
dered him brought in by a deputy.