The Washington times., 1922-06-19
CULBERS0N HARVEY'S.
effective SON-|N.LAW
is INDICTED IN ND|CTED.
N. J. Grand Jury Charges Burns
Detective Kidnapped Swain
Of Senator'S Daughter.

I Another chapter was added to
the Culberson-R Robertson romance
Saturday when John F. Ellis, for
,mer detective of the William j.
Burns Agency, in Washington, was
indicted by the Essex county grand
jury In Newark, N. j., on the
charge of kidnapping. =.
'-S.--,s. Daughter OF Senator.
Ellis is charged with having kid
naped Alex e. Robertson, British
soldier and subject, in an effort to
Illustrate his marriage to Miss Mary
Culberson, graduate Of the fashion
able Holton Arms School here and
the University Of Texas. at Austin.
Miss Culberson is a daughter OF
United States Senator Charles A.
Culberson Of Texas, who is alleged
to have been instrumental in the
employment Of Ellis and other
Burns detectives to break up the
romance between his daughter and
Robertson.
The indictment was returned
solely on the evidence presented by
Robertson. who was the only wit
ness called. Robertson's aunt, Mrs.
Mary T. Anderson, 1872 Ashland
avenue, Bloomfield, a suburb OF
Newark, who enlisted the aid Of the
British embassy to save her nephew
from deportation at Boston, was III
and unable to appear.
Robertson told the grand jury
that Ellis and two other Burns men
called at his home in Bloomfield,
threatened him with arrest and ex-
posure IL he did not leave the coun-
try. and, fearing for his life and the
reputation OF Miss Culberson, he
said. he agreed to accompany the
detectives to Boston, where. he de-
clared, arrangements were made to
send him to Buenos Aires, South
America.
Detective Now Out on Bond.
Ellis will 60 to Newark within the
next few days to plead to the indict-
ment. 1t is understood he will enter
a plea of not guilty. declaring that
Robertson perjured himself before
the grand jury, and will also offer
the defense that Robertson was will
ing to leave the country and was
angered when the trip was called off.
Ellis Is now at liberty on $4,000
bonds, which he put UP following his
arrest several weeks ago when he
went to Newark to fix things" with
Robertson.
Robertson is said to have told
friends that II the detective IL found
guilty and the prosecution succeeds
In involving the Burns agency a suit
for civil damages against the agency
will follow. He has not confided in
anyone, II is said. as to what action
he will take against the Culbersons,
whom he alleges engineered the at.
tempt to deport him. ..< h
Since the alleged KIDNAPPING Of
Robertson he has opened an auto
ling a popular make of car. Robert
he was one of Great Britain's first
100, 900 on the western front, became
interested in the automobile business
soon after he met Miss Culberson at
the University Of Texas. where they
were students. ..l..
Detective Frustrated wedding.
Unable to continue In college be.
cause Of financial straits, Robertson
obtained work as helper in a
garage and gasoline filling station
In Austin During this time he saw
Miss Culberson often and their no.
nance progressed.
About the time Miss Culherson
left the University Of Texas TO re.
turn to Washington, Robertson got
q Job with an automobile 1irm in
Syracuse. He came to WASHINGTON
first, saw Miss Cuiberson, and AZ.
tempted to marry her. But Burns
detectives are alleged to have trail.
ed him from the Texas city and TO
have frustrated the planned mar.
riage. Robertson then went 10 his
home In Bleomfield and the alleged