Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-13
KIDNAPPED nun
ESCAPES CAPTORS
BACK At CONVENT

Frederick, Nd, Feb. 12-(By A. P.)
Sister Cecilia, a music teacher at
the Notre Dame academy here, who
was believed to have been kidnapped
from the institution this afternoon,
returned to the convent tonight after
she had escaped, according to her
story to Father William j. Kane, su-
pervisor Of the academy from
house in Bahimore, where she was
held captive for several hours.
Sister Cecilia. who was formerly
Miss Marie Whalen of Verona, Pa. is
in a serious condition at the convent
and has been ordered to remain in
bed. According to a statement by
Father Kane she is suffering from
shock and blow received on the
head by unidentified persons. All of
her religious garments were taken
away from her. lie said. and on &C
count Of her being hysterical, she is
unable to give detailed account of
the kidnapping.
According to Father Kane. tho
kidnapping occurred between 9 and
5 o'clock this afternoon. While Sis
ter Cecilia was giving piano inStruc-
tons to pupil. he said. she noticed
q man and woman standing be-
side closed automobile across the
street from the convent. She be-
came alarmed. he stated, as the
couple acted mysteriously. An hour
after the pupil had left the building
and while she was sitting alone IN
her room. she noticed the woman
peering in through rear window.
When she went to investigate. ac-
cording to her story to Father Kane
the man struck her over the head.
rendering her unconscious. She SAD
she did, not remember anything OF
what happened until she came to
several hours later in the Baltimore
house.
When she recovered consciousness,
| Father Kane said. she overheard sew
eral persons in an adjoining room talk
ing about her. She told the supervisor
that "they spoke like foreigners and
we're talking about a $500 ransom.
| Seeing a coat and hat on the wall OF
The room. she grabbed them and ran
out on the street. There she met po-
! liccman and, without telling him the
| story Of the kidnapping, asked him TO
direct her TO a taXicah stand. in order
that she might be able TO return to
| Frederick.
4. When told that the fare would be
| $50 she requested that the money be
received from Father Kane as she only
had 81 with her. which she said was
! in the pocket Of the coat she took from
the house. On arriving at Frederick
she stumbled into the Iestibule of the
convent, whore she tainted. While not
! believing the taXicab driver. who gave
| his name as Stewart Cathcart of Bal
timore. to be implicated in the KID
mapping. Father Kane requested police
! to hold him las a suspicious person
and for questioning.
| Father Kane said he could not ac-
count for the attempt to kidnap Sister
Cecilia. I'VE are going to investigate
this affair."" he said land will not be
satisfied until we have apprehcnded all
persons involved
The room at the convent from which
Sister Cecilri was taken. the priest
| stated, showed signs of struggle. A
bottle. believed to contain chloroform.
string Of rosary beads and black
veil were found on the floor. A cloth.
which Father Kane believed to be sat
urated with the drug, also was discov-
cred in a corner OF the room. he said.
Sister Cecilia could give Father Kane
no idea of who her kidnappers were.
She said she had watched them in fsDnt
or the building for more than an hour
before she was kidnapped, but was
unable to give proper description of
either,