White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-07-13
IRATE FATHER HALTS
ROMANCE OF GYPS!ES
Chief Is Nabbed on Charge
of kidnapping.

Albany, N. IA modern day gypsy
trail, followed none the less skillfully
or relentlessly because 1t led over
paved roads through cities and towns
instead of over woodland paths, ended
near here in East Greenbush recently
when John Demitro, gypsy chief, was
arraigned before Justice of the Peace
Horton, charged with kidnapping thir-
teen-year-old Rose Thompson, vivaci-
Gus dark-eyed daughter of Wanda
Thompson, gypsy tribal leader Of
Bridgeport, Conn.
Demitro was arrested at his camp
by four state troopers from G troop
barracks in Troy and taken to the
Rensselaer, county Jail while a hun
dred tribesmen, their eyes blazing with
wrath, looked on, hesitating to make
any openly hostile gesture toward the
four troopers.
Rose, who was found in Demitro's
roadside camp, was turned over to her
father, who had been following the
trail of Demitro's band ever since
March 1 In the search for his daugh-
ter. He took her back with him to
the house in which he is temporarily
staying here and few moments later
two truckloads of gypsies from De-
mitro's camp disembarked menacingly
in front of the house.
Detectives Avert Violence.
Before anything could happen, how
1ntontfvns onnnorn1
and ordered the Demitro faction to
move on. Their order was reluctantly
obeyed and the Thompson followers
breathed an evident sigh of relief.
Two private detectives guarded them
the rest of the night.
The story of the events that preced-
ed the arrest, being concerned entirely
with gypsy jealousies and customs, is
Enthusiastically confused. From
statements made here by Thompson
and advices received from Bridgeport,
however, it appears that Thompson
is the leader of gypsy band that was
quartered in house in South Main
street in Bridgeport last winter while
Demitro's band lived in a house on
State street.
According to the story received from
Bridgeport, Demitro's wife became IL!
in February and Thompson consented
to let his daughter go to Demitro's
house to nurse her. Thompson then
went to New York to arrange for
opening some concessions he owns in
Starlight Amusement park the Bronx.
When he returned March I Demtro's
band was gone and so was Rose.
Thompson traced them to North
Adams, Mass, over the Lebanon
mountains into New York and finally
came to Albany and enlisted the aid
of Assistant District Attorney David
A. Wanger.
Asserts He Bought Girl.
Demitro asserted here, however, thai
in accordance with gypsy custom he
had paid Thompson $1,000 for Rose
to make her the bride Of his fourteen
year-old son, John, Jr., and it was no
ticed that as she left the Demitr'
camp Rose cast lingering look bacl
at young boy who remained behint
In the camp.
"What would you do?" Thompson
exclaimed, when asked about the
transaction. II good American citi
zen. No want gypsy marriage for my
girl. Want good American marriage
Take out third papers for citizen.
fight John Demitro but it was not be-
cause $500 was too little for my
Rose. l want the Rose to have goot
American law marriage"
Demitro is held without bail pend
ing extradition proceedings which arc
being started In Bridgeport.