The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-15
KIDNAPPED GIRL AND OIL
MAN FREE; CHILD FOUND
IN STIFLING DESERT HOLE
Letter Mailed in Chicago
Leads ReSCuerS to
Arizona Cave
ALL TUCSON REJOICES
Physicians, Amazed, Assert
1t impossible Child
Survived Ordeal.
By [ nited Press

!
TUCSON, Ariz., May 15-Little
June Robes rested in her own home
today, recovering rapidly from nine
teen days spent chained in a burn
ing desert hole.
Officers sought her kidnapers and
prepared to prevent mob violence
should they be captured.
An anonymous letter mailed in
Chicago led authorities to her prison,
not far from here, from which she
was rescued last night. Physicians
said no permanent harm would re-
suit from her inhuman treatment
After the child had been put to
bed, her matted hair combed out
and the filth washed from her SUM-
burned, emaciated body, crowds
milled about the streets, alternately
muttering threats and shouting and
rejoicing at her safety.
County Attorney Clarence Hous-
ton of Tucson, found June after the
letter was sent to him by Governor
} B. B. Moeur, to whom it had been
mailed in Phoenix.
Child Whimpers Answer
Following directions of the letter,
Houston, accompanied by other
authorizes, found the pit we'll con-
cealed by cactus and mesquite. Lift
ing trap door over the living grave,
he saw June's legs
Il thought she was dead" he said,
and was about to withdraw to call
an undertaken"
Then he called out, and June
whimpered an answer.
Houston stepped down into what
appeared to be a coffin of CORFU
gated iron sunk in the desert.
r. There he found June stretched on
a gunny sack for a bed and bath
towel for pillow
Around her ankles was fastened
chain, run through an automobile
axle and so contrived that she
could not free herself. The tenn
perature was 10 in the open air
and several sitting degrees higher
in the iron cage.
There was no ventilation, Houston
said. Nail holes punched in the
trap door provided just enough air
to sustain life. June had not stood
up since she was placed in the
tomb.
, Chain Around Ankles
Two and one-half feet wide by
two and one-half feet high, it was
six feet long. She could only recline
in the filth of her cage and raise
herself to her elbows, scraping
against the two-by-four timbers
S which formed the framework when
S she turned. The trap door in the
] top at one end of the coffin was
I eighteen inches long.
Six gallons of water remained in
a Interrogation can. Around it were
S the partially decomposed remains OF
: apples, oranges, and bread and Jam
Il want to stay with mama, "
June said to her uncle. Carlos
= Robes, who accompanied the party
to the prison cave
'Mama's waiting for you and
we're going to her now" Robes re-
piled
oh. wait, I forgot my card" the
child said. In the cage the men
found her school report card, on
: which she pointed out two. "onesr
: (high grades with grimy finger
, Il want to show them to mama,
2 she added,
: June was taken Immediately to
: the home of her parents.
There her mother embraced her
! joyfully. Aged visibly by the strain
2 tears streamed down the mother
r cheeks. Summoned from his cleo
/ trical shop, the girls father rushed
2 home.
This is the first smile I've had in
/ nineteen days." he said. Il was
t never so happy in my life
l Pieces Story Together
> June was b$thed and dressed in
r bright pink Then she was brought
t to the second story porch of the
home. so that the crowd which
gathered as the news spread could
see her June waved weakly, and
the crowd shouted. Automobile
horns joined in the applause.
5 Then June slowly pieced together
! in childish phrases. the story of her
7 capture and detention.
The men only came to the cage
three times" she said. They
brought me oranges. cakes. candy
l and gum They always visited me
at night and didn't recognize any
, of them. One man just took me in
!. his car and drove right away to
the cage"
June said the men talked Eng
lish, and two of them addressed
: each other as Bill" and Will"
Physicians were almost incredu-
. lous at June's survival. They said
it was improbable and almost i'm
: possible for a child to remain fol
: nineteen days under such conditions
: of heat and dirt. chained and al
! most immovable.
, She was weak. had abrasions or
; her head where she had scratched
herself, and on her leg from rub
? bling against her chain. Also she
: suffered from malnutrition and tbs
e heat. which ranged daily from 10t
TO Ito degrees. Physicians SAID
e after a rest and care she woulc
rorOuer fasllv-