Girl Is Kidnaped On Way To Work

1920

PRETTY MISS OF 20 WHISKED AWAY IN CAR.

Sees Another Abducted Woman in Auto — Is Thrown Out Bruised and Frightened.

ROCHESTER, New York. — The movies missed a thriller when pretty Hilda Gresens, 20, was kidnaped by three men. The girl was carried a mile in a closed taxicab when she was thrown into the street. The police have made no progress in investigating the outrage, inasmuch as the girl was so badly frightened and misused she was unable to give a reasonable description of her assailants.

Miss Gresens is employed in a factory. She was on her way to work when attacked. She had reached a street near the factory, when an automobile drew up to the curb and two men alighted. The girl was seized and forced into the car despite her struggles and screams for help.

Sees Another Girl.

In the car, Miss Gresens claims, was another girl, who apparently was drugged, as she appeared to be dazed and made no effort to help herself in any way. The curtains of the machine were drawn tightly, and she said she did not know what route the car took after she had been dragged inside of it.

When she struck the pavement, she realized that she had been hurt, and she fainted soon after. How long she lay in a vacant lot in Hollenbeck street she did not know, but when she came to she found herself more than a mile from home and some distance from any house. She lay in the lot fully an hour before regaining her senses.

Search for Man.

Miss Gresens' knees are bruised and her right side was wrenched when she was pushed from the taxicab.

The police are searching for a young man who showed Miss Gresens much attention at a dance hall at Sea Breeze two weeks ago, and who became so demonstrative that the girl was forced to leave the hall. She claims the man had written her many notes, telephoned her and called at her home on two occasions in an automobile since that time. The girl says the man wanted her to elope with him.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 5.

Cases of Queer Revenge

1901

In England, where men have more time for everything, including revenge, some queer methods of playing even have come into the courts.

Albert Bewdley of Leeds had a dog that howled at night. A naturalist next door did not like it, but had no legal recourse.

One day ants of the minute red variety began to overrun Bewdley's house. Nothing that could be done headed them off. They grew worse and worse. He had made up his mind to break his lease and move when one night he heard a noise in his dining room. Slipping down, he found the naturalist emptying a bag of ants on the floor. In court the naturalist paid damages, but he did it smilingly.

Rowley, the late English violinist, was hard to beat on his perseverance against one who had incurred his ill will.

Rowley had a quarrel with a horse dealer named Brant. It was a trivial matter, but Rowley took the next house to Brant, set up a piano, bought a cornet and proceeded to make insomnia for Brant.

After one or two assault cases in court Brant moved. Rowley bought out the next door neighbor and followed with piano and cornet. Brant went to law, but found he could do nothing. Failing, he took a detached house. Then Rowley hired brass bands and organs and assailed him. This was actionable, and Rowley paid £1,000 for his revenge. — Chicago Tribune.

Tries To Collect For Gifts To Girl Who Weds Another

1920 (1919)

"As a Romeo, You're a Failure," Says Judge After Fining Man and Exacting His Promise Not to Molest Woman With Further Demands for Return of Presents.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 1. — Justice Casimir J. Welch, occupying the bench in municipal court, surveyed the pair before him in the prisoners' dock with studied frigidity. Common disturbers of the peace in this, the holiday season, when every one should be happy and all serene, were finding little favor. But when Mrs. M. Bellos, the wife of a Greek restaurant owner, told her story the court sat up and took notice. This is the story Mrs. Bellos told:

While still a maiden she was the proprietor of a restaurant and rooming-house in Sayre, Pa. Business was good and there was little to worry her, when Bill Poulos became a guest at her rooming-house, and then a regular boarder. Bill was fairly handsome and likeable and soon he became attentive. As time passed his attentions became more pronounced, until he became a suitor.

Now the proprietress of the rooming-house, tho she liked Bill, had no thought of becoming involved matrimonially, since she had learned from some source, probably during one of Bill's unguarded moments, that Bill had a wife in "the old country." Consequently, when Bill's protestations became obnoxious she quietly sold out and came to Kansas City.

But Bill was not to be put off in that manner. He followed, arriving here two weeks ago, only to find that his "intended" had married.

He found her to be Mrs. M. Bellos.

But Bill was undaunted. Besides, there were the presents he had given her amounting in value to something like $200, as he figured it.

And that was where the disturbance of the peace charge had its origin.

When Bill found that she still spurned advances he resorted to demands for the return of the presents or $200 and, being balked in this direction, turned to the to the husband. There again he had no luck and, forthwith began making trouble, with the usual result. The police were called.

Justice Welch patiently listened thru it all. Then he turned on Poulos.

"As a Romeo you are a complete failure, Poulos. That kind of stuff may go in your country, but it won't go here. You are fined $50, but I'll give you a stay if you keep away from that restaurant."

Poulos promised to stay away.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 4.

Rival Kidnaps A Bride

1920

Girl On Eve of Marriage Is Stolen By Man Whom She Had Rejected

CHICAGO, Feb. 25.—(Special.) Police of three cities were busy yesterday trying to locate pretty Iolanda Sabatini, aged seventeen, who was kidnapped Monday night, by a suitor she had spurned, and whisked away just on the verge of her marriage to another man, who was agreeable to both the girl and her parents.

Late last night the father of the girl received a telegram, apparently filed at Rockford, Ill., which said:

"I have kidnapped Iolanda. Do not worry."

This was signed by Joe Falco, who was a soldier at the Rockford encampment and the parents of the girl believe he is holding her prisoner there or at Beloit, Wis.

The girl was to marry Lawrence Menconi. While he was at the house Sunday night, Falco was discovered peering in the windows. Presumably he realized that his time was short, as the girl would soon become the bride of his hated rival and decided upon quick action. Iolanda started for a nearby grocery Monday evening and the police believe Falco and some confederates were in waiting with an automobile into which they threw her and drove across the country to Rockford.

—The Evening State Journal and Lincoln Daily News, Lincoln, Nebraska, February 25, 1920, page 7.