Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== NEWSPAPER: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York City Saturday, May 13, 1922 =========================================================================== SISTER DEMANDS LILLIAN WHITE DEAD OR ALIVE _____________ Gets Habeas Corpus Writ Against Letchworth Vil- lage and Bedford Re- formatory. The authorities at Letchworth Vil- lage Home for Girls having assumed the attitude that Lillian White was not murdered on Cheesecock Mountain and that it was not her skeleton that was found in the cave, members of her family today obtained from Jus- tice Leander B. Faber, in Supreme Court, a writ requiring the production in court here on Tuesday morning of Lillian White, "dead or alive." The habeas corpus writ was ob- tained by Dr. Anna W. Hochfelder, at- torney for Mrs. Catherine Copertino of 1408 Bergen st., sister of Lillian White. It is directed against the au- thorities as Letchworth Village, for it was to the former institution that Lillian was committed by Magistrate Barlow in 1917 in the Ninth District Magis- trate's Court. The transfer to Letchworth village was made in February, 1920, without the consent of either Lillian or her sisters or brother, and was brought about on an application by two of the authorities of Bedford Reform- atory. A singular feature of the mystery surrounding the dissapearance of the girl from Letchworth village is the refusal of Dr. Charles S. Little, the superintendent in charge, to return her to her home in March, 1921, al- though Lillian's relatives had ear- nestly requested it. By way of explaining his refusal to allow the girl to go home, Dr. Lit- tle wrote in his letter, among other things: "You certainly are aware of cir- cumstances that led to Lilly's being sent here. There is little doubt but that if she were to be left all day with no supervision she very probably would have the same experience again. So, everything considered, we are com- pelled to decide that she is better off where she now is." There were other requests upon Dr. Little, it was said today, that Lillian be released and sent home, but these were ignored. "When the Grand Jury of Rockland County sought to ascertain the truth about the skeleton that was found in the mountains, the people in charge of Letchworth Village went so far as to bring evidence indicating that the slain woman was not Lillian White." said Dr. Hochfelder today. "If that is so, let them now produce Lillian White. They were responsible for her care and safety and if they are so sure that the victim of the inquiry was not the girl whose care and custody they were charged with, let them come forward with Lillian White and let them show cause why she should not be restored to her sisters and brother at this time." The statement of the Rockland County Grand Jury, which reported yesterday to Supreme Court Justice Tompkins at White Plains that it could not say that the skeleton was that of Lillian White, came after Dr. Arthur C. Munson of Sparkill testified that his examination of the skull and teeth convinced him that it was not that of Lillian White. He declared that the dental record of Letchworth Vil- lage Home differed substantially from the exhibit which has been used both to affirm and deny the identity of the murdered woman. He said that other inmates of the Home had declared that Lillian White's teeth were small and white and even, while the skele- ton's teeth were large and yellow. ===========================================================================