Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-02-02
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.


The scene occurred IN New York week or two since
before the Police Court, and Is from the New York /
Taitera paper remarkable for the viyidness and pow
er of It's police reports We never saw a mothers all
absorbing love Of her children better described. fone
can read the following w,hou, feeling queer about the |
heart he may depend he has ne.-Argas
GENUINE WRErcHEDsEss.A tall haggard looking wo-
very poorly clad, but with an all of worn out gen
ty about her, charged with stealing brass
dlestick worth two shillings She apart from the
other prisoners and appeared 10 be deeply stricken
with poverty and 1t was evident, however, !
she took interest in her present position, cared
for the disgrace inconvenience she might be subject
but that her had deeper root and that her
heart (aas, what wretched heart was hat) was else
where She sighed continually, but her signs were
suppressed if she didn't wish them to be overheard
and her eyes red and hard with weeping and she
would have wept still but that she had 10 shed
She was beyond that. The poor woman's hair was
loose and ragged, her paroxysms, her wrnkled brow
and her haggard eye gave evidence Of much mental
suffering and her pinched up attenuae nose and chin
and hallow skinny cheek told but to plainly that stark
famine had almost done its worst upon her, for she was
so much wasted, that there could be but little further
effected by the grave and the Her dress
sisted of old tatered gown, and that was all; for
the rents here and there made 1t too evident that she
had no inner garment, and she also deficient in
shoes and stockings. God help her, much as we are
used to of poverty and misery we did not think
that forlorn being could exist and be so fororn.
Her name was Ellen Barclay.
The Court having disposed of three four trlfllnG
| cases, called Ellen Barclay, but received no answer
Don't you hear his worship call1" said Waterman
Still answer. 'Get up" added the watchman with
an oath, and he about to lay rude hands on her.
when he looked in her face but was terrified by its ex
preston of abstract misery. twas evident the wretch
ed woman wrapped in her own agonizing reflect
ions, and that she not aware Of what was passing
around her.
Being at length aroused to knowledge of her posi-
ton, however, her fit of abstraction forsook her, and
she became keenly sensitive, her coun,enance relax
ing from its expression of conemPative suferings,
distrust, and solicitation.
"Do you know what you are confined for Elem
| enQuired the Court.
81 do sir do, exclaimed the prisoner, casping her
hands together and looking nothing but deep misery
and want can look 81 do sir do. 1t is for stealing
little brass candesck; and Oh God-Oh God, /
wish had stolen and got of with it, for fear that my
dear little Dickey is dead, that my poor little Ellen and
| Mary are crying themselves to death over him.
Court-You acknowledge then, that you attempted
| to steal the candlestck.
Prsoner-I do sir-kill me-hang me--but OH for
Gods sake send some 10 look after my children.
Court-Where are your chldren'
Prisoner-Qooking wildly about her)-Ah that's II
i fear they are dead and gone forever for they had
nothing to wear, nothing to ea-no bed TO lie on-and
their poor mother in prison. On God' wish hao
killed myself and them before 1t came to thls-ior then
at all events | would have been with them to have com
loried them when they were dying.
Couu-Poor woman, pity you, and will have yct
comfOrted.
Prisoner-You cannot comfort me unless you bring
me my children the biggest is only six years old ant
they have nothing since Monday. hgo, go quick
for know my babies are dead dying as human ma
uro cannot stand as much as they were called TO sui
fer
Court again ask YOU were we can find them
| Prisoner-Oh, sir, don't know how to tell you, bN
could find it out myself for its somewhere close
hand They in a long dark hall, under stairs
r where have lived for fortnight For the sake o
the Father of merces, Worship permit me TO 90 am
find them; and dead alive I'll RETURN and let YOU d
what you please with ne.
Ilaru la, l1F
nploe his worship for liberty to go ana look lor he
children and officer had been desired to attend ne
G for that purpose, when Waterman entered with an IN
FAINT in his arms and two hall naked trembling little gifis
the about four and the other SIX years old holdln
, on his coat Instantly the prisoner sprung TO her Zee
S and rushed towards the Waterman shnekng rs Dici
alive, o God is Dick alive, she laughed hysterlcal!y
- clasped the infant wildly 10 her bosom; and dance
about the office and throwing herself upon the TORI
exhausted she took her other two half amshcd infant
. in her lap, when they all commenced laughing an
j. weeping together.
Meanwhile the Waterman had told his worship ihs
the eldest girl had called his attention TO the children
e and that he found them hudded together under star
Re evidently in state OF starvation, ana "h holihg
S. cover them other than the rags they had on.
a Court--Now Mrs. Barclay since you have got yot
If Children will you answerme few quesons I'll hay
you and them properly taken care OF.
IS Prisoner-I will sir Ill do any thing now; but
j. whatever you do with Vs. don't part US again.
D. Court-Never fear How long have you been
H. this ciyl
T. Pflsoner-AbOu, two months sir.
er Cour-How have you supported yourself IA tn
e. time
H. Prisoner-I hardly know sir, bat VIC ca, very lIi,l
m tried 10 get work, but one would employ me, b
H. cause they say look shabby. then went to be
- bu, some told me they would have me taken up: al
n, others that drunk; though God knows atthe n
lc was almost wild with starvation and with hearing
10 poor infants CRYING for food. And 50 sir was drive
M by sheer necessity until did tie thing that brought
NJ here.
81, Court-What brought YOU 10 New York when y
he had no friends here!
II. Prisoner came 70 seek my husband sir who
Isl serted rno six months ago for another woman;
10 when | found him lie only beat me and when N
him tina, and nv children were starving, he SAID
wished wc were dead-and God knows 50 did /.
Poor Ellen then stated, that FOR seven years her hC
, band and she lived very comfortably together IN Ar
OF nv where they had KEEP, little store but that serya
"a Girl whom she had hired take OF he chidr'
IN while size herself attended The store, had induced b
M 10 90 of with her, and 70 take every thing OF value
ne possessed along with them. From that lime she
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