Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-19
lQlortcster 1alip Spp,

CRAZY MAGGIE.-For five or six years a
crazy woman, known as Maggie has been an
almost daily visitor at jefferson Market po
lice, for warrants to arrest her imaginary per-
secutor, whom she designated by the name Of
Fat Riley Maggie's case is Il very peculiar
one, and but very little of her personal history
can be ascertaincd. She is about 80 wears of
age, Il native of Ireland has pleasant, smiI
ing countenance, is plainly dressed, but always
most scrupulously clean and tidy. About six
years ago Maggie first made her appeatance
at court, where she would take back seat
and quietly watch the proceedings for time,
and then depart as quietly as she had entered
She was observed to come in this way for sew.
eral days, always occupying the same seat,
and always going away again without asking
TO see the Judge or speaking to any of the Oiii-
GERS of the court. Her modest behavior and
retiring disposition, in such striking contrast
OF the usual female visitors OF the court, final
ly attracted the attention of the magistrate,
ana he entered into conversation with her.
She then made Il complaint against Pat Riley,
character existing only in her diseased i'm
agInation, and charged him with having fol
-" ed her to church, when he seized her IN the
MfGst of the congregation, and violently pulled
out three of her teeth. Thinking to get rid
of her. the justice promised to issue warrant
and have Pat Riley arrested, upon which Mag
gle, with many thanks, departed. In a dly
or two she came again, and this time patiently
waiting until the magistrate was at liberty,
she again wanted Pat Riley arrested For
getting all about her previous charge. but
clearly remembering the officers of the court
all OF whom she saluted with a pleasant
smile and CHEEKY Good morning"--she
stated shat Pat Riley had met her in the street,
and forciby OBTAINING her, had, in spite
OF all her screams and resistance poured
large quantity of vitriOl down her throat
Again warrant was promised and again she
departed, with many thanks, and the same
pleasant smile and quiet, dgnfed air And
so poor Maggie has been coming and going to
and from Jefferson Market for all these years
preterring the like frivolous complaints against
this supposititious Pat Riley. Efforts have
been made to ascertain if there really was any
such man, but none can be found. The mag
lstrate learned, however, that Maggie formerly
worked as a servant in a respectable family in
this city, has no relatives that she knows Of
and that she had few hundred dollars in bank.
That portion Of her time which is not spent in
court Is employed i'll doing various kinds of
work, by which means she earns her living
without touching her reserve fund in the bank
on the contrary, she continually makes small
additions to it. On one OCCASION the Judge
thinking to cure her of attending court so
much, affected severity of manner towards
her and scolded her soundly. Poor Maguie
seemed almost heart broken and left the court
room with her eyes full OF tears, and did not
make her appearance again for some time.
Still Pat Riley was ever before her, and con
tinually affecting her with his mischeyous
prosecutions, and finally some one OF those
land sharks known as "shysters," who hang
about the courts, affected to sympathize with
her under pretence OF relieving her from the
prosecutions OF Pat Riley This reaching the
ears OF the magistrate, he sent for MaVuip
and by dint of entreaty and promises Of good
behavior was again received as her friend and
confident. Maggie then recommended her
visits TO the court, and still makes her appear
ance two or three times week, sitting quietly
and reServedly in her corner, waiting patiently
till the judge shall have time to hearken to her
complaiut-N Y. Tribune.