Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-06-30
NUMBER l3.


From the jefferson City Times June TO-
Some sixteen months since a poor
woman named Tucker, mother OF
two little girls. was sent to the peni-
tentiary. She had been arraipned
for assault with intent to kill. The
attorney assigned by the court, adj
vlsed plea of guilty. She consent
ed, and was sentenced to two wears.
Her own account il that a wicked
man, for q wicked purpose, came 10
her house at night. while her hps.
baud was on his death bed. HE
died the fourth day afterward. She
shot him, but it proved a trifiing
wound. Her little girls. now ten
and thirteen, were the only Witness
es. She was arrested and sentenced
as related.
The little girls were too young to
appreciate the terrible situation.
They only knew that their mother
was In trouble, and must go to JEFF
ferson City. SO they were sent off
to an aunt In Springfield, while the
mother came here to serve out her
sentence in the penitentiary.
Time rolled on, aud brought to
Springfield band Of rowing Gipsies.
The aunt exhibited the little girls
and offered to give them to the Gip-
sizes. The Gipsies agreed to take
them. Thenceforward, up to q re-
cent period, the little girls followed
the fortunes Of the Gfpsies. They
accompanied them to Texas, back To
Kansas, and finally into North Mis-
They began now to hear of Jeffer-
son City, and fonder recollections of
their lost Mother were revived. IL
became their thought by day and
their dream by night to go to her
Finally, one dark night they stole
away from the Gipsies and fed. In
quiring for Jefferson City, aud de-
pending on charity for food and lodg-
ing, they came this way. At last
they reached Columbia. They told
their story, "Going TO Jefferson CITY
to hnd-mothern--to the proprietor OF
the hack running to this point. He
gave them free passage and little
money. Thus they reached our city,
Their Inquiries here for some time
resulted In nothing. r ....--.a
Judge Long, of the County Court.
looked into their case. He could not
make it-could hear nothing of their
mother. Major Peter Meyers, depu-
W sheriff, finally came across the
little wanders. He could not for a
Q time make anything Of their story.
They gave the names respectively of
Nancy Jane and Rachel Emeline
Tucker. Major Meyers con ceived
that possibly the mother might be In
the mother might be I'm the peniten-
tiary. He inquired OF Colonel
Dougherty, the warden. Col. ID. re.
piled that there was q woman of that
name among the female convicts.--
Major Meyers hastened TO the prison
aud had a long interview with the
woman. .-......-r.0
He questioned her concerning the
reason OF her being there. She
broke out In lamentations about her
little girls. Major Meyers expressed
the belief that he could obtain some
informatlos respecting them for her.
He went away, aud after q little
time returned with the little girls
They were ushered into the presence
OF the mother unannounced. They
fiew Into each others arms frantic
with joy. They embraced and kiss
ed, and cried, and altogether the Mis-
souri, peniteniary was the scene of az
tender picture a. ever happened be-
meath palace roof. .....s
The little girls are bright and pret.
ty, and every way prepossessing.