The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-14

were located in Bunalo and that the one
for refractory girls entirely disconnected from
the house for the reformation of fallen women.
The place for unmanageabe girls. told him. was
walled in. and the inmates could have no inter
the constant OF the Sisters of the Good Shep-
herd. gave Mr.. Smith a. letter of introduction
to the Superioress of the Magdalen Asylum.
and he took his daughter and placed her in the in
stitution. she remained nine or ten months and
then away and after rowing about for some time
came back to Syracuse The father came and in
formed me of what she had done. When she
returned home her condition bad that her
father could not keep her. He said to me that he
heartbroken and would do nothing for her. The
girl shortly after called Mrs. Bird. who lived
me. Mrs. Bird informed servant OF mine
that girl from convent had called at her house.
Not having much respect for Mrs. Bird, who bore
poor reputation. l wondered what the girl could
have called at her house for. told
my servant that I wished Mrs Bird to say to the
Called She vsed Mrs ags
being told by Mrs. Bird. of my wish. came to my
house."
Shc said her name was Florence Mcdonald Twas
surprised, and said to her that 1t gave wrong inn
! Informed her that she was not from convent but
from Magdalen asylum. an institution OF correc-
ton and reformation She SAID she did not like to tell
the kind OF an institution she was FROM as 1t would
make known her former life. She told me that she
was keeping company with married man who hada
sckly wife, and that if the wife did not die no would
get divorce from her and marry her. Lwarned
her against such bad associations. requested
her to return to the care of the Sisters,
and promised to write letter asking
them to receive her. From that time l have
heard nothing from her until now From the in
formation gathered to-day learned that this girl
and the who shot Hickey the same. Her
statement that she had CHI Id in the Convent at
Buffalo untrue. for the Sisters do not keep chill
dren at the institution. II she is tho mother
of unfortunate child it IS more likely in the
founding asylum. which is under the oe other
Sisters. Smith married young wife and she and
tho girl could not agree. That was the cause OF =
good deal of trouble. Smith was heart broken
man. There Is no conventional boarding school at
Buffalo but there day schools in tho city
KINDNESS ILL REPAID.
It was through his influence, DR.. O Hara stated,
that Hickey retained by Mary Anderson this
season. When she played for his benefit in Syracuse
last May at hekss ne her TO retain an
he SO used his influence He said he was not aware
that Hickey kept mistress, but supposed him to be
special despatch received from Cincinnati to-
night says that Hickeys wound is much less serious
than was ut first supposed. His skull not i'll
jured. and he will be out in q day or two; his re
covery is assured.
The residence of Fiorence's parents is not known.
They moved West about three years ago. First they
went to Ohio and aterward proceeded further West.
Florence fathers name ia r. 8. Smith and she
his adopted daughter. He failed in business in
1875 His last venture was unsuccessful
FLORENCE M'DoNALDs BRIEF soJoURN IN THE
CONVENT OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD AT Buzz
FALo-wHAT THE SISTERS SAY OF HER RE-
MARKABLE COURSE.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
BUFFALO n Y. Oct. 10. 1879.
The account from Cincinnati OF the attempted
murder of S. NJ. Hickey by Florence Smith, alias Nc
Donald, on Sunday. states that the woman's diary
contains entries showing that she was an inmate of
Roman Catholic convent in Buffalo. After visiting
several Of these institutions your correspondent
at last found that Florence had been
in the Convent Of the Good Shepherd
for the Reformation of Fallen Women. located in
the northeast part of the city. He was informed
by the Assistant Sister Superior, Mary of Bernard,
that Florence came there from Syracuse September
49, 1874, and went away November % Of the
year. She returned December 8. 1874 and left again
January q, 1878. She went to q Home for
the Frendless in Lockport, a Protestant inst-
tuition. sho being Protestant. Florence returned
to the Convent of tho Good Shepherd last month.
and remained I'VE six days. leaving on the a5th or
27th. At this time Mary Anderson playing an
engagement in Buffalo and Mr.. Hickey was here
her business manager. Florence Is supposed to
have followed him to this city. and taken refuge in
the convent for her own convenience. as she went
there of her own free will. and. Sister Mary said
conducted herself like lady.
ESCAPE FROM THE CONVENT.
In 1874 she was sent to the convent by hee,foster
father Isaac Smith, of Syracuse, i'll the hopo that
she might be led, by influences of the good Sisters
life. For time she behaved well and appeared
willing to listen to good counsel. but night she
made her escape from the place by scaling y fence
ten feet high. She went thon to Lockport. where
she found, and one OF the Sisters
persuaded her to return. She allowed to
depart the second time. promising to again take up
her residence at the Home for the Friendless at
Lockport The Sisters wrote to her foster father at
Syracuse. asking him whether they should send her
home or obtain for her situation They received
q reply stating that he did not want Florence to
como back. and would be thankful if they could
procure her work. They could not succeed in
finding a suitable place. and heard nothing
more Of her till she returned few weeks ago. The
Sisters had no knowledge that Florence had
child in Buffalo. II SO 1t must have been left with
some private family, and not in any of the nstitu
tons or asylums. She said not word to any oncin
the convent during her last stay there about her
ISOLATION with Hickey, and said that she simply
came there to stop few days.