River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-02-24
FEN DISH FATHER.
lnh unfaB Treatment OF Little Gilri
in New York. Suspected OF Stealing
Hrau. Her

Rnh u All treatment or a Little tsifri
in New York, Suspected OF Stealing
From Her Parents.
Charles K. Crawford, clerk lives at
No. 100 Sixty-frst street and Morris av-
enue. His family consists of his wife
and a daughter of Is years. On the LIST
of September last, Mary Dooly, aged 20
years, a quiet-looking girl, was en-
ployed as house servant. She brought
good references. A month or so after
her arrival, various articles began to
disappear. Inquiry threw no light on
the matter Jewelry and money next
was missing. Search was made and
a pocket-book containing $50 was
found wrapped in some of the clothes
of Annie Louisa, the daughter. She was
accused, but denied the theft.
Other stolen articles were discovered
in dolls trunk. The child was Sc
verely punished by her parents, who
thought the denial added untruth to
the theft. They desired her to confess,
and to this end severely chastised her.
To avoid a further punishment the
child acknowledged that she had stolen
it. The property continued to disap-
pear, and the child was again accused.
She denied, but through fear of punish
ment again confessed In reply to the
question what she had done with the
things she said she had destroyed them.
Her parents began to think she was of
unsOund mind. Physicians put the
matter down as insanity on the subject
of stealing. The child was watched
but the property continued to disap-
pear. Incendarism was added to the
robberies, and the child, to avoid chas-
tisement for telling an untruth, adj
mitted her guilt. The hands of the little
girl were then strapped to her sides.
Still the robberies did not cease, and
another fire nearly destroyed the house.
Crawford, to prevent his daughter in
juring herself, had belt made, and,
procuring a chain, chained the child to
the wall of the dining-room during the
day and at night to the post of the bed.
Mary Dooley, the servant, slept with the
child to prevent her doing herself in
ury. One day in the early part of the
present month, a lady called to see
Mrs. Crawford. She placed aside her
wraps, which consisted of valuable
ur-lined mantle and muff and bonnet.
When she looked for them again they
were gone. A detective found the arti-
Giles concealed in the garnet. That day
Annie Louisa was unclaimed, but went
about the house with her arms bound to
her sides. Being threatened with
punishment, she confessed having
placed the property where it was
found. Her father, for some reason,
now had reason to suspect his servant,
and a neighbor informed Mrs. Craw-
ford that Mary Dooley was dishonest.
During her absence yesterday the
place where she kept her clothes was
searched. and there carefully put away
was much of the missing property.
When Mary returned last night she
was met by Il detective, accused of the
thefts, and having set fire to the house
on two occasions. She confessed, and
said the greater part of the jew
elry and valuables she had stolen
were at her home, and there they
were found. To-day Mary was ar
raigned in the police court, where only
the charge of incendiarism was pre-
ferred against her. She acknowledged
the of1ense, and was committed in de-
fault of 5000 bail, to await the action
of the grand jury.
"Tnat woman" said the detective, re-
ferring to Dooley, sis the most wicked
being | ever saw 1t brought tears to
my eyes when saw that child chained
to the wall like dog. l don't see how
she could have slept with the child and
listened to the clank of her chain,
knowing that she was the cause of it."