The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-23
Horrible Cracity.

NEW YORK, Feb. 14.-Charies L.
Crawford, a clerk, with his wife and
daughter, thirteen years old, reside
at the corner of 161st street and
Morris avenue. On the 1st of Sep
tember last Mary Doolv, aged twenty,
with good references, was employed
as a house servant. \ month after
ward various articles of small value
began 10 disappear. Jeweiry and
money were next missed. Search
was made, and SI,50 was found
wrapped up in some of the doll
clothes of Mr. Crawford's daughter.
Other articles were found in her
dolls trunk. She was accused of
theft, but denied it and was severely
punished by her parents. They de
sired her to confess her crime, and
to this end severely chastised her.
To avoid further punishment, she
acknowledged that she had stolen
all that had been missed. Property
continued to disappear, and the
girl was again accused. She again
denied, but through fear of punish
ment, again confessed She said she
had DESTROYED them. Her parents
began to think that she was of un-
sound mind. 4 physician was call
ed, who called it kleptomania. The
girl was watched, but property con-
tinued to disappear. On January
1st the bedclothes IN the chamber
of Mr.. Crawford was set on fire, and
nearly 500 worth of property was
destroyed. The daughter was also
accused of this. it being set down TO
insanity. To avoid punishment
she confessed it. After this her
hands were strapped TO her sides.
Still the robberies continued. On
January 18th a fire broke out in the
laundry of the house, which came
near destroying the whole structure.
After i. was extinguished, it was dis
covered that il had originated in a
basket containing laundried clothes.
part OF which had been saturated
with kerosene oil This also was
attributed to the insanity of.the lit
tie girl Her father feared that she
would do injury to herself. He had
belt made tor her, and procuring
long chain, chained he: to a sta
pie in the wall of the living room
during the daytime, and at night to
the post Of her bed. Mary Dooley
slept with her, to prevent her doing
herself injury during the night.
Early in February a lady called on
Mrs. Crawford. She laid aside her
wraps, which consisted of a valuable
fur-lined mantle, mlff and bonnet.
When she looked for them they
were gone. Search was made for
them in vain. \ detective was call
ed in, and at length the cloak, muff
and bonnet were found concealed in
the garret. That day the little girl
was unclaimed, but went about the
house with her arms bound to her
sides. Upon being threatened with
punishment, she confessed having
placed them there. Shortly before
this case Of razors had been stolen
from Mr.. CrawfoFd's drawer. The
idea then struck Mr.. Crawford to
watch the servant girl. Detective
Wilkins was consulted, and in due
time a large quantity of clothing
was found which was thought to have
been burned during the fire in the
laundry. Other stolen articles were
there. Last night the servant was
accused of the thefts, and with hav-
ing set fire to the house or the two
mentioned occasions, She confessed, |
and said the greater part of the jew
elry and yaluables were at her home,
where they were found by the de-
tective. To-day Mary was arraign-
ed in the Harlem police court, where
only the charge of inccndiaryism
was preferred against her. She was
committed In default of $1,000 bail
to await the acton of the grand
jury.