Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-06-03

Last evening Mercedes Hickey, .
woman well known in Virginia City
came to Carson in search of her child
Emma, girl thirteen years Of age
She ascertained that it was at the
Orphans Home and called to see it but
claims that those in charge would not
allow her to enter the institution. She
says that the child disappeared several
days ago and she supposed it had been
taken away by the Williams troupe and
by telegraphing all along the line of the
G. P. caused the troupe to be searched
at every point. .
The Enterprise of yesterday morning
has the following: 'rs
1t appears that the thirteen-year-old
girl for whose recovery some old
Spanish woman has been advertising,
is safely lodged at the State Orphans
Home. 1t was shown to the satisfaction
Of the authorities that the woman was a
very unfit person to have charge Of the
girl. Although she claims to be the
mother of the child, there are those who
say che is not. According to her story
and that of some of the neighbors, the
girl was horribly treated by the old
woman. +"' q
This old Spanish woman is Mercedes
Hickey, well known in Sacramento,
White Pine and Virginia City for twen-
ty years past. In early times she
emassed a great deal of money keeping
houses Of ill repute, and fequently APP
peared on the Sacramento race track
with four-in-hand outfit worth $780,
900. She was at one time worth $780,
600, and was in the habit of contribut-
ing lavishly to the campaign funds.
The money gradually drifted away
from her, and she finally had nothing
left but row of houses in Virginia
City on South B street. These she
finally decided to a lover for the consid-
Grafton of one dollar under promise of
He speedily dispossessed
her of her property, and since then her
daughter Emma has supported heI' by
teaching French and German. Emma,
although child, in short dresses, speaks
five languages fuently, her mother |
having spent great deal of money on |
her education. She is very precocious,
and in conversation talks like a we'll |
educated woman of thirty. Her SEN
:ences fall from her mouth with studied
effect, as if she was reading them from
/ book. Three years ago she was told
hat she was only an adopted child, and
took the train for San
intending to paddle her own
anoe. When brought back by the
police and asked why she left mother,
he replied:
81 am as yet not quite sure of her
IDENTIFY or my own. If the stories are
l shall leave her perma-
nently."
Last evening Mrs. Hickey was hunt
ng for a lawyer to get out writ of
labeas corpus, and had telegraphed to
Virginia for the sinews of war. She
laims that a conspiracy has been
latched to get the child away, but the
authorities of Virginia probably knew
What they were about when they took
barge of her, considering that her
mother was unfit to take care of her.
The Chronicle of last evening gives
he following additional particulars:
Some nine years ago a man named
PETERSON lived in this city. He had
wife and an infant daughter. His wife
led and he sold the baby to Mercedes
Hickey, a well known disreputable
Toman of the town, for $25. This girl
) now IL years old, and has ever since
er purchase by Mercedes Hickey been
nown as Emma Hickey. She is a
right little girl, and is able to speak q
'rench and Spanish fiuently, besides
aving a good knowledge of the Eng
sh language. # ".'.
Last Saturday the child went before I
Judge Hires and asked him to take her
nder his protection, telling him shock t
,g story. She says that the unnatural
oman who has had her in bondage has
,mpelled her tc go from home on beg :
ing excursions and commanding her !.
} bring home certain sums of money