The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-03
A Singular Story.
NEW YORK, Feb. II.

NEW 1ORk, L cD. IL.
A sad story of parental severity and
cruelty, growing out of a mistake on the
part of the parent and the wickedness oi
servant girl, was made public to-day
through the Harlem Police Court.
Charles E. Crawford, a clerk, lives at
1G0 First street and Morris avenue. Hi,
family consists of a wife and daughter
of thirteen. On the 1st of September last
Mary Dooley, aged twenty, aquiet look
ing girl, was employed as house servant.
She brought good references. a month
or so after her arrival various articles be-
gan to disappear, but inquiry threw no
light on the matter. Jewelry and money
next were missed.
A search was made, and q pockctbook
containing $3.50, stolen from the desk of
Mr.. Crawford, was found wrappedin some
old clothes of Annie Louisa, the daughter.
She was accused, but denied the theft.
Other stolen articles were discovered in
a dolls trunk. The child was severely
punished by the parents, who thought
her denial added untruth to the theft.
They desired her to confess, and, to this
end severely chastised her, and, to avoid
a further punishment, the child acknowl-
edged she had stolen it. The property,
however, continued to disappear, aud the
child was again accused. She denied it,
but.through fear ofpunishment again con-
fessed. In reply to the question what
she done with the things she had taken,
she said she had destroyed them. Her
parents began to think she was Of un.
sound mind. Physicians put the matter
down rs insanity on the subject Of steal
ing. The child was watched, but the
property continued to disappear. Inccn.
diarism was added to the rooberies, and
the child, to avoid chastisement for tell
ing and untruth, admitted her guilt.
The hands of the little girl were now
strapped to her side, but still the robber-
les did not cease, and another fire nearly
destroyed the house. Crawford, to pre-.
vent his daughter injuring herself, had
a belt made, and, procuring chain,
chained the child to the wall of the din.
ing room during the day, and at night to
the post of the bed Of Mary Dooley.
The servant slept with the child to pre-.
vent her doing herself injury.
One day in the early part Of the pres
cnt month lady called to see Mrs. Craw-
ford. She placed aside her wraps, which
consisted of a valuable fur lined mantle
and muff and bonnet, but when she looked
for them again they were gone. A detec-
tive found the articles contained in the
garre.. That day Annie Louisa was un-
chained, but went about the house with
her arms bound to her side; being
with punishment, she con-
fessed having placed the property where
it was found.
The father, for some reason, now had
cause to suspect his servant, and a neigh.
Dor informed Mrs. Crawford that Mary
Dooley WAS dishonest. During her ab-
sence yesterday the place where she kept
her clothing was searched, and there,
carefully put away, was much of the miss
ing property. When Mary returned last
night, she was met by a detective and
accused of the thefts, and of having set
fire to the house on two occasions. She
confessed, and said the greater part of the
jewelry and valuables she had stoled were
at her home, and they we're found.
To-day Mary was atraigned in tue Po-
lice Court, where only the charge of in
cendiarism was preferred against her.
She acknowledged the ofense, and was
in default of $4,000 bail to
await the action of the Grand Jury.
"That woman," said the detective, refer
ring to Dooley, "is the most wicked being
l 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 she was
the cause of IT,"