The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-02-24
Case OF Cruelty.

Charles E. Crawford, clerk, lives at One
Hundred and Sixty-frst street and Morris Ave
nue, New York. His family consists Of wife
and daughter of thirteen. The first Of Sep
tsmber last Mary Dooley, aged twenty, quiet
looking girl, was employed rs house-seryant
She brought good references. A month or 80
after her arrival various articles began to disap-
pear. Jewelry and money next were missed.
Search was made and q apoeket-book containing
81 so, stolen from the desk of Crawford, WAS
found wrapped in some of the clothes Of Annie
Louisa, their daughter. She was accused but
denied the theft Other stolen alticles were
discovered in the dolls trunk. The child was
severely punished by theparents who thought
denial added untruth to theft. They desired her
to confess and to this end severely chastised her,
and to avoid further punishment the child ac-
knowledged she had stolen 1t. The property con-
tinued to disappear, and the child was again
accused. She denied, but through fear Of pun
ishment again confessed. In reply to a ques-
ton, what had she done with the things she
had taken, she said she had destroyed them.
Her parents began to think she was of unsound
mind, and physicians put the matter down as
insanity on the subject Of stealing. The child
wss watched, but the property continued to
disappear. lncendiarism was added to the
robberies, and the child, to avoid chastisement
for telling an untruth, admitted the guilt.
The hands Of the little girl were now strapped
to her sides, and still the robberies did not
cease, and another fire nearly destroyed the
house. Mr.. Crawford, to prevent his daughter
from injuring herself, had bolt made, and
procuring . chain, chained the child to the
wall Of the dining-room during the day, and al
night to the post Of the bed. Mary Dooley
the servant, slept with the child to prevent hel
doing herself injury. One day, tho early par
Of the present month, lady called to see Mrs
Crawford. She placed aside her wraps
which consisted Of valuable fur
lined mantle and muf and bonnet
when she looked for them again the,
were gone. A detective found the article
secreted in the garret. That day Annie Louis
was unclaimed, but went about the house will
her arms bound to her sides. Being threatene'
with punishment she confessed having place
the property where found. The father, fo
some reason, now had begun to suspect hi
servant, and neighbor informed Mrs. CraN
ford that Mary Dooiey was. dishonest. Durin
her absence finally the place where she KEEP
her clothes was searched, and there, CAREFUL
put away, was much Of the missing property
When Mary returned she was met by detet
tive, accused Of the thefts and having set fiji
to the house on the two occasions. She cor
fessed, said the greater part Of the jewelry an
valuables she had stolen were at her home, an
there they wore found. She has been boun
over to the Grand jury In the sum Of $a 0o
'That woman, said the detective, referring
Dooley, sis the most wicked being I eyersa,
It brought tears to my eyes when saw th
child chained to the wall like q dog. I don
see how she could have slept with the child al
listened to the clank Of her chain, knowing 81
was the cause"