Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-19
NEW YORK.
A Servant Grips Systematic Steal
ings from Her Employer.

Charles E. Crawford, clerk, lives at
No. 100 First street and Morris avenue,
New York. His family consists of
wife and daughter thirteen years old.
On the 1st of September last, Mary Doc
ley, aged twenty, a quiet looking girl,
was employed as house servant. She
brought good references. A month or
so after her arrival various articles be-
gan to disappear Inquiry threw no
light on the matter. Jewelry and money
next were missed. Search was made,
and pocket book containing $3.50, sto.
len from desk belonging to Crawford,
was found wrapped in some clothes of
Anna Louisa, his daughter She was &C
cused, but denied the theft Other stolen
articles were discovered in dolls
trunk. The child was severely punish
ed by her parents. who thought denial
added untruth 10 theft. They desired
her to confess. and to this end severely
chastised her to avoid a further punish
ment. The child acknowledged she had
stolen it. The property continued to
disappear, and the child was again &C
cused. She denied, but through fear of
punishment, again confessed. In reply
to the question what she had done with
the things she takes, she SAID she had
destroyed them. Her parents began to
think she was of unsound mind. Physi-
clans put the matter down as insanity on
the subject of stealing. The child was
watched, bit the property continued to
disappear. Incendiarism was added to
the robberies, and the child, to avoid
chastisement for telling an untruth,
admitted guilt. The hands of the
little girl were now strapped to
her side Still the robberies did not
cease, and another fire nearly destroyed
the house. Crawford, to prevent his
daughter iDjuring herself, had a belt
made, and, procuring cham, 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 injury. One day, in the early
part of the present month, lady called
to see Mrs. Crawford. She placed aside
her wrappers, which consisted of valu
able fur-lined mantle, muff and bonnet.
When she looked for them
again they were gone. A detective
found the articles concealed in the
garrett. That day Anna Louise was
unclaimed and went about the house
with her arms bound to her sides. Be-
ing threatened with punishment, she
confessed to having placed the property
where found. Her father, for some rea-
son, now began to suspect his servant,
and neighbor informed Mrs. Crawford
that Mary Dooley was dishonest. Dur.
ing her absence the place where she
kept her clothes was searched,
and there carefully put away was much
of the missing property. When
Mary returned at night she was met
by a detective and accused of the
thefts and having set fire to the house
on the two occasions. She confessed,
and said that the greater part of the
jewelry and valuables she had stolen
were at her home, and there they were
found. Mary was arraigned in the
the Police Court, where only the charge
of lncendiarism was preferred against
her. She acknowledged the offense, and
was committed in default of $4,000 bail
to await the action of the grand jury
THAT woman, said detective, refer
ring to Dooley, sis the most wicked be-
ing ever saw. 1t brought tears to my
eyes when l saw that child chained to
the wall like dog don't see how she
could have slept with the child and lis
tened to the clank of her chains, know
ing she was the cause of it,