The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-04-04
A VIE PRoouREss.
Madame Perry Has Deoended to the Low
est Depths.

Madame Perry Has Deoended To the Low
est Depths.
Mrs. Perry, who some years ago was
run out of the corporate limits of the
city to find a home across the South
creek, lately figured in new character.
She went to Cleveland the other week,
dressed in mourning, representing her
self to be the widow Of a railroad engi-
neer who had been killed in an accident,
and was keeping boarders for living.
With this statement she entieed two
girls to come here with her to work in
her "hotel," which, it is needles to say,
was the bagniO of which she is the high
priestess. One of the girls was named
Hattie McNelley and her father, not be-
ing satisfied, notified police authorities
in Cleveland, who inquired here and
Marshal Rigler found the girls in Per-
ry's house. on the high road to life of
Cleveland Leader:
Many a woman who has apparently
reached the depths Of degradation would
sooner die than become prOcuress. She
remembers what she once was herself,
and the recOllections of her happy girl
hood is still too strong to allow her to
cause another father and mother to
suffer what hers did. The woman in the
case is Madame Perry, the keeper of a
notorious bagniO just outside the eOrpO-
rate limits of Canton. Two weeks ago
she came to this city and engaged two
girls, one of them being the daughter of
Martin McNelley, to go to Canton with
her, promising to give them situations
as dining-roOm girls in her hotel" at
that place. Fearing that the woman
was not what she represented herself to
be, Mr.. McNelley reported the matter to
Deputy Superintendent of Police Nc
MahOn, who communicated with the
marshal of Canton, the result heing that
the girls were found in Madame PerTy's
infamous den. A reporter for the Leader
saw Mr.. MeNelley last night and talked
with him about his daughter. The story
he tells is sad one, and judging from
the manner in which the woman opera
ted she is an extremely dangerous per-
son to be allowed to go at large. Mr..
McNelley said: 81 don't know how my
daughter Hattie became acquainted
with this woman. She met her in this
city last summer, when Mrs. Perry
wanted her to go to Canton. She was at
my home then. She was dressed in
mourning and said she was the widow
of a railroad engineer who was killed in
an accident. Since his death she said
she had been keeping bOardeTs for liy-
ing. She wanted Hattie to go to Canton
and work for her. My wife is dead and
as Hattie and her younger sister kept
kept house for me. L could not let her
go then. She came to Cleveland about
month ago, and tried to induce the
girl to go with her again. was not at
home, and Hattie told her she would
ask me. Two weeks ago tomorrow she
came again, having with her girl she
had hired in the city. l was away from
home that day also, but the woman, so
my younger daughter says, made such
glowing promises to Hattie, that she
consented to go with her. She also asked
the little girl to go with her, but she re-
fused. My daughter has never been
away from Cleveland, and she knows
nothing about the world. For that rea'
son she could be easily imposed upon
and led astray." Mr.. McNelly Is very
much grieved at the sad fate which has
befallen his daughter, but he is willing
to take her back home again. He will
take advice today as to the best course
to pursue, and it is probable he will &c
to Canton and prosecute the woman, az
she richly deserves.
The matter is causing considerable
comment among our citizens, and spec.
dy action should be taken to rid the
community Of such a vampire, whose
| crime is worse than death, as it con
signs the victim to a living death, and
her relatives and friends a lifetime OF
shame and sorrow.
Later-Mrs. Perry denied the whole
story, and says she has not been in
Cleveland for months.