Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-10
A SALVATION SOLDIER,
Who Proves Rscreant to Her Al.
Iepiancs,
And Is Lodged in Jail Charged With
Stealing $f60-The Story as
Given and What She Has
to Say.

Minnie McConn claims to have passed
her twelfth birthday last March, but she
seems much older than that and would
pass muster at anytime at sweet sixteen.
1t was quite dark, last night, as REGIS
TER reporter peered in at her through the
Jail bars, and she could not well be seen,
but her manner Of talking proclaimed her
older than she claimed. She says she
Joined the Salvation Army last Monday
night, but she was cut short in her good
career, if such be the case. Her arrest was
at the instigation of Mart. Thornburg, OF
the firm of Winters 4 Thornburg, who
keep hotel at 1044 Market street. Thorn
burg tells the following story:
Minnie was employed by him as nurse
gill, but proving too small for the task was
transferred and put to work down stairs.
She quit the place yesterday week. On
that day Thornburg wished to purchase
some horses and with that intention went
to the bureau where he kept his money.
He had put 500 in gold in a pocket book,
but when he came to look. only $50 re-
mained, Sl60 having disappeared. He
raked his brains to discover a plausible
theory for the loss, but failing to satisfy
himself, went about his horse
bAsiness. All week he thought over the
matter and on Saturday he came to the
conclusion that Minnie McConn must
have taken it. Fully satisfied OF this, he
went to Capt. Beunett and made com
plant A search warrant was taken out
and Minnie was arrested at the Salvation
Army hall and conducted to her home in
alley C, near the workhouse. thorough
search was made, but no gold was to be
found and Minnie was finally released
from custody.
On Sunday and yesterday the case was
thoroughly worked up and the discovery
made that Minnie had bought a dress
from a lady OIL Main street and had paid
her $3.50 in gold, having more gold in her
possession, the lady said. She had also
bought pair OF shoes and some photo.
graphs, expenditures which her salary OF
so cents a week did not warrant. On this
information she was arrested yesterday
| and taken before Squire Peterman, who
| committed her for hearing this morning
in default of 81, 900 bond.
Last night REGISTER reporter called at
| the Jail 10 see her, and get her side OF the
story. In the first place, she promptly
| and vigorously denied the theft, and could
| not tell why suspicion pointed TO her,
when there were thirteen other girls In the
| house, all having access to the room IN
which the money was kept. She says she
| quit the hotel on June 18th, instead OF July
| >, as Thornburg claims and did not see
| why he waited this long if there was any
| suspicion of her.
She explains the gold she spent by say
| ing her mother gave her flO.whlch she ex''
pended as stated above, paying $50 for
| The dress. 81 80 for the shoes and 81 for the
photographs. The reporter asked where
| The $40 came from, to which she replied
! her mother had saved it and her brother
worked in the glass house. She is self
possessed young girl, and tells her story
very plauSibly, be it true or false.
| Last night a member of the Salvation
| Army called at the REGISTER office TO say
| she was not member, but she says she
| Joined on Monday, July 2.