Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-03
A FEMALE FIEND.
An Arrest that Brought to Light a
Series Of Crimes.
YOUNG GIRLS LuReD TO THEIR RUIN
Shocking Disclosures of Deprasiy in the
Public Schools Of Boston-A Ter g.,
ribIe Story of Wholesale
Seduction.

BosroS, May "A woman named Mary
Walcott, but styling herself Mime. Wal
cott, . medium and clairvoyant, As years
of age, has kept house of ill-repute at No.
l33 Pleasant street for some time past, pre-
vious to which she was located at No. q
Carver street, and has been in the habit Of
EnticinE Young Girls,
whose ages are between IA and 16 years,
into her nefarious business. The police
have on several occasions attempted to
break up this den. but upon securing war.
.-rantsc could not use them, owing to inabil-
ity' to secure witnesses 70 tsnfy supss-
-intendent Adams and Captain White Of
Station have received numerous letters
from citizens, stating the character Of Mrs.
Walcott's establishment and the
Tender Ages of the Occupants,
and urging that steps might be taken to rid
the city OF the nuisance. The police Of
Station have worried the proprietress Of
the place to such an extent that she has
been obliged to move several times during
the year. In September last Mrs. Walcott
became acquainted with young girl OF IA
years at the corner of Temple place and
Washington street. and by some means al.
lured her to her house, then at No. q Car
yer street. Last Saturday one Of the girls
was arrested, and upon information re-
ceived from her sufficient to convict Mrs.
Walcott keeping
A House OF Ill Fame,
a warrant was procured, and upon Officers
McCalsland and Welden going TO serve the
paper, she was found to have deserted her
quarters at No. 132 Pleasant street.
After watching the house nearly all Sat-
urday night, little girl who had been seen
to enter the house twice during the night
was arrested, and divulged the woman's
quarters to be at No. 10 Oxford street,
whittier the officers repaired, and with the
assistance OF Officers Connors and Hudson,
arrested Mrs. Walcott and the six remain
ing
Girls I'm Her Employ,
whose ages vary from IA to l6 years.
To-day the case OF Madame Walcott came
up in the Police Court. and she was held to
answer in the sum of 81, 500 on six charges
of abduction and Of keeping house OF ILL
fame.
The testimony at this woman's hearing
was that of six school girls, ranging from 10
years Of age, whom she had enticed from
good homes to assist her in pandering in
various ways to low vices. The testimony
Horrible and Sickeninx
10 the last degree. The girls have been in
the woman's power only since September
last. Some Of the girls attend school daily,
going to the house after school hours to do
whatever is required CT them, and at about
o'clock in the evening return to their
homes. They are kept in school for the
purpose of procuring others
school Girls for Like Purposes.
An employe Of one OF the northern rail-
roads who was called away from home re-:
Gently, leaving his sick wife In charge OF
his little girl, returned the other day TO
find his wife dead and his girl an inmate OF
Nine. Walcott's den.
There is another den OF a similar nature
on Harrison avenue where some sixteen
girls from one school are similarly en-
ployed. Walcotts den is said to have been
patronized by some Of the
wealthiest Men I'm Boston.
Her arrest is the result OF weeks Of detec.
tive work and marks the beginning OF de-
terminei war on some half hundred women
advertising under the guise OF clairvoy.
ants.
The DEVELOPMENTS in the case to-day have
served 10 create great excitement through.
out the city. With possibly three or four
exceptions the young girls are members oil
respectable families, and some OF the fami.
lies are
Held I'm High Esteem.
Much indignation prevails and threats TO
burn the house of Mime. Walcott are freely
uttered. The names OF the male visitors
to the house have not as yet been ascer-
tanned. Detectives, however, have been
engaged by the families Of the school girls,
and their despoilers will be hunted down.
Then a series of suits for seduction will be
begun. 1t is stated that many schools OF
the city have been corrupted in like man
ner during the past year.