The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-15
MARY CHURCHILL.
The long-Lost St. Louis Girl Discov-
cred in an Insane Asylum In
indianapolis.
She Consents to Pay Her Family Short
Visit.

The mystery surrounding the disappear
ance of Mary Churchill has at length been
solved by the discovery and complete identin-
cation of the missing girl in Indianapolis. The
circumstances of the girls disappearance are,
briefly, as follows: On the evening of Aug.
10 last Mr.. and Mrs. James o. Churchill re-
turned from drive 10 their home at 2737
Morgan street, st. Louis, TO discover their
daughter Mary missing. A careful search
revealed the fact that she had taken only the
clothing worn at the time, and no money
other than the few dollars her purse con-
tanned. Detectives were Immediately en-
ployed. Circulars were sent 10 all police head
quarters and detective agencies In the land.
Dramatic agencies were notified and the
minutest search made for the missing girl in
every city in the country. Churchill was
wealthy merchant and spared no expense TO
discover the whereabouts OF his child, but to
no purpose. She was but 10 years old, had
been reared in luxury, and there was no rea-
son which could suggest itself TO the minds
Of her friends why she should have lett her
home and the gravest apprehensions were
entertained for her safety. 1t was reported
that the girl had been found murdered in New
Mexico, and a detective was dispatched 10
the scene of the tragedy only to find that tho
victim was not the missing girl. Similar re-
ports were run down with like results in all
parts of the country. One day, not long ago,
Col. Churchill received letter from his
daughter dated at indianapolis, indicating
that she was at the time in that city and In
good hands, but would Immediately leave,
and that search for her would he useless. De
tectives were Immediately sent to Indianapo-
lis.
The attention of Superintendent Fletcher,
of the State Hospital for the Insane, was at
tracted 10 description OF the missing girl
I'm city paper, and he was struck with the
remarkable closeness with which II answered
the appearance of domestic at the asylum.
The girl came to the asylum about the LIST of
September and asked for employment. She
was told that there was none TO be had Tor
her about the hospital, at which she burst
into tears, and evidenced the bitterest disap-
pontment. Superintendent Fletcher was SO
taken with the girls appearance and actions
that he made q place for her in the ironing
department of the hospital where she has
since been employed. When she presented
herself at the hospital she had with her
copy of the life of Marie Antoinette, and pur-
sued such a course OF reading, preferring
classical works, books on Grecian mythology
and the like, that the Superintendent was
convinced from the first that there was a
history connected with the girl and has al
lowed her every privilege. She gave her
name as Jennie Lockwood.
When permitted TO practice at the piano
she played the most difficult classical music,
and her conduct in every particular was such
as TO strengthen the suspicion OF the super
tendent that Jennie Lockwood, the ironing
girl, was the possessOr OF a superior educa-
ton and the petted child OF wealthy parents.
The description of Mary Churchill falling
under his observation, he at once noticed the
similarity, and, without approaching the girl
on the subject, notified the police. Thomas
j. Gallagcr, of the st. Louis GjObe-DemOc'ut,
then called at the asylum and identified the
girl fully and with her consent her parents
were notified.
Col. Churchill went to Indianapolis and
met his daughter at the Spencer house, the
meeting being a most affecting one. Strange
to say, the young lady positively refused TO
return TO her home for permanent residence,
but left in company with her father to pay "a
brief visit 10 her mother. Her last words in
leaving the city were to DIR. Fletcher, whom
she adtured TO keep her place for her, for she
would return. She assigned no reasons for
her actions, but says she can earn her own
living, and proposes to do so.