Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-05
MAY WILSON WEEP. BITTERLY.
Unable 60 reii why She set Fire "a
the Hospital
New York TrIblnc.l

Pretty little May Wilson, who con-
fessed that she set fire to the hospital OF
the New York Society for the Relief OF
the Ruptured and Crippled in east Forty
second street, slept as sweetly on thurs
day night as though she was In
her own little bed, instead OF being
in an improvised one in a police
station. Nothing but childish thoughts
and iancies seemed to fit through her
mind, although she bad just confessed
that she had committed the terrible
crime of arson. She was closely watched
by the detective who took her a prisoner
to the police Office under the Grand
Central station, and when she retired
for the night the cell in which she slept
bad neither matches nor light OF any
kind
The little girl hardly seems to realize
yet what she has done or TO appreciate
her position. Her father was early at
the station, and with the detective they
went to the Vanderbilt House for break
fast. May was then taken to the York.
vile Police Court TO be questioned
further by Justice Murray. Her pretty
blue eyes were red with weeping, and
down either cheek was a narrow streak
OF dirt, where tears had followed
one another rapidly. No one then would
have had the heart to accuse her OF
crime more severe than appropriating Tor
immediate use sugar or bonbons, for sue
looked every bit as innocent as apretty
little miss well could. She seemed frall
and weak. without that rugged, roguish
appearance that one would expect IN a
child with her tendencies for pyromania.
With her at the court were Detective
McArdle, Fire Marshal Sheldon, and his
assistant, Fire Marshal Frank, Il. G..
Grant, and f. G. Barkley, representing
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children. AS soon as Justice Muir
ray arrived the party went into his pri-
vata room, thereby thoroughly disap-
pointing the daily visitors, who expected
some diversion from the usual course of
proceedings.
Mr. Sheldon told briefly the history of
the case, and while be did so May, with
her big red hat pushed back and her
heavy brown hair falling in an untidy
mass over her shoulders, stood sobbing
bitterly, her little body swaying back
ward and forward with a motion almost
as regular as a pendulum. After Mr..
Sheldon had finished bis story the Jns-
tee in a kindly tone asked May few
questions.
"Why did you do it, my dear ?" he
asked.
There was no response save increased
weeping and deeper burying, If 1t was
possible Of the eyes in her handkerchief.
Repeated efforts were made 10 get her to
talk, which she finally did. and told her
story. which was practically the same as
her previous confession. The Justice
talked kindly to her and led her on until
her story was completed, when he quietly
remanded her to the Children's Society
until the inquest has been held in the
case of the cook. Coroner Nugent will
investigate the case on Monday or Tues
day. In the mean time May will remain
in the rooms of the society at Fourth
avenue and Twenty third street Those
who have interested themselves in the
case say that the girl is by no means IN
durable, and that her passion for build
ing fires is possessed, although IN a
lighter degree. by thousands OF children.
If she had had proper attention when
younger and had been corrected as
children usually are the terrible result
would not have followed.