The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-25
mrs. GURLEY CONFHSSES.
The True Story Of the sensa-
tiouaI Abduction
OF LITTLE ANNA REDMOND.
Tho ohildwas Stolen for a Theatrical
cOmpany-she was Wanted To DO
the"Inlaut Phenomenon Act,
butthc Scheme was Spoiled

JOLIET, LIS, Sept, 24.-Mrs, JOSEPH
0, Gurley, who was convicted OF abduct
ing little Anna Redmond and sentenced
TO Joliet prison for five years, for thu
crime, has made a confession, which
she claims, is the only true story regard
ing the abduction OF the Redmond child
Mrs, Gurley had Just been informed o.
Harvey Gurley's Incarceration In Wis
consin for bigamy and her anger against
Gurley, TO save whom from prison she
had periured herself, she said led to the
confession. The story IN brief is as fol-
lows;
Prior to the abduction a friend Of
Harvey Gurley named Dick Ryan;
Gurley, Mrs, Parsons and Annie Allen
were, In connection with a man named
MCGEE, OF Toledo, O., getting up a thea,
trlcal company, MCGEE wrote them
that to complete the company they must
procure a bright little girl who could
learn TO sing aud dance. Acting upon
this, Ryan planned the abduction OF the
Redmond child. Annie Allen was not
an actress, but was stage struck and the
consplrators agreed To secure her q place
In the troupe for her aid in stealing the
child, Gurley was promised 500 by
Ryan for Ills services in committing the
crime. On the day OF the abduction,
the child came out 10 play about 10
o'clock and was soon entiCed away by
Annie Allen, who was met further down
the street by Gurley and Mrs, Parsons.
Here O carriage was In waiting and the
four entered aud were driven to the
home Of Mb, Parsons. In the mean.
time the child had been rendered almost
unconscious from the effects OF eating
drugged candy. Two days later the
child was brought to Mrs. Gurley's
home on State street,
Continuing, Mrs. Gurley said: II did
not learn that the child was a stolen one
until one day In November. | was a
caller at Mrs, Parsons, and one day
while there man came along who saw
the child and exclaimed, That is Anna
Redmond" Mr., Parsons pushed the
child into the house and shut the door,
aud then, turning TO the man said with
a laugh: you are mistaken. That is
my sons little daughter! The moment
he had passed on Mrs, Parsons few into
d terrible rage and bundled me off with
the child, Twas so hustered and scared
at what | had heard that hardly knew
what TO do. When Gurley heard that |
had taken the child out he gave me a
terrible beating and used me go cruelty
] could not get out oi bed for three days.
Dick Ryan came 10 the house and then
both threatened me II l said word
about the child. Ryan first tried TO
teach the child 10 read, and then 10
make her sing and dance, but she would
not learn easily. They whipped her and
they made mo whip her because she
would not learn. twas Ryan's original
intention TO have the company start on
January ], but something interfered with
Ryan's plans and the date was changed
TO May !. One day Gurley came home
and said he was going to put the child
in an orphan asylum aud leave her there
until they were ready for the road.
Well, the child was discovered in Feb
ruary and the theatrical scheme OF Ryan
and Gurley fell through.
Mrs. Gurley says that Gurley often
heat her aud that she was afraid be
would kill her and that she was led 10
tell the stories she told prior 10 and at
the time Of tie trial by the conspirators,
who would send her threatening notes
In food taken 10 hor at the Jail.