Fergus County argus., 1889-02-28
THE REDMOND CASE IN couRr.


The Chicago News OF the 18th inst
says: Promptly at I I O'Clock yester
day morning Justice Lyon called tn
case Of Mr.. and Mrs. GuIey, charges
with the abd,mtio of little Anna TIES
sic Redmond.
Never before did the armory polio,
court present such scene. In the lit
tie narrow dock directly in front of TIN
judicial desk stood the mother, tn,
pitiful story of her cruel wrongs plainl,
written in her sorrOwful face. On TIN
desk, her little feet stretched out be
fore her, sat the sweet, ilaxen-haire,
baby, dressed in a new suit OF crimson
plush. Next came the relentless pros
ecIting attorney, whose strong right
arm cncircled the baby's slender waist
as if to assure her OF protection. TheI
came Josie Gurley, the principal de
fendant, whose pinched and haggard
face bet tOkenetl hours OF mental suffer
ing passed behind the bars OF IA prison
cell. Her near approach to omaternity
added greatly to her unfortunate stu
alton, and perhaps softened, to som,
extent, the righteous indignation ol
the spectators toward her. She was
scarcely able to stand without the
support of her husband, Il stupid
looking fellow, whose week growth oi
beard and shocky hair gave him dis
agreeable appearance.
Rising conspicuously above this
group was the judge, evidently moved
with sympathy for the mother and
baby, yet compelled to st eel his heart
and preserve the impartial bearing ap-
propriate to his position. over all
there brooded the shadow oi John
Redmond, the honest blacksmith, con
fined in madhOuse because the out
rage was too great for his reason to
endure.
Fully one hundred people crowded
the little court room, all eager { o catch
II glimpse of Anna Redmond, the st olen
child. Mrs. Gurley desired to waive
examination, and without .urtherado
was held to await the action OF the
grand jury in bonds OF 5000. The
ease against Mr.. Gurley was then taken
up.
Mrs. Adcline Redmond, the moth
OF Anna, was the first witness called.
81. Il. a IL 4 L
baby and it's subsequent recovery at
the Home for the Friendless. FIRE.
quently the sweet faced child would
place her dimpled hands on her mann
mas shoulder, as ii trying in her sim
pie, childish way to comfort her. Then
she would turn tn the court, her face
wreathed in smiles, and in baby dia-
lect would occasionally correct her
mothers statements. Suddenly she
spied Justice Lyons diamond ring
sparkling on his hand. Her lit tie black
cyes s,,en.al tn their fullest extant as
she pleadingly stretched forth her
chubby hands and asked
won't 90 div me at wing Tor "a
pwesent, ii 'ood be II boo 'ful pwe,ent?''
"No, not this one. darling" sand the
tender hearted Justice. as he picked he
little One up IN his arms and planted u
Kiss on her lips; mot this one. but III
buy you anot her pretty ring fora pres
ent; God bless YOU
This quieted the little one, and the
ease proceeded.
Mrs. Anna Hart ung, at ;-rman woman
of 2l3l state street, told in Telltonic
accents of the night in he latter part
nj Inst Inn. ,,.l,a,, Np., 4
some rooms from her. She had little
Anna with her that night. Mrs. Cur
ley used to whip Anna quite severely.
and when Mrs. Hartung demonstrated
with her Mrs. Gurley said she had a
right to whip her own child il she
wT1Trturt to. she only sraft n lew days
and then went away.
Did she take Anna with herr" in
qliired he court.
"lah, und mine seelver spoons. too"
replied the witness.
Mrs. W. II. Moore, wife of policeman
Moore, who lives at 691s Elizabeth
street, was the lady who heard Anna
cries for help and found her in the
basement Of the house on ThrOop
street near Sevent ieth, where the Cur
leys had next sought lodgings. She
I old how she found he little one tied
to Il post in the basement, with her
face toward the dark corner and II lad
der and several boards placed on her
feet. In the basement with the girl
were three dogs. She released the child
and her husband notified the Humane
society.
Mrs Bridget Thrice and Mrs. Nancy
Langley saw Anna playing on the prai-
rie, and saw woman stop and talk
to her for "a few moments, and then
she took hold OF the child's hand and
walked away with her. Bridget recog-
nized Mrs. Gurley as the strange woman
"be de black shawl and de stOopin her
Sadie Kendall and Amy
Ward OF 59l5 Wentworth avenue ties
titled to the Gurleys living IN their
house two weeks. They both saw
Anna and had frequently heard both
MIR. and Mrs. Gurley beating the child
i'm shameful manner.
As little Anna and her mother were
passing the "bull-pen' on their way
out from the station at the noon le-
cess, they passed an unfortunate col
Ored woman who had been fined $2J
and who was awaiting transport alton
to the Bridewell. The woman recOg-.
nized Anna as the heroine of a great
story, and. stretching forth her hand,
laid it on the chIld's head and said:
"I.awd bress yer soul, honey, you is
too young to have much tr,lbble
Ier'll git 'nuff of it foh you is many
yeahs ollah. Wish wuz es in'cent es
you is"
This remark was repeated to Justice
Lyon, and when he opened court again
he ordered the woman to he brought
before him. "What remark was that
you made when Mrs. Redmond and
her child passed you i'm the other
rOom,' he asked, as he en,leavored to
assume an air OF severity.
"Foh de Lawd, ledge. ! didn' say
muffin out sle way; only jes sed-"