Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-21
Annie Redmond Found.
The Stolen Child Restored to Her Par,
ent's Home. Which She Left Last
May.
By the Merest Accident She Is Dis
covered at the Home for the
Friendless.
Her Father Driven Insane by Her
Loss, Arrives from the Kankakee
Asylum to Greet His Child.

ASYLUM W UI6eI Ills CuIIu.
Little Annie Tessie Redmond. who was
abducted from her home May % last, has
been found and restored to her parents,
and the father, who has been driven in
sare by TIE loss of his darling, returned
from the asylum at Kankakee last night,
and there were many tears and much re-
ioicing in the little home on State street.
For eight months tho little -mily at
2,6IO State street had been ove-b1r6ened
with sorrows. The big-armed black
smith had mourn ed until his mind gave
way, but never was hope put aside that
the day would come when the lost would
be found and the hammer would ring on
the anvil again in a merry accOmpani-
ment to the sound of golden-haired Au-
MES voice. And yesterday morning ths
little one was brought back TO her moth
er's arms, and there between sobs and
tears and laughter told and retOld the
story of all that had happened since til g
bright spring morning when she was
seen for the last time by any one who
knew her until the discovery was made
which led to her homecoming.
She was found ia the home for the
friendIess on Wabash avenue Thursday
afternoon. Mrs. Harper, who lives at
5048 Wentworth avenue, called there,
looking for an attractive child to take
for adoption. She and the friend with
whom she had called were invited into the
Kindergarten. There the little homeless
ones were coming their lessons. OF all
in the room Mrs. Harper singled odt one
little girl whose handsome face ar q
bright eyes world attract attention
anywhere. She pointed the little one out
and remarked that she was certain that
she had seen the face before. The little
one was called up and Mrs. Harper began
to talk to her and ask her name.
"My name is Flora Dell Gurley," she
answered.
"But what is your papa's manner"
my right paPar"
eyes"
"My right papa's name is John Red
mond."
Mrs. Harper had lived adjoining the
Redmonds on State street for seven
years and had seen the stolen child sc
that she was able to identify her posi-
lively. Mrs. Harper notified friends OF
the family and the little one was identi-
fed by many. Then the mother was tolG
that her baby was alive and well, and il
the morning she called at the home anC
the chi ! went away with her. Then the
mo5ber learned for the first time how the
baby had been taken away.
According to the story of Annie Red
mond on the morning of her disappear
ance she was playing in a vacant lot OPP
posite her fathers shop. Mrs. Josie Cur
ley approached her and promised he
that there would be pennies and candy
for her If she would go to the Gurle!
house. Mrs. Gur'ey took her to a house
on State street, and there she became
baby slave. She was forced to scrub tn
floor, wash and wipe the dishes, and wa
sent every evening to saloon with
pitcher for beer. With all this she wa
underfed. The little one suffered ant
yet she dared not make her identit,
known. It was thought that she did no
tell her name. She was threatened Will
beatings if she mentioned woo of HOY
she came to be with the family. Otter
she was beaten for the most trivia
causes and at times she was taken int
the cellar and tied there so that sh
might be terrified il 20 abject submissi n
The little girl says that the family moves
from place to place. She said sn
thought they could not pay rent and the
the family always moved during tn
night, a veil being tied over her lace a
an additional precautiOn against detec
tiop. The family moved TO School stree
and from there to another place. After
ward they moved TO Kensington, then E
Sixty-third street, then to Throop street
From that time the child knows Rothinl
more of the family.
The little girl was booked for the HON
for the friendless under the name of Flor
Dell Gurley. She had been registered un
der that name Jan. Is, when she wa
brought there by Officer Mitchell, of tn
Humane society.
On the 18th Mitchell received tele
phone message asking him TO go to En-
glewood. The message was from Mrs
Lens w. Wilkie, who OWES the house o.
Throop, between SEVENTEEN and Seventy
first streets, where the Gu legs We liv
ing. Sfe said that Harvey U. Gurle ha,
beaten his little girl and taen tied her j,
the basement aud kept her here 20
hours. The officer procured q ware
from Justice Underwood and early mex
morning Guriey was arrested. Upon tn
trial Mrs. Wilkie testified that she hat
heard the girls cries and opered tn
cellar door and found the baby girl boun,
with ropes about her body and shoalde
and heavy ladder laid upon her. Tn
child was released, and though the evi
dence of cruelty was so direct the justic
imposed but q fine of $50 and suspended
execution, because Gurley pleaded tina
his wife was in a delicate condition, an
if he should be sent to Jail the shock t.
her would be ipju :ioUs. Then the emil,
was taken TO the home.
When the child was identified the fact
were made known at police headquarter
and Capt. Bartram and Lieut.. Geral,
Stark were ordered to take the case il
hand. Warrants were taken out for tn
arrest of Gurley, his wife, and his mother
The house in Ems lewood was visited, bu
the Gurleys moved from there q fe = day
after the trial in Underwood's court an,
no one could be found who knew whithe
they had gone. With but few facts il
their possession they began their searcl
for the Gurleys.
HOW THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE.
Mrs. Harper, Neighbor of the Redmonds, tn
Innocent Cause.