The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-13
RESTORED TO HER HOME.
LITTLE ANNIE REDMOND FOUND
After Long Search Had Ended Fruitlessly
and Her Father Had Gone Crazy From
Grief and Anxiety. She IL Accidentally
Discovered-Her wanderings.

CHICAGO, Feb. s-Littls Annie Redmond,
an exceedingly bright, pretty child, kidnapped
nearly year ago, was accidentally restored to
her home this evening. long after search al
most paralleling that for lost Charlie Ross had
ended fruitlessly, and Annie's stalwart father
had gone crazy from anxiety and grief. The
kidnapers tonight were still at large, and their
motive yet mystery, but enough was known
20 make their capture probably only matter
of time.
The strangest feature of the case is the fact
that the child has been in Chicago all the time,
was at one time made the subject of court pro-
ceedinVs, and for two months past has been In
public institution. Her non-discovery, under
these circumstances, Is rendered all the more
extraordinary by the fact that all the news
papers in the city have, time and again, de-
voted columns of space to the kidnapping, the
most detailed descriptions have been scattered
far and wide by the police, and the little ones
picture is as familiar in Chicago as that OF any
pvblic official in the city.
The discovery of Annie's whereabouts was
matter of the merest chance. A Mrs. Harper
call with lady friend at the home of the
the friendless, on Wabash-ave. They were
looking for child 10 adopt and were invited
into the kindergarten, where the children were
engaged in their studies: Sitting at one OF the
desks was a remarkably handsome little girl,
who Immediately attracted the attention OF
Mrs. Harper. 'Why," she exclaimed. 81 GER
tainly have seen that child before"
The little girl was called up and was asked
my name is Flora Dell Gurley," she re-
piled.
what was your papa's name?"
''My right papa?" the child asked
YES" said Mrs. Harper.
'eHy right papas name is John Redmond"
''There" exclaimed Mrs. Harper, very much
excited. Il knew that Annie Redmond
who was stolen last summer. lived for seven
years right next door TO them, on Safest, and
/ know this little girl well"
The police were at once notified. friends OF
the family summoned and the little girl posi-
lively identified as the long-lost Annie Red
mond, about whom so much has been written
and for whom such continued, but unavalilng,
search has been made, The mother, Mrs. Red
mOnd, went in person to the home for the
frlendleSs and in person carried home
the little treasure. The big blacksmith, John
Redmond, little Annie's father, is confined
in the Kankakee insane asylum. Messengers
were at once dispatched to bring him to the
city in the hope that sight of his missing
daughter would restore his shattered mind
Over and over tonight little Annie was telling
in her childish way as much as possible of the
story of her wanderings TO neighbors and
friends who crowded the rooms of the Red
monds while Mrs Redmond, Frustrated by ex-
element, was secluded from the throng.
The child was known at the home of the
Inen0less only DIV the name OF flOrd UuFleY.
She had been registered under that name by
Officer Mitchell OF the humane society who
brought her 10 the home on Jan. II. The officer
said tonight: 81 knew the child did not belong
10 the family called Gurley, but | had no idea
II the missing Annie Redmond. Jan. IS
] received a telephone message from the south
outskirts of the city to hurry down there
and investigate case of cruelty TO a child. The
person who telephoned was Mrs Lena w.
Nilkie, the owner of the house on Throop-st.,
hr-wr and &ara fN--fr =
where the Gurleys lived. Mrs. Wilkie said
that Harvey L. Gurley had tied his little girl ia
the basement, after whipping her, and bad left
her there for hours. i got out q warrant for
Gurley, and next morning he was arraigned
before Justice Underwood. The child was not
brought into court Mrs. Wilkie testified that
she had heard the chid's cries, and opening the
cellar door, found the poor little thing with two
ropes across her back and shoulders and big
heavy ladder laid across her body. Mrs.
Wiikie called to her assistance neighbor, Mrs.
Moore, and together they descended into the
cellar. Mrs. Moore cut the child's bonds and
sent her mp stairs. Gurley pleaded that his
wife was III and near confinement and that il
the county Jail. Justice Underwood took this
circumstance into consideration and
fined him $50 and suspended execution.
] had been given the custody of the
child by the justice, and hurriedly drove to
Gurley's house and took the child from the
mans wife and his mother and carried it at
once TO the home OF the friendless There the
little one gave the name OF Flora Bell Gurley,
and was so registered. The actions of Gurley.
his mother and his wife at this time confirmed
my belief that they knew the childs right home
and were possibly its abductOrs. They were
anxious to know where il was being taken and
wanted to know il they could regain possession
OF 1t in any way"
Tonight when the police went to look for the
supposed abductors il was found they had
moved away Immediately after Gurley's arrest
Little Annie, when last seen before her dis
appearance, was on the sidewalk in front of
her nome and was being patted on the head by
. woman about forty years old and shabbily
dressed in black Fully dozen women an
swerng this description were arrested by the
police for the kidnapping, during the month
following the crime, but were none satsfae-
torily identified.
Ljttie Annie tonight maintained that she was
"stoled' by Mrs. Gurley, meaning probably
Gurley's mother. The little one appears 10
have been given pennies and candies, and told
II she accompanied the woman a return home
Immediately would be in order Thereafter
the child says she washed dishes and scrubbed
the floor, and every evening was sent for beer.
Beatngs without number and daily threats
made her afraid TO mention her real name. The
tTurleys we're continually moving Il guess"
sald Annie tonight, 81 guess they could not
pay their rent. They always moved at night,
and took me with them with veil over my
W nile little annie was relatlng ner story,
she paused every few moments TO ask where's
papa2"
There were few dry eyes among the crowd of
people in the room when late in the evening a
big, broad-shouldered man slipped nOiselessly
through the door and stood for a moment in
the background listening to the ehild's prattle.
Suddenly there was a commotion. The big
was showing people right and left. and
lifting little Annie, kissed her hundred times.
II was John Redmond, the father, just brought
from the asylum and trembling with JOY but
as sane as could be. Everybody cheered and
laughed and cried. Mrs. Redmond was carried
in, and husband, wife and little one were to-
night the happiest trio In Chicago.
Another Republican "ShOrt."