Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-02-15
officer MitcheIl's Story.

Officer Mitchell or the humane society,
who play ed such an i'm portaut part in re-
storing the stolen child to her parents,
was found in confereIce with his 50
perior, Mr.. Dudley. Concerning his con
nection with the case, he saio:
~ knew the child did not belong to the
Gurleys, but 1 had no idea that 1T was
the missing Annie Redmond. I don't
like to say much about it though, till the
G1rleys are caught. If had only had
nm held to the criminal court when l
had him il would have saved lots OF
r.uble now"
When did you drst see the child?"
Nv was Friday, Jan. IS, tia; I received
Il telephone message from Englewood to
hurry down and investigate a case of
cruelty to child. The person who tele-
Dhoned was Mrs. Lena W. Wilkie the
| owner of tae house on Throop street, be-
tween Sevenuetn and Seventy first where
the Gurlsys lived. Mrs. Wilkie said that
Harvey T. Gurley had tied his little girl
IN the basement after whipping her and
left her there for hours. | got out a
warrant at Justice Underwood's court,
State and Th1rJy-nIutn streets that eve
ming for Gurley's arrest on the charge
of cruelty to children under the state
law. [ gave the warrant to Underwood
TO take with him and give it to Officer
Hogan of the Englewood force for ser
vice. Hogan arrested Gurley early the
next mo ming and broHghT him
before Justice Underwood for
trial The child was not brought into
court. Mrs. Wiikie testified that she had
heard the child's cries, and opening the
cellar door found the poor little thing
with two ropes across her back and shout,
| ders and Bug, heavy ladder laid across
her body. Mrs. Wilkie called to her as
sistance neighbor, Mrs. Moore, and to-
gether they descended into the cellar.
Mrs. Moore cut the child's bonds and sent
her up stairs. Gnrley pleaded that his
wife was i'll and near confinement and
that it would be q terrible thing for him
! to be sent to the county jail. Justice
Underwood took this circumstance into
| consideration and fined him $50 and sus
pended execution.
"Mr. Hogan and myself got into a
buggy and drove ever TO the house to get
the child. Underwood had given Us the
custody OF it. | found Mrs. Gurley a
very young woman somewhat to my sur
prise, aud she seemed somewhat startled
when | remarked upon a woman her age
having a child 6 years old. The little
girl seemed afraid to talk. l asked Der
what her name was. She said Flora Dell
Gurley.' | Immediately conceived the
idea that it was not their child. Mrs. Cur
ley said to me:
"T know you, Mr.. Mitchell. You used
to be policeman at the Twenty second
street station
81 replied that did not re member her,
and she said she used to live ON tate
street, near Twonty first, which is not a
great ways from the Redmopds.
The little girl had no warm winter
clothing to wear and Gurley's mother,
who was in the house at the time, covered
the child with her Own jacket. We drove
away with the child and got II cape and
hood for 1t at the EngleWood police sta .
tiOn. | then brought the child down
towIi to the homs of the friendIess and
left 1t there. 1t was registered under the
name of Flora Della Gurley.
The actions of Gurley, his mother, and
his wife at this time confirm my belief
now that they knew the chId's right home
and were possibly its abductors. They
were anxious to Known where ii was be
| ing taken anG wanted to know If they
could regain possession of it in any way.
| Mrs. Gurley told me she was the child's
| mother, but | am certain they have not
| been married over 9 year. They had no
| other children.