Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-21
EASY SAYS aAnuA's THIEF.
THE Mother Accused or Stealing u
Parse Hidden Uncerneatn


The New York Herald OF this morning
says: The strange spectacle Of child VIII
ingly aud apparently unconeernedly accusing
her mother OF theft, while the mother tear
folly retorted by denounclug her offspring
as an incorrigible liar. was ore.ented IN the
Jefferson Market Police Court Yesterday.
"rhe cbid. whose name is Margaret Att
well, il fourteen years OF AGE, and appears
TO be very intelligent. For three years she
has attended confession at the Church o. the
Immaculate Conception on Avenue A and
Fourteenth street. and recently she says she
confessed 10 an Italian priest that her mo-.
tier, Merry Attwell. the wife OF IN employee
10 a iumher.yard. had stolen several small
articles f-om Mrs. Teresa Brunner. who
lives m the same tenement house as the Att-
wells. The child saws the conies-or babe her
disclose the facts 10 Mrs. BruGuer, and she
obeyed him. the result beng that hrs. Att
we'll was arrested on Sunday by detectives
from the Central Office. whom Mrs. Drummer
had notified Of her losses.
"Nrs. BFunOer told Justice Duffy yester-
day that she lived with her bu.band, VINO
la, a i,sh-sLlll at the Old Washington market.
on the third door OF No. 5l4 east Eighteenth
street. Mrs. AitweiPs rooms are on the
fourth floor, but she has been constant
visitor at The Bruuuers. TDeu Mrs. Bfun-
ner related the lOss OF numerous articles. IN
Guiding purses which had been hidden Win
money IN them. One was taken from the
little private altar in Mrs Brunners parlor.
She IL devout Catholic, and In showing
her altar to Mrs. Attwell had disclosed toe
hiding place OF the money.
"On Saturday last little Margaret Attwel
returned some Of the missing things. and
made revelations which led 10 the arrest OF
her mo- Der on Sunday.
"Little Margaret took the stand next after
Mrs. Brnnner left it, and confirmed what had
been said. Ga one OCCASION, she stated, her
mother told her where one OF Mrs. Burners
pocket-bonks was hidden, and told her to 60
down stars ard get 1t. Between tear and
conscience the child hesit ted. and even re-
fused. but finally compromised matters by
transferring the book from iis hidiog place
10 the manlelpiece, from WHENCE her mother
sfterward stole il. Margaret also said that
Mrs. At'well constantly stole clothing from
various houses where she was accustomed to
do washing or other housework.
"Mrs. Attwell indignantly denied every
accusation against her. She declared that
ner liltle daughter was habitualiy untrulbful
although she never detected her IN any dis
honesty, aud that ste herself WAS had'
working, honest woman. i never saw ihe
pochet-books nor anything else they say that
stole. Ga. what will nv poor children
do? she exclaimed In passion Of griet.
"Justice Duffy remarKed that she bad ap.
parently added the sin Of sscrIlege to that OF
theft. lie inquired whether her husband
had worked, and on her answer In The az
fjrmatiye, with the additional remark thai,
he was "a real good man. the little Judge
said: Then ne will take care OF your six
children, and shOll hold you 10 $500 bail
for trial.
Mrs. Atwell was led weeping from the
courtroom, while her daughter went home
with Mrs. Brunner."