Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-02-14
A PRETTY PRISONER.
Little Miss Ethel Browns
Strange Story.
SHE LEAVES HER KANSAS
CITY HOME MYsTERI-
OUSLY AND COMES
HERE.
Her Meeting With a Man Whom
She Didn't Know-A Pretty.
Intelligent Girl With a
Mixed History.

= =
medium size. Her hair is light
and two deep blue ewes illumine a
clear. pretty face. Ethel reached
Mexico from Kansas City at 2:3(
O'Clock Friday morning, and be-
ing without money remained at the
Union Depot the remainder of the
night. The little girl was sent
here from Kansas City by a family
named Blanton, with which she
had been living since the death o.
her parents, which occurred al
Carthage, Mo-, seven or eight years
ago. 1t seems that the B!anton's
are poor and that, having daughters
of their own, they concluded te
send Ethel away. The story told
by the little girl is an interesting
one, and it will be understood
more clearly in her own words. To
reporter for this paper who call.
ed upon her at the home of Chief
Lane, she said:
"My right name is Ethel Brown.
but for seven or eight years l have
lived with family by the name Of
Blanton, and was myself known by
that name. My mother and father
died at Carthage when l was three
or four years old and | was at once
taken by the Blantons, who then
lived in Carthage. They moved te
Kansas City six months ago and
was taken along. the Blantons al,
ways treated me well and the two
grown daughters ofthe family taught
me to read and write very nicely, az
well as instructed me in grammar
history and needle-work. The
other day they told me | mus
come to Mexico, where l woult
find work. On Thursday evening
the two grown daughters took mt
down to the Union Depot and put
me on a Chicago e. Alton train
They gave me q ticket for Mexico
and then said goodbye. | dldn't
have a cent and when 7 got here ]
stayed III the waiting room of thu
depot until Friday morning
Sometime in the forenoon / wen
down to the post-otiice. l though
the Blahtons might write me q let
ter, but they didn't. While | wa
down on the street l met a youn,
man named Hooton, who sale
he could find place 70
me to work. | had seen hin
earlier in the morning at SOM
house where | asked for work. H
asked me to go with him and | did
When we got near the railroad h
sent nae to house where maj
named Martin lived. He said
could find work there. The lad
who answered the door said sh
wanted no help. then went..bacI
to where [ had left Mr.. Hooten
because | didn't know anyone and
didn't think there was anythin
wrong about it. He told me h
could find work for me and wante
me to walk up the track with him
| sad no and started away. Fl
told me IN come back and when
wouldn't. he took hold of nv arr
and kept me from going. We the
walked up the track past the depot
When we got to the edge of town
III sort oi cut, we stopped an
talked. Hooton kept me ther
from about noon until after thre
o'clock. | had had no breakfast @
dinner, but the man offered to Civ
me supper if ] would stay with hir
until after dark and go down tow
with him. | asked him why h
wouldn't 60 dowa towH by dayligf
and he diun't answer. About ha
past three, II young man name
West came out where we were an
asked me what was doing. / tol
him ! was looking for work and h
asked me to come to his house an
warm. went with him and Nj
Vests father and mother took III
in aud gave me supper and kept IN
all night. don't know wha
became OF Mr.. Hooton "
! William {. West was near III
Union Depot Friday mornin
about 8 O'Clock and law the I'll
and Hootoa walking westward o
the Wabash track. The girl va
several steps behind Hooton. b'
she joined him at the junction I
the South Branch track and t.
gether they walked on the Wabas
track out Of sight. Mr.. West cain
down town, returning an hour {
two later. As he passed up th
track toward his residence he noti
ed Hooton and the s,rl ia the Gu
He watched them for somstim
!, from bis house. About half pa
three, he saw the pair in about ii
same locality as when he FIR
noticed them. He approached Ii
, cut and as he did so, the girl le
, Hooton and came toward hisa- .
asked the little girl what she meal