The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-08
SHE WOULD RATHER SELL BOOKS.
Mrs. Decker's Pretty Daughter Declines
to Return Home.

Mrs. Decker's Pretty Oooi
to Return Home.
Mrs. Decker, an old lady clad in WIDOWS
weeds, stood weeping just outside the
door of Police Headquarters on Monday
night. She had come all the way from
Trenton and sought Chief of Police
Murphy's aid in compelling her sixteen
year old daughter, Ella, a bright n fas-
chatting young woman, who earns her
living as a book agent, and is now Doard,
ing on Grand street, to return TO her
home. She was in great distress because
the daughter had denied her parentage.
The Chief had told her he had no power
to act, because the girl was old enough TO
choose for herself.
Mrs. Henrietta Kinder, a tender-hearted
woman, living on Seventh street, was
passing just as a policeman ordered Mrs.
bits of the conversation, became inter
ested, and invited Mrs. Decker home Win
her. Both ladies spent yesterday in seek
ing aid and advice in the matter.
Mrs. Decker tells an interesting story,
About two years G her daughter ran
away from home and was found by IN
spector Byrnes of New York working in a
factory on Ninth street and sent home,
and had been more or less hayward ever
since. Two months z she signed a con-
tract with a Mrs. Murray, who travels
about with several female book
agents and acts as manager. The CON
tract, which STIMULATES that the mother
shall receive one-half the daughters earn
ings, expired a few days ago. Mrs.
Decker had not been satisfied with the
amount her daughter had been sending
home, and hearing that the latter was
making preparations for a journey with
Mrs. Murray to Providence, r. l., fastened
-. 1,.ol.oro1 fa i1nfnpaa.nf hon hxr low
The mother claims that she, in com
pany with her daughter, was invited on
Monday by Mrs. Murray to go over to
New York. She went with them and as
soon as they encountered a crowd the
daughter was pushed by Mrs. Murray
into the thickest portion and she was thus
designed1y separated from her. The
daughter did not return to Jersey City
and rumor says she spent the night in
Paterson. The mother related her story
in tears.
called at No. 143 Grand street, and at
tempted an interview with the daughter.
| was surprised to find a girl looking not
more than thirteen or fourteen years old.
She is petite in stature, with flashing
black eyes, and short hair of the same
color, somewhat d~isheyelled. She was
followed into the room by a young lady
of perhaps twenty summers, who looked
enough like her to be a sister. Without
ceremony she cautioned the young girl
to make no statements whatever to a re-
porter.
Repeated questions elected no NORMA
ton.
'tIs it true that you denied that Mrs.
Decker was your mother9" / asked.
NO. and tears welled up in the lumin-
Gus black eyes as she begged me not to
say a word against her mother.
II. would not waste any tears on a
woman who treated me as you have been
treated by that woman, " sneeringly said
the other lady present.
saw Mrs. Murray this morning. She
is p~leasant-faced little woman, evidently
of New England birth. She possesses all
the traits of a thoroughly trained book
agent.
ut is merely a family affair."" she said.
''There is some little money due either
the girl or the mother. l am unable to
decide which one should have it, as both
claim it. Ihave two girls travelling with
me, and l am very strict with them. My
mother and child are always with me.
The contracts demand that the
girls employed by me shall not be out of
my sight without permission, except when
~canvassing. think / see what the news
papers are driving at. Public comment,
either favorable or unfavorable, viii do
me no good. But make your inyestiga-
ton thorough.
y law 81 rom New AOEk C5lAeu upon
me last night in reference to money due
Mrs. Decker. He Will call again this
morning, and the money is ready as o o
as the matter is settled as to whom it be-
longs. The girl is Of age. We nave be-
come very much attached to her and l
am 10th to dispense with her services, but
If | am to be annoyed in this manner, she
and must part company. 1t is not true
that | designed to separate her from her
mother in a New York crowd on Monday.
The girl does not wish to return home be-
cause, | believe, she is ill-treated, and if
there was any design at all it was purely
of her own yolition. / want the girl to go
with me to Providence"
Chief Murphy's investigations were ia
vorable to Mrs. Murray, and the %proprie-
tress of the boarding house on Grand
street bears a reputation among her
neighbors which could not be better.