The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-29
A GIRLS DELUSION.
Eioping With Beggarly Tramp.
He Involves Her in Crime.

Abner Gray. shiftless young man Of %,
has been working among the farmers in the
town Of Cation, SteuDen County, near the
Chemung County border, for some months
A prosperous and well-known farmer named
Bronson, for whom he had been working
lately, had daughter of II, who fell in love
with Gray. When the girls parents learned
of the intimacy that had sprung up between
her and the hired man Gray was instantly
discharged. A week ago the girl disap-
peared from home. No trace of her could
be found. When day or so later it was
noticed that Gray was not in his usual
haunts. no one doubted that he had eloped
with his late employers daughter. The
girls father sent inquiries in all directions.
but could not get track Of the rnnaways,
says an Elmira dispatch to the New York
Sun.
Prattsburgh is in the northern part Of
Steuben County. A railroad twelve miles
long connects the place with the Erie Rail
way at Ramona. Last Saturday Superin-
tendent Baker of the Prattsburgh Railroad
discovered that some one had stolen hand
car from the Plattsburgh yard. The morn
ing train for Ramona started cut soon after
ward, and seven miles from Prattsburgh the
engineer discovered distractions of some
kind piled on the track short distance
ahead. He had time to stop the train before
the pile was run into. A large number OF
railroad ties, boards, stones and other heavy
stuff had been heaped on the track. The
obstruction was removed and the train
started on its trip. Near Ramona it came to
The missing handcar at the side OF the track.
At Ramona it was learned that a Dung
man and young woman, having the ap-
pearance OF tramps, as their clothes were
dirty and bedraggled, had alighted from the
hand-car and started on afoot. They had not
proceeded far when all officer from Dams
vile appeared on the scene and arrested
them on a charge of larceny. The girl began
to cry when she was arrested. 1t was sub
seauently learned from her that she was the
missing daughter of the Cation farmer.
She had run away with Gray. They had
travelled afoot all The way from Caton to
Prattsburgh. distance OF fifty miles, sleep
Ing In barns and baystaekS. They had
gone on to Dansvilie, where Gray had COM
mited a robbery. They then started back
take the cars and 60 back to Catou, the girl
having repenttd o. her folly and being
anxious to return home.
AT Prattsburgh Gray succeeded in steal
ing the band-car. The girl was fearful that
the cars might come along behind them and
that. and stopping the hand-car, the two
got out and piled The ties and other obstruc-
lions ON the track, Gray saying that he
guessed when the train struck that heap
there wouldn't be any danger of its running
anything down Tor some time to come.
They rode on the hanl-car until they
reached the outskirts of Havana, and there
they abandoned it. They intended to steal
their Nay on a train from there to Elniira-
The officer took both Gray ard his victim
to Dansville, where they were held TO
answer the charge Of larceny. II they are
cleared of that charge Superintendent Baker
Will have them arrested for placing obstruc-
tons on tie track. The girl is go0d-lookiDg
and Intelligent, and has always borne good
reputation. How Gray got her SO COM
pletely in his power is a mystery to all, as
he is an ignorant, brutallooking fellow. The
the unfortunate predicament in which she
has placed herself by her insane act, and is
almost crazed over her melancholy down
fall.