Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-11
GIDDY YOUNG GIRLS.
Pretty Annetta Miller's Love Of Dress
Gets Her Into Trouble.
MINNIE sMALL'S GONE FOR A STAR.
Inspector McAleese Gives Advice to a
Would.Be Suicide.
RUEAwAYS CAPTURED IN PITTSBURG

Pretty, petite Annetta Miller, with golden
hair and eyes-of blue, was guest at the
Central station yesterday. Annetta had
stolen dress and pair of shoes from Miss
Toner, of the Hamilton hotel.
The girl told a tale of woe. She said her
father was drygoods merchant at No. 800
Sharp street, Baltimore. Three months ago
she had cast her lot with the fluent advance
agent of a spectacular company, with whom
she went to Philadelphia and sfterward
came to this city. The advance agent left
her here without money, and, as she needed
better clothes than those she had, she had
taken the garments and was then wearing
them.
Inspector McAleese sent Annetta, who is
but 16 years old, to the Bethesda Home,
where she will stay while he investigates
her case. He has an impression that Annetta
is not as good as sine is beautiful. This
suspicion was aroused by finding letter on
the girl, in which, under the name OF
Ophelia Lappe. she writes very affection
ately to A. Mitchell, of Baltimore.
Varying Police Inspectors Duties.
Inspector McAleese is used to such cases.
In fact, he has had so many pee uliar ex-
periences that nothing startles him now.
After disposing of Annetta he turned to a
woman who is half crazy and wants a num-
Der of Alleghenians arrested for robbery,
murder, treason and a few more minor
offenses, and persuaded her that Chief of
Police Murphy was the man she wanted to
see. Then he listened to the stories told by a
couple of tramps, gave them lodging for the
night, with hint that they might be sent
to the workhouse in the morning, washed
his hands and prepared himself for what
ever might happen next.
The Inspector has considerable trouble
with runaway and delinquent girls. They
strike Pittsburg from all parts of the coun-
try, and he has to see to it that thev get
back to their friends, or are properly cared
for. During the year he has had % runaway
girls bob up in his district, to say nothing
of an army of young ladies. of assorted sizes
and colors, who didn't know when they were
we'll off until shown by the police. Many of
these girls are very cute and try to work
upon the svmpathies OF the Inspector, but
he is too old a bird TO be caught by chaf.
Wanted to Help Her Along.
The other day lady called upon the In
spector and complained of the conduct of
her sister, a handsome girl OF 18. Detective
Robinson was sent for the young woman,
and told her the Inspector wanted TO see her.
"They want to send me to the Home of
the Good Shepherd" the girl exclaimed
angrily. II won't 60 there; I'll die first. "
That's the idea," said Robinson, who is
something OF joker. "You just say suicide
to the Inspector and he'll throw up both
hands, andlet you CO."
When the girl reached police headqusr-
tiers the 1nspecto: said: Maggie, l hear
bad storie. about you. L guess you'll have
to 60 to the Home of the Good Shepherd. B"
81 won't 90 there"
Eyes you will," replied the Inspector.
II tell you won't Eli die first. I'll
commit suicide"
"Well, Maggie, " said the Inspector in a
| placid, benevolent manner "have you ever
considered what route you will take to the
other world. Some people use rough on
| rats. paris green, oxalic acid, p revolver or a
I rope. Some Of these methods arefsery pain
| tul, and YOU might spend hours OF agony
before you die. Now, have been told that
| if you take one dropof prussic acid you die
so quickly that you feel no pain. Consider
this matter carefully. If you are hasty you
may regret 1t.
Maggie contented herself with one fiery
glance at Detective Robinson, but said never
a word more about suicide.
Settling the Indian Trouble.
I'VE have some peculiar cases of run.
away boys and girls here sometimes" said
the Inspector last night. "Of course more
| BOYS than girls run away from home Dur
ing the past year % girls and 40 boys have
brought up here. Most of the boys were
heading for the wild West. Perhaps"
continued the Inspector musingly, "if we
had not stopped them they might have gone
on and terrorized the Indians and prevented
| the present uprising.
"Some of the boys travel in style and
| others in freight cars. We took one young
ster out Of a sleeper on the limited one
night He had left his home in Jersey City,
after borrowing $500 from his father. and
was Just travelling around to see tine country.
He was perfectly selfpossessed when ar
rested, and slept soundly in one of the cells.
Quite few of the girls who leave home
without notice are impelled BY u spirit oi
adventure. They are just as eager as their
| little brothers to see new cities and ningle
with strange people. Some of them fly from
cruel parents who object to their getting
married before they are fairly out OF short
dresses. They think they will come to this
| city and get married. A telegram is gen
orally here ahead of them, and they step of
the train into the arms of detective. Oh,
yes; they cry a little at first, but after stay.
ing here day or two they are only too glad
to see the friends who come after them to
take them home.
| Wants to Be an Actress.
Last night Charles Smalls, resident o.
126 Ross street, Allegheny, called at the
Central station and invoked the aid of the
police to save his 1S-year-old daughter
| Minnie. Mr.SmalIs stated that his dauc htel
had a desire to become an actress, and with
that aim in view she Joined the "Crystal
Slipper" company, which has been playine
at the Duquesne Theater. as performer in
the ballet. Mr.. Smalls further stated thai
the girl left home on Wednesday night last
taking all her clothes with her, and stated
that she was going away with the company
Superintendent O'Mara instructed Mr.
Smalls to 60 down TO the theater and de
mand his daughter to accompany him home
and, il she refused, to call an officer, who
would arrest her. The father departed to
follow out this course of instruction.