The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-07
YOUNG,BUT VERY WICKED
Two Hoboken Girls Who
Had the Whole Town
Stirred Up.
ONLY THIRTEEN YEARS OLD EACH.
Sent to the County Jail in a Wild
Effort to Reform Them
Facts in Their Lives.

1--WE need Mr.. Gerry and Children's
for some philanthropic ladies to save two
girls of tender years from lives of
shame"
These words were uttered by Recorder
McDonough to couple Of reporters on
Saturday afternoon when two girls,
neither of whom appeared to be over
thirteen years of age, were brought in by
three detectives. The girls were remark
ably pretty but brazen looking.
One of them was Minnie Connors. who
said she was fifteen years old. She wore
short dresses and did not appear to be
over twelve. The other said she was
Henrietta Barnes. sixteen years old.
Her right name is Henrietta Dugan.
These girls on account Of their tender
years and their methods, have been the
talk of Hobokeu for months and surprise
has been generally expressed that they
were not placed in some institution,
The Dugan girl has attained some
prominence before. A fourteen year old
school boy. the son of wealthy parents, of
whom she was Jealous, Was stabbed in the
eye one night some months ago. Irene
Dugan, a sister of Henrietta, and who re-
the time, although Recorder McDonouah
says he believes that Henrietta did the
stabbing.
THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE.
About two months ago Henrietta and
Minute were first noticed in the streets of
Hoboken At night they stationed them
selves in front of the Hoboken Theatre
and asked persons going into the theatre
for the price of admission. Some young
men, and old men, for that matter, gave
them money, and the children indulged
in language which showed the depth of
their deprayity, and promised to meet
their benefactors after the show.
Prominent men who were entering the
theatre with their wives were accosted by
the girls who seemed to take an especial
delight in the embarrassment of the men
they addressed. Finally the conduct of
the girls reached the ears of Manager
Ross. who promptly ordered the police
man on duty at the theatre to drive the
girls away.
The next time the girls attracted at
tention was at a ball in Odd Fellows
Hall. They entered the hall with two
young men who had piled them with
liquor. The young men did not stay with
them long. The manner in which the
people at the ball scrutinized the young
men made them ashamed of themselves.
Since then the proprietor Of Odd Fellows
Hall has refused to admit the girls on ac-
count of their youth.
UNDER POLICE SURVEILLANCE.
The stories of the girls actions finally
reached the ears of Captain Hayes, and
he detailed Detective Nelson to find out
something about them. Nelson found
Mrs. Dugan, who is a respectable old
woman, living on First street. Her hear.
has been broken by the waywardness of
her daughter. The detective learned that
Henrietta was not living with her mother.
After a two days search he located the
| girls in a house at No, 308 River street,
where they occupied furnished room.
| From the landlady Nelson learned that
some weeks ago an elderly. we'll dressed
man had hired the room for his two
nieces." and paid a months rent in ad-
vance. The next day the two girls occu-
| pied the room, and at intervals of a few
days their "uncle" visited them. The
| landlord said it was none of his business
at what hour the girls came and went, so
| long as the rent was paid.
| Detective Nelson watched the house for
several days for the uncle" who is said
| to be n well-to-do New York business
man, to put in his appearance. but he did
not appear. Finally. on Saturday, Detec-
| tlves Nelson, Gallagher and Kivlon raided
| the girls apartme nts. The girls were
trying on suits which they were to wear
| at masquerade when arrested. They
cried bitterly when locked in cell.
Recorder McDonougn committed them
| IN the Comfy Jail,