The record-union., 1892-05-02
GRACE MURPHY EKONERATED.
Arrested and Taken to Sanger Upon
a False Charge.
She Is Befriended by the People of
Sanger and ReleaSed-TouchinG
Letter From Her Mother.

1t now transpires. as predicted by the
RECORD UNION at the time of her arrest,
that Grace Murphy, the twelve-year-old
girl recently arrested here on complaint
of Mrs. Smith of Fresno County, was
victim of unwarranted persecution.
Grace left the FL Captain vineyard,
near Sanger, and took the train for Seat
tie, where her mother resides, but Mrs.
Smith caused her arrest and detention on
charge of petit larceny.
The girl claimed that she left Mrs.
Smith on account of ill-treatment and
abuse, and started to Seattle in response
to letter from her mother who sent her
a ticket.
Mrs. Smith swore out warrant for the
girl, charging her with petit larceny, and
told the officers at Sanger that there were
more serious charges; that Mrs. Murphy
was disreputable woman, and the girl
talsitier.
The following letter from r. L. Barr,
the Constable who arrested Grace, is self
explanatory. Constable Barr told the
officers here that he would see that the
girl had fair representation, and he did
so.
SANGER, Cal, April 29th
Chief Rodgers, Sacramento - DEAR SIR:
Grace Murphy had her trial to-day, and was
fully eXonerated from all charges, Mrs. Smith
having to pay the entire costs. 1t was shown
very plainly that IL was a malicious prosecu-
tlon. secured the services of good attor-
ney for her when four others gTatuitously
volunteered and assisted. The entire COM
muhlty are in sympathy with the girl and
down ON Mrs. Smith. She is still here. and
VIII oe sent 10 her mother the first OF the
week Very truly yours, r. l.. BARR.
MRS. MURPHY INFORMED.
Jaiier McManus wrote to the GIRLS
mother what had transpired here, and
sent her copy of the RECORD UNION
containing the particulars of the arrest.
The following letter was received by him
yesterday:
SEATTLE, April 27th
ldr. John p. dfcHdauS-DEAR SIR: / re-
ceived your more than kind letter on the 26ih
inst. and hasten to answer il, to thank YOU
and all the officers from the bottom of my
heart for the kindness and interest you took
in my poor fatherlesS child.
On, sir, you have no idea what agony I suf-
fered from the time l got the dispatch of her
arrest until your letter came to hand. have
sent communication to be published in the
paper that [ received, stating the correct
facts. have placed the matter in the hands
arrival OF my child.
Again, say, receive my sincere thanks, and
may God bless you and yours, is my iervent
prayer remain, yours respectfully,
Mrs. NJ. +. MURPHY
A MOTHERS GRATITUDE.
The following letter from Mrs. Murphy
to the RECoRD-UNION is submitted, and
would seem to establish, in addition to
those printed above, that Grace Murphy
has been very much abused and was
falsely arrested upon trumped-up
charge in order to restrain her of her
liberty. Mrs. Murphy says:
SEATTLE, April 27th
RFCORn-I a of
daughter, Grace Murphy on the charge Of
petit larceny, for the sole purpose of prevent
ing her from coming to me, i'll accordance with
my instructions, is such Il travesty upon de-
cency and justice that / cannot refrain from q
formal expression of my feelings concerning
1t. That q woman who has no right what
ever to the control OF the girl should be
guilty of sluring such blot upon her reputa-
tion, passes understanding.
The story told by Grace and published in
the RECoRD-UNION of the 22d INST, is true
SO tar as it relates to me and to my instruc-
lions to her. IN view of the part that she was
falsely accused and arrested for an onense of
which she was not guilty, it is fair to infer
that the stories told about her by Mrs Smith
are the basest of fabrications. 1t is not true
that she has been away from me since she
was two years of age. Her father died when
she was eight years of age, up to which time
she had ne'ver been away from my family.
After the death Of her father, Grace re-
mained with me until she was twelve years of
age, when placed her in the Sisters School
i'll South san Francisco, 10 remain there until
such time as l should been able to send for
her. l sent for her in February last aud
found that she was out Of the school and was
staying with her grandmother. | learned
soon after that she had been placed by her
grandmother with Mrs. Smith, whose un-
savory conduct in the premises is a guaran-
tee that all which Grace tells of her treat
ment while there is unqueStionably true
After the detention of my child in your
city it would have been quite easy for Mrs
Smith to have learned that my child was
coming TO me- She was not content with
the opportunity afforded, and choosed rather
to charge that she had been run Oft for bad
purposes and then had her arrested, incar-
cerated in jail, and dragged to Fresno like "a
hardened criminal.
Contrast her conduct with the conduct of
those kind ladies of your city who remon-
strated against this high-handed outrage and
insisted that Grace should not go to Fresno
without some evidence of her guilt
Through your columns | desire 70 thank
those ladies and all others who manifested an
interest in, and who extended any kindness
however small, to my child while she re-
mained in your city. May they never want
for the kindest of care and attention, should
trouble ever oYertake them or theirs is the
sincere wish of yours truly,
Mrs NJ. E. MURPHY.