The herald., 1893-11-15
DON'T KNOW HER OWN MOTHER
The Strange Case OF a Fourteen
Year-Old Girl.
Judge Mckinley Has an Extraordinary
Case Before Him Yesterday.
Annie Asks who Her Mother IL, and IL
Told That 1t Ia None of Her Busi-
ness-o'Haurahan's seri-
Gus Mistake.

Judge McKinley's time yesterday was
occupied the entire day in an attempt to
discover the identity of Annie Ryan's
Rayne's or O'Hanrahan'G mother.
Annie doesn't know, and the other
people wouldn't tell if they did, &C
Judge Mckinley gave the matter ur
yesterday afternoon and took recess
until today
The case is technically habeas corpus
proceeding brought by one O'Hanrahan
to recover possession of a 14-year-old
girl, who is at present an inmate of the
Florence home. where she was placed by
Officer Wright of the Humane society.
Some two years ago Annie came fro m
Ireland with O'Hanrshan, and O'Han-
rahan's family. In the old country the
girl lived part of the time with a Mrs.
Rayne, or RYAN, and parts of the time
with the O'Hsnrahsn family.
From the evidence yesterday it ap-
pears that the girl has never known
whether her mother was Mrs. Ryan or
Mrs. O'Hanrshsn.
Both claimed her as daughter, and
the girl satisfied with her situation took
no pains to discover her real parent,
beyond occasionally asking Mrs. Rayne
or Ryan. whose daughter che was, no
would tell her that, lit was no business
of yours"
Then Annie came to California with
the o. Hanrahans, and the mystery be-
gan to grow deeper.
O'Hanrshan himself is reputed to be
worth half million, and to be the
owner of valuable property in Ireland.
In spite of this, he placed Annie out at
service at the age of IL years, and re-
ceived the wages she earned.
Another extraordinary circumstance,
is the fact that few months ago Annie
brought suit against city family for
wages which che alleged were due to
| her.
Shortly afterwards O'Hanrahan Pc
titioned to be appointed her guardian,
alleging that he was not her father, but
dear friend.
Now O'Hanrshan, forgetting his
former declaration, states that he is
her father.
Annie herself says he ien't, but that
her father died in England some time
since.
The story got to Humane Officer
Wright's ears, and as Mrs. Ryan or
Rayne, the second putative mother. has
lately written from Ireland for her
daughter ~ to return, Wright placed
her in the Florence home to await de-
velopments.
Margaret O'Hanrahan, a 16-year-old
girl, was placed upon the witness stand
yesterday.
What relation are you to Annie ?'
inquired Attorney Wicks.
Il don't know; sister, suppose, +"
said Margaret.
The witness then went on to state that
she had known Annie in Ireland. Annie
was always asking who her mother was.
! The witness told her che didn't know.
Letters would come from Ireland with
money in them for Annie, but Annie
was never allowed to zee them.
"What do you suppose is the reason
for this mystery about Annie?" asked
Mr.. Wicks.
81 think it's something about Annie's
mothers fortune" answered the wit
ness.
Margaret also stated that to the best
of her belief her father, O'Hanrahan,
was wealthy. They lived in little cot
tage at present because her father ex-
pected to return to Ireland soon. At
home, however, they lived in q big
house near Dublin and kept servants
and carriages.
At this point the court adjourned
untll today.
The question now is, who ia Annie's
mother, and why did O'Hsnrahan first
state he was not her father, and then
claim her ss his daughter.
Judge Mckinley will endesvor to as.
certain his reasons today.