The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-26
A QUESTION OF CRUELTY,
The Accusation Made by Mabel
SimmondS Against Her
Parent.
Her Employer Asks Judge Trout
to Appoint Him Her
Guardian.

1.-THE order of the COURT said Judge
Trout Monday morning, sis that this
girl remain in the custody of Mr.. Bird
until Wednesday morning, July 3. and
that he produce her in court Oh that day."
That was the order made in the
Superior Court, Department s, in
habeas corpus proceedings instituted by
]. w. Bird of 1898 Mission street on behalf
of Mabel, the 15-year-old daughter of F.
Simmonds, machinist, who lives in the
Mission district. The facts as developed
by an investigation made by the police
ton of Cruelty to Children and by the
testimony taken in court yesterday de-
velop singular state OF affairs.
About three months ago Mr.. Bird, who
has been doing business where he is now
located for the past eleven years, and is a
married man. living with his family in the
immediate vicinity of his place of business,
went to an employment Office in search of
a young girl to assist in general work in
his home. The girl Mabel offered herself
and Mrs. Bird took quite liking to her.
1t was not long before the girl was treated
not as servant but as one of the family,
and Mrs. Birds children became espe-
clally fond OF her.
The girl was rather poorly clad, so the
family advanced her money from time to
time, and now she has received money for
work not yet performed. Occasionally the
girl went to her home, and it was noticed
that when she returned to her employer
her eyes were swollen and once that her
face was swollen. The girl made no COM
plant, but, being pressed for an explana-
ton of these outward signs, reluctantly
ad limit tod hot oh a baa
Last Tuesday Mabel left her employers
house, but did not return, and on the fol-
lowing morning the police and General
McComb, secretary of the Humane Society,
were notified of the mysterious disappear
ance of the girl. Since the Lamont and
Williams cases the officers of the society
have made a close examination of every
case of mysterious disappearance re-
ported. 1t was done in this case. Then
the discovery was made that Simmonds
knew where his daughter was but refused
to tell.
After that the girl Mabel presented her
self at the police station and asked for
protection from her father, she claiming
that he had treated her cruelty. She was
referred to General McComb. who, after
listening to her story, gave her some good
advice. This, however, did not please her,
for she declared that if she was forced to
submit to the treatment she had received
in the past she would commit suicide.
The secretary spoke to her about the wrong
of such thoughts, and in answer to the
direct question, "How long must / remain
under the control of my father?" she was
told that she was under the control of her
parents until she attained her majority.
During the investigation the secretary
had an interview with the father who
stated that he was severe with his children,
for he had several including girl of IS
and one of IL, but denied that he was
cruel to them. He was asked if holding a
] girls head between his knees, holding her