Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-09-11
TWO WAY GIRLS.
A"ey came TO Town and Claim That
They Were Ill-Treated by Their


Yesterday j. j. Farrell, who
ives on ranch 30 miles from Great
Fails and near Cascade, came
to town looking for two girls, Mary and
Burnette Farrell, aged IA and - years,
respectively, who have been living with
him for the last eight years. The girls
are nieces of his, being daughters of q
brother, James Farrell, who lives at
Helena. Their mother died about six
years ago, and their uncle alleges that
their father is not in bis right mind and
that the children were put under hie
care by the probate court in Lewis and
Clarke county some four years ago on
account OF the fact that their father was
not considered suitable guardian for
the girls.
MI. Farrell wished Chief Gueriu to
hunt them up and he located the girls
at the residence of Mr.. and Mrs. Sheehy,
7l6 Sixth avenue north, but after maxi
ing investigations refused to have any.
thing to do with handing them over to
their uncle. 1t transpired that the girls
!eft their uncle's house last Thursday on
horseback, and after staying over night
at neighbor's house came to town, and
not knowing where to 20, were taken in
by Mr.. and Mrs. Sheehy. They wanted
to go to Helena to find their father, and
told stories Of hardship experienced at
their uncle's house. They claim that
they were not allowed to 20 to school
and were frequently whipped and ill.,
treated, being compelled to do heavy
work in the fields all the time during
the summer, and vehemently declared
that they would rather drown them.
selves than be cent back to their uncle.
Auditor Beachly interested himself in
the girls caee and furnished them with
clothing, which they stood very much in
need OF. He also wrote to the father at
Helena and to other parties, making in.
qulrles as to conditions there, and il sat-
lsfactory replies are received he will
probably send them on to their father,
who ie said to be possessed of some
property and able to provide for them.
Mr. Farrell, their uncle, called at THE
TRIBUNE office yesterday and said that
he had done the best be could for the
girls. He was willing they should go to
Helena to their father, but he denies
that the girls we're abused in any way
He admits that the girls have not been
at school recently. The older one was
at the st. Peters Mission school for
some time, but her father did not send
the money to pay for her tuition as he
agreed, and be was not able to pay the
whole cost himself. The older girl is
able to read little, but it is evident
that the education Of both has been
sadly neglected. County Auditor Beach,
ly will see that the girls are properly
cared for and given chance to get an
education in some way
Mary Farrell, the older girl, said to
TRIBUNE reporter yesterday evening:
"As an instance of the harsh treatment
which we received, will say that 1 was
thrown from horse last summer and
had my collar bone broken; Immediately
after that accident I was compelled to
rake hay for week and then
my uncle took me to doctor
at Fort Shaw. but the fracture
was never reduced properly and hurts
very much now when l work. 1 had to
chop all the wood, help to feed the stock
about zoo head-in the winter, and
last winter | froze my limbs. l have
gone to school about two weeks in four
years. My sister went to school for one
summer within that period. I have no
other clothes, except cloak, than these
which have on. 1 had pair OF shoes
last April, but they wore out about two
months ago and l have since bad to go
barefooted. now am wearing my
sunt's Shoes"
See Goodrich Tl1mhar rompapv For