The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02
rOUyG Girls PfTIFtL SrORF.
Separated From Her Husband by Her
step-Eat, er. she Takes Poison.

wEsTFIELD, y. j., Jan. l.-Mrs. Mary
Ilgget. or Mary Mack, by which name
she was best known here. swallowed
quantity OF strychnine Sunday night and
nut an end TO her existence. The girl
was less than sixteen years old, and has
frequently figured In the newspapers
during the past year because OF her Sc
cref marriage. her subsequent kidnapping
from her husband by her stepfather. and
the abuse she was then obliged to toler-
ate.
Very little l. known as to the circum-
stances surrounding her death, as her
stepfather was drunk in the house at
the time the deed was committed. ana
her mother was 20 shocked on learning
OF what had happened that she has los,
her reason After the girl had died her
body was allowed TO remain on the hoor
where she had fallen after swallowing
the poison, and IL was not until y ster-
dav that nefghbors came in and took
charge OF the body, and prepared II
for burial Ii will probably be buried at
the expense Of the county, as the Machs
have absolutely nothing.
From the best accounts obtainable II
appears that the troubles Of Mary Mack
began when her mother, widow, mar
riedsher present husband The girl prior
10 that time had been bright vivacious.
and intelligent. having an uncOmmonly
pretty face and a happy temper. AFTER
the second marriage Of her mother, how
ever. her stepfathor began TO treat her
harshly. beginning by cutting her OF
from the cOmpani0nship OF her friends
Then he began to abuse her, and size
was made very unhappy. While receig-
ing this treatment she made the ac-
guaiuiance Of Arthur ". Ligget. VINO
appeared to be an industrious fellow and,
after she had known him bat two weeks,
they were married. Mary afterwards ex-
planned that she had married solely TO
escape the brutal treatment of her step
father.
Ligget and his child-bride went 10 live
at The house Of Mrs. Hawkins. When
Mack heard of the marriage he was
furious Ono day he drove mp TO the
house Of Mrs Hawkins. took the girl in
his arms. ard carried her bodily out
of the house. 'Ligget was away at work,
and when me heard that his wife was at
her stepfathers house, and that she was
likely TO be kept a prisoner there, be
packed up his clothes, got on train
bound for New York. and nothing has
been heard Of him here since.
The girl has been practically a prisoner
from that time. She escaped orce, and
"a long but unsuccessful search was
made for her Some time later. when
she had been given up for lost her step
father learned that she was living at the
house Of a friend, and was earning her
living by sewing. Mack went 10 The house
one day and took the girl home with
him. Her troubles then began again
afrcsh. and they continued until she COM
mitted suicide
Sunday afternoon she asked permission
of her stepfather to 20 TO church. lie
refused. and II made her angry. She
brooded all day long, and just about
dusk she took a little bottle OF strych-
nine, which she had in her pocket. and
swallowed the contents. Mack and her
mother saw the deed committed. The
woman was too frightened for a time
10 act. and Mack was so drunk that
he could hardy move. The doctor did
not arrive fer two hours afterWard. and
when he reached the house the girl was
dead.
She was lying on the floor where she
had fallen. and at her head was stand
ing the little Christmas tree. which she
had dressed with bits of ribbon and
colored paper. Tor her little four-year-
old brother The candles on the tree
were burning. and the little boy was
trying to make his sister get up.