The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-14
WITH AN INSANE WOMAN.
A Missing Girl from Boston Found in
Eliot.
Had Wandered With Her to Maine and Wa
Going to Rumford Falls-Woman
Claims To Be Wife of . Clergyman.

Had wandered with Hef TO Ma1no ana WE
Going to Rumford Falls-woman
Claims To Be Wife of . Clergyman.
Portsmouth. N. H., Ootober 1s.-Little
Mary Esther Dougherty, who has been
missing for the past week from her home
in Boston, was found this morning by
Inspector McGarr at Eliot, Me.
Since the little girl SO mysteriously
disappeared from her home Inspector Nc
Carr has been hard at work to locate the
little one.
The first definite olew in this city was
from the toll taker at the Portsmouth
aud Kittery bridge, who informed the
ing the description of the wanted parties
passed over the bridge shortly after /.
This morning Inspector NcGarr took
the early morning train to Conway juno
tion, where it was found that the wom-
an and child had not reached there, but
had got as far as Eliot, and had passed
the night there. The next trai n was
taken back to Eliot, and after a walG
of q mile the parties were found at the
house OF Eben Simpson. section hand.
The little girl came to the door in an
swer to the officers rap, and on going
inside the woman was found preparing
some vegetables for the noon meal, The
little girl assisting her. The woman
said that her name was Mary Christ,
was on her way to Rumford, Me, with
the little girl, who she said was her
daughter. When the officer asked the
little girl If her name was not Esther
Dougherty she Indignantly denied it and
said that her name was Mary Elizabeth
Christ and that the woman was her
mother.
the woman readily agreed to mpany
him to this city.
From the woman's talk she Is evident
ly insane. At the police station In this
city Inspector McGarr separated the lit
tie girl from the woman, and by d1nt OF
questioning learned the story Of the
travels since last Wednesday morning.
The child admitted that her name was
Mary Esther Dougherty. but said that
Mrs. Christ had told her that her right
name was Mary Elizabeth Christ, and
to answer no other name. Her story was
that she met Mrs. Christ on Z ileton
street about noon, and that she accom-
panied her, and that night and the next
day stayed at boarding house on Mayo
UgIocu uutAl uoOuS WucA UAOy Wo10Od ~
Maiden, where they remained thas night.
The next day they walked to Maldep to
Salem, and on the following day to Ips-
wioh. On Sunday they walked from Ips-
wich to New buryport, whore they took
the electric cars to Seabrook, where they
passed Sunday night. Monday morning
they started and walked as far as Hamp-
ton Falls, where Mrs. Christ purchased
ticket for this city, arriving here at
IL. so. a-~-----
After passing over the bridge the
couple took the railroad track, and
walked about half the way to Eliot when
the section men gave them q tide on the
hand car. On learning that the woman
had no means and was looking for work.
MIR. Simpson gave her shelter and a posit-
ion at his house.
The little girl further stated that she
had known the woman and her husband
for some time. The woman says that
she is the wife of Rev. James I. Christ.
pastor of the German Catholic church.
She is quite tall, of good figure and at
tired in black dress. She claims that
she has seen her husband since she got
the little girl, and he gave her money to
help her go to her folks at RumfoId.
Me.