The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-02
They Were Bound for Stockton
and 1t Is Supposed They
Intended to Elope.
GOOD ADVICE OF a PRIEST,
Father insolvency, Summoned to Talk
to the Girls, Persuaded Them
to Return.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,l
OAS Rrnadwau Eah /

eos Broadway, Feb. l.
What might have been an unhappy
romance was prevented last night by the
good counsel of Rev. Father McSweeney,
pastor of st. Francis de Sales Church.
Owing to the clargyman's advice two at
tractiye young ladies of good family are
now with their parents at the Mission in
San Francisco instead of being partici-
pants in projected runaway or possibly
in an elopement to Stockton.
Early in the evening two good looking
young ladies were noticed wandering
about Fruitvale, seemingly with no object
in view. They walked up and down the
same streets and attracted considerable
attention in the district, which is suburb
of Oakland, and where strangers are some
what scarce.
1t was evident to Constable Quinlan that
the young ladies were out for no good
purpose, and he questioned them. AS
they refused to tell him who they were and
where they came from, he took them into
custody. Both girls were about 16 years
old and were elegantly dressed.
They gave proof in their conversation of
good breeding and conducted themselves
very modestly. Constable Quinlan did
them to the County Jail.
Sheriff White questioned the two girls,
but they would not divuIge their names
and absolutely refused TO tell where they
came from.
lis there any one for whom can send,
or tell that you are here?" asked the
Sheriff, being unwilling TO place his guests
IN a cell.
eff you would like to send for Catholic
priest we will talk to him." said one of the
girls.
Sheriff White thought that the girls
were IN earnest and sent a messenger for
Rev. Father McSweeney. When the
priest arrived the girls broke down and
told him their story. They said their
names were Miss Murphy and Miss Annie
Green and that they lived near Emanuel
Baptist church in San Francisco.
They said they had trouble with their
families and had made up their minds to
run away from home.
They had planned to take the boat to
Stockton, but as they found that it did not
leave till late at night they came over to
Fruitvale to pass away the time. intend
ing to go to San Francisco to take the
steamer.
For long time they rebelled against the
advice OF the priest, which was that they
should 60 home. 1t was an unusual sight
that was seen in the gloomy Jail, the
priest bending over two pretty, weeping
girls, and urging by all that they held
dear and holy to abandon their fatal career
and acknowledge their shortcomings and
return TO their parents.
zOla Lad oil ba
eloquence of a father In the end the
words OF wisdom prevailed and the girls
consented TO go home if the Sheriff would
send a lady with them.
Mrs. Prescott, Oakland agent of the Cali
fornia Children's Society, was sent for and
consented to take the girls home. Deputy
Sheriff White accompanied the party
across the bay.
The girls led the way to the Mission
street cars, and when near Bartlett street
the little company alighted. 1t was evil
dent that the large house near by was the
home OF the girls, for they ran away from
their escort and disappeared in the base
ment.
Deputy Sheriff White pursued them, in.
tending to see that they were safely deliv.
cred 10 their parents, but the young ladie:
evidently knew where they were, and for
nearly half an hour he searched in vain.
Mrs. Prescott finally rang the bell of the
house, and was not at all kindly received.
Only when the deputy appeared and
stated that the girls were in his custody.
end that he would summon police help to
find them, did the occupants of the house
consent TO supply light and AID in the
search.
Finally the girls were found, and with
penitent features they went back to their
parents. Having satisfied themselves that
the young ladies were really at home the
deputy and the agent returned.
II felt earnestly for the poor girls" said
Father Insolvency. tonight, "and / de.
termined that woulq not give up until ]
had succeeded in breaking their stubborn
wills | could see at a glance that they
were girls of refinement and very tende,
in years, and they would not have been in
Stockton day before some villain would
mark them for his prey. l think the
Fruitvale Constable did very wise act in
taking charge of them, and felt thankful
to Sheriff White for sending for me as
promptly as he did,"
Mrs. Prescott declined to speak about the
matter. declaring that she was pledged h
secrecy.
The young ladies would not say whether
they had planned their excursion with the
help of others, but it is thought that the
timely arrest of the girls prevented an
elopement