The evening times., 1896-10-08
TAKEN FROM HER MOTHER
Agent Lewis, of the Guardians,
Saves a Little Girl.
ONLY BY DETECTIVE WORK
He and Agent Parkman Followed the
Woman and Secured Evidence to
Prove Her Evil Life and Character.
Her Double Life ExpUsed-Scene in
the Police Court.

wsy-headed THE had just been put
away" for six months by Judge Miller
Tuesday afternoon, when there was d
slight commotioD at the door OF the upper
police court, over which his hon or presides.
TIE next instant the tall form Of A gent
ParkmaD. OF the Board of Children's Guard
| ians. entered the Courtroom. lie had by
The hand pretty little girl, about eleven
years OF age, whose found, innocent face
appeared woefully out of place there.
WGen the proper time arrived the agent
told Judge Miller the circumstances sur
Founding the child's case. Behind this bare
statement of facts there was a story-the
old, sad story OF a woman fall and the con
sequent separation from her child by the
strong arm of the law.
MOTHERS DOWNWARD FAITH.
About TWO years ago the father Of the
little girl,a prosperous travelling man, died,
and soon the mother fell into evil ways
Like all Women who forsake the plane OF
purity and respectability. she found the
descent easy and raFid-
Step by step she went down until she
reached tina tkwest level OF uutcast won. an =.
hood, the street walker.
Tie mother always kept up a semblance
Of responsibility, however. by stopping
at a good boarding house, in the northwest
section of the city and at a considerable
distance from her nightly haunt on Penns VI
yania avenue, where she is wei known to
the police and the regular habitucs of the
street.
The mother continued to lead this double
life for soine time. To the men and women
oh s.,,,
them. aud no nidnightescapade was too rich
for her. To her simple, coDfiding little
daughter she was the embodiment OF pure
motherhood.
The elane of wickedness has many turns and
angles. She went their crooked length at
rapid pace. secure in the belief that none
knew of her dual experience in sunshine and
shadow. In this the woman was mistaken.
sHADOwED BY DETECTIVES.
One of the many ladies III this city, whose
works of mercy take them among the poor
and the outcast. gained an inkling of the
mothers mode of life. and reported it to
Agents Lewis and Farkman. of the Board
of Guardians. in order that the child might
be rescued from the mothers Communicating
influence.
uc uSudi illNeSuSdIiOu ny tue uScntS
began. For three nights MIR. Parkman
played detective and followed the woman
as she piled her trade on Pennsylvania
avenue. Last Saturday night Agent Lewis
Joined his feIlow-worker, and together they
followed tue woman until She aceested
one Of the party, who had been observing
her movements She did not know She was
talking TO an agent of tie law who W ouId
so soon take from her the pretty little
brown-haired girl, whose innocence She
was daily endangering.
After several nigits of untiring detective
work the agents of the board obtained the
mostdamag ging evidence against the mother.
The next step was to take the case into
Judge Miller'S court, Which was done on
Tuesday.
The mother was there, prepared to
make a determined fight TO retain posses
sion of her child, Notwithstanding the life
she was leading. She employed Attorney
Joseph Sheldon as her counsel, but when
he learned of the damaging evidence that
would be brought against her he advised
the woman to make no defense. She wisely
abided by the lawyers advice, and Judge
Miller accordingly turned the little girl
over to the board.
EFFORTS TO RECLAIM HER.
The mother left the courtroom with tears
in her eyes The child is now in one of the
city institutions, but will probably be sent
to her grandparents, simple old New
Hampshire farmer and his venerable wife,
who are unaware of the nature of the life
their only daughter is leading here on Che
streets of Washington.
An effort will be made by Christian wom-
en-, it is said, to reclaim the mother. Her
son, bright youth, embezzled $500 from
a counting room last year, but was not
prosecuted for the crime.