The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-01
Procured for Immoral Purposes by
Mrs. Maggie Conway.
SHE MAS COMMITTED TO JAIL
Evidence Offered Against Her Before
Alderman Miilnr Was OF tho Most Re-
voting Naturc-philip Riley Ar.
rested and Committed to Jail.

Two or three days ago the father OF
Gwennie Williams. fifteen -year-old
girl, living on Seventh street, learning
that his child was wayward swore out
a warrant for her arrest with the inten-
tiOn of having her placed In the House
of the Good Shepherd.
Yesterday the little girl was picked
up by the police and turned over to the
care of Mrs Duggan. At the hearing
in the morning the child denied having
been guilty of any excesses but to Mrs.
Duggan who closely questioned her she
admitted that she was fairly started
on the downward path and that a half
dozen or so of her playmates were also
guilty of the most debased actions.
Further questioning elected the start
ling fact that these children were the
prey of the Conway woman, who makes
a business of procuring girls for i'm
moral purposes.
These terrible admissions led to a
thorough investigation and before the
day was over disclosures We're made
which would stamp Mrs. Conway and
the men with whom she was in league
as the most unconscionable. debased
wretches that can infest civilized
community. The story seems almost
incredible but the straightforward tes-
timony of the girls will no doubt con-
vince jury that their statements.
made unwillingly at first. but candidly
ard freely afterwards, are true.
Confronted by Three Of Her Victims
When Mrs. Conway was arraigned
before Alderman Millar at 3 o'colck in
the afternoon. she was confronted by
three girls whose ruin is laid at her
door and three Others two of whom are
in the House of the Good Shepherd,
were mentioned by Mrs.. Duggan as
being among the wOman's victims. The
Williams girl was first brought from
the alderman's Office to tell her story.
She broke out In a fit Of hysterical cry
ing, and it was some time before she
recovered sufficiently to testify. AS II
was. the Alderman had to come down
from his bench and stand over the girl
to catch the answers which she made
with hesitancy between sobs and In a
scarcely audible voice. Later In the
alderman's private Office she spoke free
ly all she knew, and her revelations
were even of more terrible nature
than those made at the hearing
There was a subdued exclamation of
surprise bordering on horror when the
alderman called Mamie Phillips" and
there came from the inner Office mere
child. 13 years old, small for her age,
with knee dresses and a face that plain
ly betokened innocence and childish
gravity Of the situation, and unlike the
i,,r 4,
from the beginning In clear voice.
The Williams girl admitted having
been in the company Of men on three
occasions I'm the Conway woman's
house The Phillips girl told Of more
frequent SHINING and Of having spent
eleven days In succession recently at
Mrs Conway's house on Hampton
street before she moved to Nealis court,
where her place Is now located. The
girls mentioned the names Of several
men. among them Philip Riley and
Peter Mullaney, for whom the alderman
Immediately made out warrants. The
gist of the young girls story Is that
Mrs. Conway got them drunk and then
induced them to submit to the men who
had engaged her as procuress. These
two girls had an appointment there yes
terday.
Next the alderman called Hannah
Toohill from his private office and
charged her with be ing an inmate of
a disorderly house. Although but 16
years of age. she was not included
among the Conway woman's victims.
but rather deemed her accomplice. She
lives next door to Mrs. Conway in
Nealis court and seems to be on very
familiar terms with her. She would
not admit having taken part in any
wrong doing in Mrs. COnway's place and
swore that she never saw anything
wrong, except girls drinking beer there
She keeps house for her six brothers.
and two OF them were at the hearing.
of hershrdlu etaOin etaoin taoinoinnn
They said that they could take care OF
her and did not need interference from
the authorities. The alderman saw that
they could be best taught lesson by
touching their most sensitive spot, their
pOcketbooks, so fined the girl $40, which
the brothers had to pay
The brothers explained their sisters
presence in Mrs. -Conway's house by
saying that she had gone in to borrow
q washboard The alderman warned
them to keep a more watchful eye over
her or she would be taken from them
and placed where she would be cared
for.
During all this time the Conway
woman sat in corner Of the enclosure
and listened to the recital of her in
fanny without wincing In the least.
Several times she Interrupted the girls
to contradict some statement but in
each instance the alderman silenced
her.
She Made General Denial.
Finally when all the evidence had
been adduced that the alderman cared
to have aired he asked Mrs. Conway
what she had to say. She started to
deny all knowledge OF the affair and
then said that II there was anything
going on at her house she never re-
ceived any money from 1t.
THAT will do." said the alderman.
"Stand up" When the woman rose to
her feet the alderman addressed to her
the words of the opening paragraph
and added: ''You are charged with one
of the most damnable crimes that a
woman can commit. After hearing all
that have Of your outrageous actions
I cannot bring myself to think that you