The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-13

Patrick Barrett, 60 years of age and
an invalid, is the father OF Ethel and
Maggie Barrett, the two girls who are
now under bail for the larceny of
great quantity of goods from houses
on the hill. A Tribune reporter visited
the old gentleman last evening at his
home, S1S Taylor avenue, Petersburg.
The story he told was distressing.
Physically he is a wreck, his cheeks
sunken, his eyes unnatural
Each time that he referred to Ethel,
the eldest daughter, he said that girl"
and never once mentioned her name.
He was found sitting in a chair in his
bedroom, which he has not once left
since last May. His disease Is con-
sumption.
Mr.. Barrett pointed out a chair. He
wanted to talk. he said, to free his
family from the disgrace, he said.
THAT girl" speaking of Ethel, lis
renegade"
rs she here now?" was asked.
"Who, that girl?" and the aged form
shook with emotion, "she here! No,
she will never darken my door again.
I didn't know she was stealing" he
cried "I didn't know. You see the
mother died in February and my boy
John had his leg hurt at Nay Aug park.
i was in bed here and he was in that
room over there. She was out serving
and 1 sent for her. She stayed with
me for some months and then she told
me one day that / must pay her wages.
My own daughter asking for pay!"
ETHEL LEFT HIM.
Barrett controlled himself, and con-
tinued: well, she left me and went
working out again. She came back
about three months ago and fooled
around. You see" he said, in eXpla-
nation, II know what's going on in
these three rooms on this floor (the
ground suite), but upstairs there are
two empty rooms. 1t was wrong to
say that the house was filled with
stolen goods from cellar to garret.
There never was anything found in my
rooms. That girl put the stuff in the
spare rooms"
II didn't know anything about it,
God knows. She used to come in here
to my room and pretend to look in the
papers for a place to work. Then she'd
go out and come back. l used to hear
her moving about after midnight up
in the empty rooms, and when ! asked
her what she was doing she would say:
I'm waiting for Johnnie Johnnie -
explained Barrett, worked late in the
morning at the park. SO l thought
she was waiting for him. But-God
forgive her-she wasn't"
HIS OTHER DAUGHTER.
Where is the younger girl, Maggie.
is she home?' was asked.
Yes, the darling"-the wide CLASSY
eyes looked kindlier. "Yes, she's home
She's as innocent as the snow, she is.
1t was that girl who did it, My Mag
gle is good. The time the police stop
ped her was the first time Maggie had
done any wrong. That girl (EtheD on
the day she was caught, was working
cut. About $50 that evening she sent
for Maggie, and when she got her
down there she drew her into it. Mag
gle didn't know. She tells me that she
saw some of the things upstairs but
that girl (EtheD told her she had
bought them.
And" continued Mr.. Barrett, "she
hadn't need to steal the dishes: she
hadn't need to take the chairs. either"
mol" he concluded, 1--WE didn't need
1t. I'm glad they're out of the house
l wouldn't have rested IL / knew they
were there. Make it right before the
public, young man." he said as the
reporter was leaving: make it right.
Ny friends won't believe it, but strang-
ers might think I knew all about that
girls dirty work"
When asked what he thought actuat-
ed her, the father said: II don't know.
/ saw in the paper something-klepta
-klepta-"
"Kleptomaniac?"
yes that's it, ! hone you'll set me
right; l hope you'll take away the
stain"
Ethel Barrett, it was learned, Is liv-
Ing with her uncle. Thomas Collins.
who went her bail. Yesterday the po-
lice recovered thirty pieces of china
ware and crockery which had been
stolen from refrigeratOrs by Ethel