The record-union., 1897-07-31
A GIRLS PITIFUL ROMANCE.
BUT SHE SAYS 1T rs AN DER
TRUE TALE.
How Maggie Stewart Was Saved
From Evil Associations and
Sad Fate.

Maggie Stewart, a bright, intelligent,
and apparently self-respecting slender
girl Of II or -, some weeks ago ap-
pealed to the Society for the Preven-
ton Of Cruelty to Children for protec-
ton. Maggie said that she was re-
quired, or prompted, to solicit aims; that
these appeals she had to make. some
times, to members Of the church to
which she belongs; that she was thus
prompted by her mother.
But she had doubts whether the wo-
man is her mother, for she says she
does not resemble her and she does
not feel for her the affection a child
should
She complained that she was exposed
constantly to demoralizing Influences;
also to too free circulation Of beer in
the house where her mother lives, but
which is no home for her and that
whisky does not fail TO show up on
the premises either. and there are many
times when intemperance is to the fore
on the part Of the mother. She was
not sent to school on the plea that she
is too slight to stand i: also she is
her elders. and that she did not like
one Of these claims to be her uncle
the brother of her mother-and his ad-
vice to Maggie, she says, was revolt
ing.
The case came to the notice of the
society originally some six months ago,
when its officers observed actions that
did not look WELL and interrogated the
mother of the girl, who promptly told
the official TO mind his own busin IS.
Officer Healey took the advice and has
attended to it so diligently ever since
that yesterday at half-past / Maggie
was before Judge Hart on a petition to
give her in charge to the. society, t
having at its last meeting directed its
officer TO make the application.
The girl came upon the stand and told
her story clearly. intelligently and with
feeling. If it is not to the letter true,
then Maggie is the sharp s, shrewdest
most cunning and the Wickedest girl
alive, instead Of being the modest sin
cere little girl that she appears to be,
and the truthful creature she impresses
all who meet her with being.
Maggie's story on the witness stand
was much as above set forth. but may
not all be repeated for reasons obvious
to cleanliness. In brief, Maggie said
she wanted to choose her own guardi-
an. She told the court that she wanted
10 grow up a good, helpful, intelligent
woman. She wanted to get out of her
present surroundings, and at once. She
had told her story to President Van
Norden and Officer Healey and to good
women OF the society, and she was con-
tent to have them take charge of her,
glad. indeed, and anxious.
She says that her mother is hired
to keep or help in a house; that the
Uncle-claimant stops there also;
that rivers of beer flow into
the house, so to speak, and that there
visits there constantly a girl Of 20
years out of a. lodging house of un-
questioned character, with whom she
(Maggie) does not want to cOnSOrt.
This girl is foul -mouthed, Maggie testi-
fed.
A man had made indecent pro-
posals to Maggie and these she repeat
ed to Judge Hart with becoming mod
esty of language. She complained to
her mother of this and got for reply
that she was foolish to SO interpret the
proposals. Lately she complained of
stiu grosser offers, and the mother
again rebuked her. Her uncle had
once told her that she might choose
an easy way of living. She knew what
he meant.
She was sick and tired of the life
and desperate, and must get out of it.
She got a good home once with Mrs.
c. w Reed of Yolo but her mother
!, d, tod
her belief that she is a founding, and
that Mrs. Stewart is not her mother.
She had been told that she was II
and again Il, and again 16.
officer Healey had previously been
on the witness stand and told what
he had seen and heard. and of his inter-
view with the girls mother and of his
researches in the case. In the middle
of Maggie's testimony Judge Hart sud-
denly stopped the proceedings, though
there was a good woman present to
prove, and others to be called to es-
tablish the aims begging, which under
the law gives the court power to inter-
fere as was prayed for
The Judge said that he had heard
enough Maggie was able to choose,
and had chosen, and so he would COM
nit her to the custody Of the society.
Besides, what he had heard convinced
him it was the right thing to do. He
said il was a case that had been well
handled by the society-a case that evi-
IDENTIFY needed more of working up. He
warmly commended the application
made. and ordered a commitment as
prayed for President Van Norden then
turned the custody of the girl over to
officer Healey to take her to a place
temporarily provided; but in time she
Will be put into a good home, where,
slight as she is, she can earn her liv-
ing, and where she viii be surrounded
by moral influences.
Maggie came to court with only the
clothing then on her body. She was
asked 10 return home and get such
clothing as was hers. I dare not" >"
she replied That girl is there. and