The morning times., 1897-03-07

Wayward Madge Fisher, attired in the
same soiled gray fedora and rustling black
cape, which have been SO often seen in
the police court of late, was again the
center of attention there yesterday. This
time she appeared to answer a charge of
incorrigibility, preferred by her mother,
Mrs McGinn, n respectable woman, who
came over from New York TO attempt the
reclamation of her child.
Mrs. McGinn, with a faded plaid sha wi
wrapped tightly about her, took the stand
| and testified that the girl was seventeen
| years old, in proof OF which she offered
| transcript from a church record. She
| further testified that her daughter had
| rua away several times and that she had
| absolutely no control of the girl
at the conclusion OF Her testimony the
sorely tried mother broke down.
| "Oh judge, your honor" she said, be
| tween her sobs, her father is bed-ridden
| and | work as hard as | can to support
my family, and this girl is doing all she
can to Kill US both by her willful behavior"
The letter which we received from
| the New York priest" said Judge Miller,
| asks that she be sent back with you, and
| he priest says he will be responsible for
| her Now, do you want TO take her home?"
| No, your honor" the poor mother re-
| piled, Il couldn't do anything with her
| there. She would only run away from
: me again. i want To leave her entirely
| in your honor's hands. Put her away i'll
some place where she can't get away To
go back To the bad life she has been lead
ing. Put her into the Washington reform
| school and may be at the end of the year
/ can do something with her.
All this time, Madge, leaning back in
chair. beside Attorney Sillers, her counsel,
listened attentively, but without the least
show OF emotion to her mothers testi-
mony. only at the point where her age
| was mentioned as seventeen, she half rose
TO her feet, and an angry gleam flashed
from her pretty, brown eyes
When her mother had concluded, Madge
took the stand, and said: Your honor,
that baptismal certificate is a lie. l am
nineteen years old, and was horn in
1879. I'll go anywhere you send me. IN
go with her, indicating her mother with
an angry toss of her head, ''or if She
puts me away I'll 90 where you say. But
If she puts me away, I'll never notice her
again
''Oh, your HONOR here inteTposed Mrs.
McGinn, don't listen To her. She'll only
run away. Look there where she bleached
her hair the last time she ran away" and
she touched n strand OF gold in the giTl's
black tresses.
But her daughter drew away and again
addressed the court: IN 90 home and
live respectfully with my mother if you
don't send me away
No, You WON'T said Judge Miller;
you will only run away and cause your
mother more grief. l should like 10
, send you TO New York to have the priest
take charge OF you, but know the moment
you reach that city You would go off and
enter house Of ill-fame again. So the
only recourse l have is to have you con-
fined here. You are sentenced to remain
in the reform school until you are twenty
one. Then your mother may claim you
and do what she can to reform you.
and do what she can to reform you. =
''God bless your honor said Mrs. Nc
CHM, who then tried TO say good-by tc
her daughter.
But the girl brushed disdanfully past he
mother, who, thereupon began to sob again
and called out after her daughter: 'Oh
you msled girl! You'll break my heart. p"
She then left the courtroom, still crying
while Madge was led back to the dock
After the case had been disposed of At
torney Sillers said:
Your honor, in view of the testimon,
which l expect to bring out here nextTues
day or Wednesday when the two policemen
against whom my client is witness, are
tried, l may ask you to change this sentence
Until then l am content to let It satnd..'