The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-11
A VENGEFUL YOUNG GIRL
GLADYS WATSON ATTACKS MATRON
CARSON, OF DOOR OF HOPE.
Sent for Her to Come to the Work
hOuse-Another Threat
to Kill.


Gladys Watson. a progressing girl OF
twenty, who is serving long sentence in
the county workhouse, yesterday afternoon
made a vicious assault on Assistant
Matron Carson, of the Door of
Hope. The girl attacked Mrs Carson
at the workhouse, where the latter
had gone at the request of the erring young
woman, who had expressed a desire to see
her. Yesterdays incident was the second
thrilling experience Mrs. Carson has had
with the Watson girl. The young woman
Is now serving a sentence of 10 days on ac-
count of singular episode in which she
inquired on the night of June 20 last On this
occasion she drew a pistol on Assistant
Matron Carson and compelled her to walk
several squares with her, threatening to
shoot at the slightest outcry.
Gladys Watson became an inmate of the
Door of Hope late last fall and remained
there through the greater part of the win
ter. She is a pretty girl, with dark hair and
eyes and hands that were pronounced beau
tiful' by the people at the Door of Hope.
1t was not believed by the women in charge
of the institution that the girl had sinned,
but she was looked upon as an unfortunate.
She claimed she had come to the city in
search of employment and her funds had
given out. She was very respondent at
times, and twice during her stay at the
Door of Hope she attempted suicide by TAX
ing morphine. Her second attempt was on
last Christmas night After this the matron
of the institution decided she ought to re-
turn to her parents, and a letter was for
warded to her father. He came on to In
dianapolis and took the girl to her home in
the country. She remained away from the
city but short time. On her return she
went to family where she had been for
merly employed in the north part of the
city. Her father communicated with Ma
tron Smock, of the Door of Hope, and the
girl was located and held until her family
sent for her.
Neither Matron Smock Tor Assistant
Matron Carson saw anything of the girl
az I'm until about the middle of June. One
afternoon Mrs. Carson met her in the Union
Station. The girl wore a veil over her face
and tried to avoid the matron. Mrs. Car
son spoke to her kindly and asked: What
is my little girl doing here?" The young
woman grew very angry and charged Mrs
Carson with having written letter to her
father about her. That night about 9
O'Clock the girl appeared at the Door of
nope ana asked the assistant matrOn to go
home with her. She said she was living
on South Meridian street Mrs. Carson said
she could not go, but remarked that some
or the other girls about the institution
might go. The Watson girl remained for an
hour or more. When she started away with
two girls of about her own age Assistant
Matron Carson concluded to follow them,
being a bit uneasy On South Meridian
street, according to the story related to the
police, Mrs. Carson came UP with the three
girls. AS she approached she saw a pistol
in Gladys Watson's hand. The. two girls
with her fell back with fright and the pistol
was held uncomfortably close to Mrs. Car
son. The Watson girl threatened to kill her
and told her she must go home with her.
They walked south on Meridian street until
South street was reached. and there Mrs.
Carson made dash for the Rescue Home.
The police were summoned and the Watson
girl was arrested. The sentence she re-
ceived in Police Court will keep her in the
Workhouse until Oct. z
Yesterday. directly after dinner, a tele-
phone message came to the Door of Hope
from the workhOuse, to the effect that
Gladys Watson was very anxious to have
a talk with Assistant Matron Carson. The
officer who telephoned the message assured
Mrs. Carson there would be no danger IN
a personal interview with the girl, who APP
peared very anxious to see her. Mrs. Car
son went to the workhouse at once, accom-
panied by Miss Elizabeth Kirk, a nurse at
the Door of Hope Miss Kirk, on the way
to the institution, warned Mrs. Carson to
be on her guard. The nurse felt that the
Watson girl would assault her benefactress
if opportunity offered. The matron of
the workhouse led the witness to the pris-
oner, assuring Mrs; Carson that she would
be perfectly safe. Immediately the prisoner
asked if she could have a. private interview
with Mrs. Carson. The matron of the in
stitution, with Miss Kirk, retired to an
other room, the nurse leaving Mrs. Carson
with many misgivings. The instant the
women had left the room the Watson girl
flew into a passion and again charged Mrs
Carson with being responsible for her trou-
BILE with her father. Then she sprang upon
the matron catching her by the throat. The
women in the adjoining room heard the
noise and heard Mrs. Carson cry out:
Gladys. Gladys, what are you doing?"
Infatuated girl Withdrew her hands from
Mrs. Carsons throat. The latter was terri
bly, excited, and was on the point Of swoon-
ing. Her collar was torn from its place and
the button was broken. The Watson girl
was almost hysterical, and placing her
hands to her face exclaimed: ooh. 1 don't
know why did it," Then she began to cry
the room, but almost Immediately began to
plead for another chance to talk with Mrs.
Carson. Being allowed to return to the room,
she again attacked Mrs. Carson, catching
her by the arms and shaking her violently.
Mrs. CarSonS sleeves were torn by the
girls fingers in the second attack AS she
was led away to the dungeon, the girl called
back to Mrs. Carson that she expected to
kill her when she was released, and would
be quite willing to spend the remainder of
her days in prison.
Yesterday evening Mrs. Carson went to
the police station and related her experience
to the police who advised that surety of
Watson girl as soon as she is released. This
will probably be done. Mrs. Carson was
very weak and nervous last night as a
suit of the assault.