The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-09
FACTS WERE ALL FALSE.
Attacks Made Upon Mrs. Duggan Shown
TO Be Entirely Without Foundation.
Real Facts OF the Case.

At the board of associated charities
meeting, last night, attention was
called to charges that had been public
ly made against the boards agent in
the Kitty Donohue case, and it was
suggested that some action should be
taken in regard to them.
After some discussion as to the pro-
priety of noticing the accusations, it
was decided that it might be well, out
of consideration for the person attack
ed, that the board should publicly re-
cord it's approval of the agents course
in the case in question, having salts
fled itself that the allegations were
baseless and evidently malicious mis-
representations.
The representation in the uncaled
for attack that clothing had not been
prepared for the child was false as the
agent had and still has clothing ready
for the advent of the baby. 1t was said
that the agent was responsible for the
bill against the girls traducer, being
ignored by the grand jury. The bill has
never been before the grand jury but
is being held by the district attorney
until certain legal conditions necessary
| to the drawing of the indictment, be
fulfilled.
To the charge that the boards agent
became surety for Meshler, the ac-
| cused traducer, a transcript of Alder
! man Millar's docket was produced,
| showing that he was allowed to go on
| his own recognizance. The agent is
| not a property holder and could not
| under any circumstances become a
! bondsman
Further it was shown that the board
| for the girl was paid to Mrs. Reap in
| full; that the girl willingly and glad
ly left there to go to the Scranton priv
| ate hospital, and, as to her being taxi
| en- away at a time when she should not
have been disturbed, it was shown
| that the physical conditions alleged,
do not even yet exist and it was over
| week ago that she was removed.
| The st. Vincent de Paul society is pay
| ing for her care at the hospital.
The reason that the clergyman, who
was called to perform the marriage,
hesitated is that he was not sure that
the girl is not weak minded and he did
not want to risk committing an offense
against the state and his church.
In this connection it was also di-
rected that instructions be given the
! telephone company TO place the board
OF charities telephone on some line 9TH
er than that running through the office
| Of the poor tax collector.
AT the last meeting of the board
1t was ordered that the Parfrey boy
| be returned to his mother. After
wards it developed that the two per-
sons whose signature on Mrs. Parfrey's S
| petition had influenced the board, had
! signed the petition under msunder-
| standing and this coupled with the
! fact that the managers of the Home of
the Friendless protested against CIV
| ing the child back to it's alleged disso-
| lute mother, caused the boards agent
to hesitate. Last night the board ap-
proved the agents action, reconsidered
the motion of the last meeting and re-
solved to let Mrs. Parfrey proceed at
law to recover her child If she cares
to do this.
1t was also decided to issue periodi-
cally a confidential bulletin to be sent
to the boards patrons, giving a list
of the fake or questionable solicitors
that may come to the town and such
other information as will tend to pro.
tect them from the frauds that are
daily practiced.
In speaking of the work of the board
Rev. Mr. Israel made the statement
that during the year 1897, twenty-one
girls had been rescued and started or
the right path by the agent of the So
ciety. Letters from some of these
saved girls We're read and it is safe
to say that the praises that they
showered on the board and particularly
on its efficient agent more than repaid
those who heard them for the little
lobor that there connection with the so.
ciety costs.