The Holt County sentinel., 1899-12-15
CRIME AND FOLLY.
Young Emma Freeman Stole a Ring
and Sent 1t to Her Faith
er's Murderer

She SAID Sl'. was g"Iug hem" aud i,.arn
Soluc srns" II was with "yui"ut SINGER
itv that Emma Freeman. IL Years "II,
made this remark Sunday tn Cnnstabi"
.Iosrph Hatfield. She hal stolen finger
rings and other articles from Joseph
Morton. tn" attorney. bnc nf the rings
she had sent tn II man who killed her
father: another was sent tu her mother
She gay" Constable Hatfield an order nm
the warden Of the IrnitrntIary Tor on"
ring aud al order un her mother for the
other
Emma Freeman lived in Craig. Mo.
AMBROSE Grounds, Il drug clerk IA that
village, was attentive To her. His father
opposed these attentions and ordered
Grounds from his home. Dne evening
Grounds called ut the Freeman home
and quarrel cnsued between the father
and the lover. Grounds left and shortly
afterward Freeman started down town.
He was killed on the way. only a short
distance from his home. and WIS found
with one bullet wound in the head and
another in the heart. Grounds was con
victed of the crime at the last term Of
the Holt county circuit court and sen
fenced to ten years in the penitentiary.
| Emma Freeman cam. tn St Joseph
and for three weeks had been employed
as domestic AT the home OF Joseph
Morton until last Thursday, when she
told Mrs. Morton she had received Il let
ler from her mother, who was iii ami
wanted her to 90 home. The girl left
the Morton residence, but instead OF go
ing home, went to tie residence of a
family named Thomas. who live on Mitch
ell avenue. Shortly after she had
gone Mrs. Morton missed two finger
rings and some lace handkerchiefs.
Attorney Morton met Constable Hat
field Saturday evening and together they
went TO the Thomas home. where thu
constable questioned the girl closely fol
an hour or more. alone and in the pres
cncc of others. She stoutly denied hav
ing taken either the rings or handlkcr
chief. but finally admitted having taken
one handkerchief and this she gave tc
Mr.. Hatfield. After conference be
tween Mr.. Hatfield and Mr. Morton the
attorney suggested that the constable
leave her and call again thu next day
when she might confess to the theft.
Sunday morning Constabl" Hatfield
called again at the Thomas holn" hut
the girl still protested her innorrnc,.
Mrs. Thomas said she had searched al
the girls belongings and had failed L
find the property. She believed she was
innocent and Constable Hatfield wuuiC
have probably have been uf this bclie
had she not admitted the night b"fur,
TO the theft of one handkerchief
He took her in his buggy 10 the Nor
ton home, where Mrs. Morton talkeC
with her for some time, during all o
which she Stoutly declared she had moi
stolen anything but a handkerchief. Mr
; Hatfield telephonrd to Attorney Morton
who was at his office, and the latter AL
vised that the girl be taken back To rh'
Thomas home and the matter dropped
Constable Hatfield. however, determine,
to make one more Effort Ia secure a con
feSSion
Instead of driving TO the Thomas hom,
he brought her down town. She asked
where they were going and he said t.
Jail. Then he told her of the jail. which
hc said was All exceedingly dirty place
where her society would he that of Grim
inal npgrcssrs and the worst type o.
; white women She waited until thrl
n"ared the Jail before she spoke again
Then she said she would tell all il no
placed in Jail. She told of sending on
, ring 10 Grounds and the other to he
mother at Craig, and recounted the stor,
: of her fathers killing. giving the murder
er a much gentler verdict than that tn
jury imposed, anil departing 10 his al
vantage. from the evidence Introduces
) at the trial. Upon signing orders, ON
drawn upon her mother and the othc
, upon the warden Of the penitentiary, fo
the tVO riups she WAS allowed Ia ~
: home. Before leaving for Craig she sai'
: she would remain there until she ha,
. learned somo sense and Constable Hat
i field told her there was doubtless som
due her St. Joseph Herald. Derembe