The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-20
He MADE HER WALK
GertrudeRainey TrampedFrom
Memphis to New Orleans.
VIRTUALLY A PRISONER
Won Her Away by Promising
to Get Her on the Stage,

Mrs. NJ A Rainey leaves tomorrow for
New orleans to get her daughter Cert
rude, than whom few children have had
a more trying experience, as evidenced by
letters which Mrs. Rainey has recently
RECEIVED from her.
These letters clear up considerable Of
the mystery which has hitherto en-
snroIded this unusual story They tell
the circumstances under which Gertrude
left this state and where she went and
what she did, including a long, terrible
tramp on foot from Memphis TO New
Orleans. They also throw light on the
methods OF uncomfortable rascals Of
certain kind
II viii be remembered that Gertrude
Rainey was a girl aged L. living in Wich-
tia, mature for her age, POSSESSED Of
charming voice, and prepossessing man
ner, pretty face and very bright, win
ming eyes Last July her mother went to
Great Bend, Kansas, and took Gertrude
with her. on July % last, in the fore
noon, Gertrude asked to go to dinner
with a new acquaintance. This request
was granted. Her mother has never seen
her since. On February J. last, Mrs.
Railey received word that Gertrude was
in the Memorial Home New Orleans. She
had appealed to a Presbyterian minister
who had taken her away from a man
with whom she ran away and had her
placed there. There she stiI IS. and
there her mother vii go TO ind her
In her letters TO her mother Gertrude
has explained what terrible time sic
has had. The man who won her away
from her home had many aliases, among
them that Of Sweeney. He met her, and
knowing her ambition to go on the stage,
told her that if she would come with
him he would get her a position IN the
atr3cal company at once. He went from
WICHITA and she weIit from Great Bend
and they met at Newton and went to
Chicago. Her mother thinks that Cert
rude was there made by her brutal com
panion to sing upon the streets for pen
MES. At any rate the officers were on
the hunt for them and, Mrs Rainey
SAYS. Sweeney decided to get out of Chi
cago. She says he forged "a telegram
saying that his wife was very i'll and got
PASSES to Decatur. Illinois, At Decatur
he worked the same game and got passes
to St. Lolus. From there the couple
reached Memphis, when Sweeneys in
genuty played out and they took the
country roads bound for New Orleans.
The girl seems TO have been practically
a prisoner. The man never left her out
of his sight, according to the letters. nor
did he leave her side at any of the
farmers houses where they remained at /
night. when they were fortunate enough (
to have roof over their heads through /
hospitality. The walk was "A terrible ex- /
perience for the girl Down long coun-
try lanes. over railroad ties, in the rain ,
and In the hot sun, ill-clad and a pris- (
oner. her energy at last succumbed AT
Nicksburg she could go no longer, but /
sank down. There the couple remained /
for several weeks. On January l, they /
came to New Orleans tramping into the /
city. Gertrude Rainey's whole vitality
was now held uD by the desire TO get
away, from the man who was TO have
been her guide to fame and fortune. but 1
who Ted her so bitter a life She was. /
by him, placed in a room in New orleans I
and kept there three weeks. At last /
however. she found aid and was placed /
in the Memorial Home. Since then, Mrs (
Rainey understands. Sweeney has made /
several attempts to get into the institu-
ton and take Gertrude away a police /.
guard was established at one time Il I
prevent this. Gertrude has been out Of I
the institution but once. Mrs. Rainey /!
says, since she went there, February / /
This was to see a big parade and she
was under the protection of a policeman. 4
Mrs. Rainey is overioyed at the antiel- (
patton of regaining her child. She VIII /
take her to relatives in Ohio and Will I
spend the summer there with her. She /
intends, if possible 10 track the man /
with many aliases down and prosecute I
him.