The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-08-03
ABDUCTED.
Little Mary Shapiro Taken
Unwillingly by Maud
Thompson.
LURED BY PROMISE OF TREAT
Instead of New York the
Child Found Herself in
Willimantic.
LURED BY PROMISE OF TREAT

Maud Thompson, alias Annie Sturley
who was arrested in Willmantic, Con-
necticut, Wednesday, charged with
abducting Mary Shapiro, of No. 800
Fourth street, from her home on Satur-
day last was brought to this city last
nigth by Detective Prescott. The girl was
returned to her home.
Chief of Police Murphy conducted the
case for the State this morning, in the
First Criminal court. The woman was
held to await the action of the Grand
Jury. The police say they have sufficient
evidence to convict her of one of the most
heinous crimes known. The story told to
the police by the abducted girl is
shocking one, and if proven will place the
Thompson woman in jail for a long time.
When the THOMPSON woman was in
court this morning she was very at
tractively dressed. She wore dark silk
skirt sky blue silk waist and a wonder
full millinery creation. Glasses offset a
brazen face. She was very cool and walk
ed from the cell in which she had been
confined with a jaunty step and without
any regard for her surroundings or posi-
ton.
Mary Shapiro said she had known the
neighbors in Wayne street before the
Shapiros moved to Fourth street Satur-
day Maud Thompson met Mary ON the
street in front of her home. She told the
child she was living in Boston and had a
grand nome. She was on her way to get
few nice girls to live with her She was
willing to take Mary because she was an
Old friend and nice girl. Offers of fine
clothes a happy home, but little work and
diamonds galore were promised To make
this last promise good the woman handed
Mary two imitation diamond rings. The
rings were worth about 81 a piece Mary
told her abductor that she was perfectly
satisfied with her lot and refused to go.
Maud Thompson, however had scheme
to offset refusal to go to Boston She
told the girl she admired her for her 10y
atty to her parents and said that as she
would have to go home that evening she
would like to show her fondness for the
child
Let us go to New York and have a
good time said she.
The girl consented and left her com
panions with the woman. When the pair
reached New York Mary was induced to
go aboard train. When the train stopped
Mary and her companion were in Wilt
mantic Conn. The child was taken to a
road house on the North Windham road,
about mile and half from Willimantic.
The house is kept by mulatto woman
named Ida Thomas. 1t has the worst
reputation in the State of Connecticut.
1t was raided a month ago. in this place
| Mary was frequently the object of in
dignities
| The Thompson woman seems to have a
| strange influence over the girl. Mary ap-
pealed ito Chief Murphy to be lenient with
her abductor and allow her to go free.
The girl seemed to be very anxious on
this point and showed much concern for
| the welfare of the prisoner.
When Detective Prescott reached Will
mantle, in reply to telegram from Chief
of Police Richmond of that place, he
| found the town in great excitement over
| the case. There were many threats made
| against the Thompson woman and the
keeper of the road house where Mary was
taken.
The Thompson woman positively re-
! fused ait first to come to Jersey City un-
less she had to by requistion, but when
| she found that the authorities of Will
mantle would hold her until such time as
extradition could be procured she changed
her mind and accompanied the detective
| to this city,
| Mary Shapiro is very well developed
| child She looks bright and intelligent.
When the Thompson woman was
brought before Chief Murphy she made
a statement in which she admitted TAX
| ing the Shapiro girl to Willimantic and
! knowing the character of the house in
| which she placed the girl.
1 inc mi
woman gave her age as eighteen years.
| She looks twenty-five years old at least.
/ The laws of Connecticut demand that a
| guardian be appointed for all minors who
| are made prisoners in order that they
may be advised as to the best course to
| pursue in their defense. A guardian was
| appointed for the abductor, and under ad-
| vice she plead mot guilty.