The St. Louis Republic., 1901-08-10
1t Helped Him to Win Home,
Friends and the Love of
a Girl.
THEN 1T GOT HIM INTO JAIL.
Girl ElOped With Him, but the
Promised Marriage Was Not
SOlemniZed and Police
men Arrested Him.

Daniel Walsh's cork leg saved him from
destitution. won him the love OF a young
girl. aided him in securing her permission
to elooe with him. and at last landed him
In Jail-as told before Magistrate Crane in
the Harlem Police Court-is a novelette, in
itself.
The main characters are Daniel Walsh. 81
years old. and Rhoda Stanton. a 15-year-
old girl OF Preston. a town near Norwich,
Conn. Welsh is under arrest awaiting a
full hearing Of the charge against him of
| KIDNAPPING the girl
Miss C!emrne Ellis. superintendent OF the
Door Of Hope Mission. appeared as the
complainant against Walsh. The girl was
| in court wearing \ gold ring. which she
said was to have been her wedding ring. In
addition. she wore a brooch OF rhinestones.
which. she said. had been given to her by
! her prospective husband. and that he had
said the Jewels We're diamonds.
According to Miss Ellis. Walsh applied at
| the Door OF Hope Mission last winter for
assistance. He was in destitute circrm-
stances. His cork leg. which he had been
using for many years. won him sympathy.
SO he was fe0 and clothed lie told a sor-
rowful, repentant story OF a sinful life. and
! said he had been Catholic. but wanted to
become a Protestant He was provided for
at the Stanwix Hotel. Sixty-fifth street
and Third avenue. at the expense of the
mission, and he was instructed In the
quirements of Professionalism. He impressed
| all at the mission as teing exceptionally de-
vout.
Gave Him . Coed Home.
One day Miss Ellis received letter from
Mr.. Stanton, at Preston Conn. He wanted
the services Of some worthy young man to
do light work around his place. Miss Ellis
| says she thought Immediately Of Walsh,
| SO be was sent to take the position. Living
stanton. Mrs. stanton's father and mother.
Rhoda Stanton and her sister Abbie.
Walsh became popular with the family at
once, being devout. respectful and attentive
1t was not long. however. before he be-
gam making love to Rhoda. II was done
She says she pitied the young man. because
| Of his cork leg and his other misfortunes.
She returned his love. but dared not speak
Lest there should be suspicious. Walsh was
all this time telling to the other members
OF the family the story OF his sweetheart In
New York, named Rachel. He and Rachel
/ expected to be married as soon as he could
get money enough TO take care Of her. He
talked often Of her: and Rhoda says the
| faithfulness to his absent sweetheart.
Meanwhile. the cork leg began TO wear
out. Walsh complained that r pained HIM.
| day. pressed $50 into his hands. told him
| to come to New York and get a new leg.
| stanton home then. but stili wearing the
| old leg. He said he had found q woman
4 relative dying of consumption. had bought
The young man was told that he was
| good Samaritan for such usefulness and
he was pEaised accord,nsiy
About two weeks ago Walsh complained
again of the old leg. Mr.. Stanton found
that a good cork leg could be purchased for
SO. so he was going to send Walsh to New
York again. but this time Miss Ellis was
to buy him the leg. The man objected. He
wanted 70 buy the leg hi9seif; he said. and
should buy 1t for him
Rhoda sympathized with Walsh. On Tues
day she went to her fathers office in Nor
80 for Walsh's leg. The money was given
TO her at once. and she hurried back to her
that that she immediately coilectsd about 800
around the house. dressed herself in her
best clothes and then stole away with
Walsh. The couple came to New York on
1ish vic n's' ''a'" 'ne' e00'' ea''n Ut N
The family at Preston was sorely dis
the newspapers got hold Of the story. 1t
appeared In a New York paper on Thurs
day When Walsh saw the story he sat
down and wrote the following letter to
Dear Mrs. stanton-My dear wife and
had a good laugh this morning when We
Of me. but l guess that by now you are
aware that two can play at that game.
You never treated Rhoda or your father or
love her more for that simple reason than
anything else. What I said in regard to
oysd 9 eR dS thew sy the @e
you receive this note We will be man and
how we got away. Why didn't you give the
police our right description? Perhaps they
might have found US then. New York Is
go. We are happy and consented. 30 do not
worry about u.s. We are ENJOYING ourselves
now with that money: After that is spent I
we shall ever be dependent upon you or
your father. We DO not wish to 1--we In
50 sss am ee g
sorry for Abbie. aud hope she will forgive
US. She and her father are the only ones
we care anything about.
I defy you 20 find U.S. YOU need not
hunt. I have many FRIENDS in New York. at
whose homes we shall be welcome. Inclosed
Afser you have read this letter. please have
II printed in all the papers in New York
Why did You not send that photo? They
cooled of we will write and give you our
address. At present you may address let
'e How the Police Caught Them.
This letter was sent to Miss Ellis. She
asked the assistance Of the police here
GetecllVeS were ttsuOntV 10 Watcn tfic
house of some relatives Walsh claimed to
have In One Hundred and Tenth street
On Saturday evening the couple was seen
to enter the house. Walsh being identified
easily by his iimr When Walsh and the
girl left the house detectives followed
them to the Church of the Blesse1 Sacra-
ment TIE girl went in. leaving Walsh
outside. When she came out the detectives
arrested both OF them.
The girl told the magistrate that she had
expected to become married to Walsh at
once upon leaving hcrne. but she had been
told that Walsh was Catholic and that
in order to marry him she must renou,,e
her Protestant fail and become Catholic
herse.f SIZE did not know t.at Walsh had
renounced Catholicism last winter. She was
making preparations for the remuneration
whom she was arrested.
The Magistrate turned the girl over to
the Children's Society Wals, was held In
0oe bail on the k'dnscing charge. and
the Stanton girls father was sent for to
make additional charges sgainst Walsh.
FLORAL EMBLEMS FOR REUNION