The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-01
NAMES VARIED CAREER.
A Child of Thunderbolt She Played
Bold Hand.

Miss DeCris has had a varied ca
reer and all parts of It, since she first
became known to Savannahians. has
been marked by deceit, hypocrisy and
worse. Whether with design or merely
from choice. she has always made
more or less mystery of herself, in
regard to her movements, her past life,
and her relatives. In fact in regard to
her kinsfolk she has told so many diff
ferent stories as to make it matter
of extreme difficulty to find out just
who they are.
So far as can be learned from those
who know her best she was born at or
near Thunderbolt of an humble family,
and is one of many children. Her ia
ther was, fisherman He died at
Thunderbolt some months ago. Her
mother and several sisters and broth
ers still live in the old home. One of
her brothers was tried few months
ago on the charge of criminal assault.
Changed Her Family Name.
Mamie DeCris, as she chooses to spell
her name, though 1t is really DeChrist,
began her career in Savannah when
2S and 30. She was employed first by
Mrs. Adam Kessel, where she remain
ed some time before 1t became neces-
sary for her employer to discharge her
because of improper conduct.
A little later she went to Newberry,
8. c., with a former pastor of the
Lutheran Church of the Ascension, and
in his employ she remained for about
a year before she returned to Savan-
nah. In after years she gave 1t out
that the time spent in Newberry was
several years, and that she had been
a student of the college there.
Upon her return she was employed
by Mrs. Quint, and for some time lived
with her at Drayton and Perry streets.
Still later she went to the employ of
Mrs. Donnelly at No. 220 West Broad
street, where she remained for about
two years, but left that place In June,
and since that time until she left for
Atlanta Friday a week ago, was in the
employ of Mrs, Thonnesen on York
street, west.
Claimed High Ancestry.
The story of herself that she was
most fond OF telling, though it has
never been corroborated, is that she
was born in Washington. ID. c., and
that her mother died while she was
yet girl. Her father, she claimed,
married again and her relations with
her stepmother not being very pleasant
she had left the home and was depend
ent upon her own resources for liv-
ing.
For awhile she recognized her moth
er and the remainder of her relatives
at Thunderbolt. but after starting this
other story about her Washington an
cestry she denied any connection with
them whatever and even changed the
spelling of her name by cutting or the
final st."
She still acknowledged her grand
mother, however, and upon the death
of that relative some years ago claimed
that the dead woman had left her a
fortune q some 81. 900, this in spite OF
the fact that her grandmother died in
such destitute circumstances that she
was clothed for burial by the German
Aid Society.
Provided Herself with Fianeees.
She also provided herself with an
imaginary uncle, with various hances.
from time 70 time. and one AT time.
but always managed 10 have them die
before the date set for the marriage.
Such one was the fictitious DR.. ".
n. Hayward Of Washington, who ng~
ured Ia the Atlanta tragedy.
Among the husbands tO-be was q
Baltimore man whom she Killed on
some years $50, and stiii another was
the valet ~ wealthy visitor % ss-
Vannah a few years ago who was
known locally ~ johnny or the spot"
Him. fo0, she killed on ouf Of hafi.
a hayaDnahlan - whom she claimed