The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-10
DALE MATTHEWS'S
IN JAIL THE GIRL TELLS WHAT LED
HER TO COMMIT CRIME.
Her Money Had Given Out, and She
Was Too Proud to Borrow More
from Relatives.

Dale Matthews, the young girl who was
brought here from Marion several days
ago and placed in the Marion county Jail
pending her hearing before the Federal
grand jury charge of raising one-dol-
lar bills, is taking her imprisonment with
the same grit which characterized her at
tempt to escape when placed under arrest
at Marion. She said last night that she did
alter the bills and gave her reasons for
doing so.
She says she was born on q farm about
fourteen miles from Angola, twenty-three
years ago. and was educated at the public
schools. Ten years ago her father died
leaving her mother in almost destitute cir
cumstances. but year or so later her
mother married man named John Quance,
who owns a farm about six miles out of
Angola, and Dale was given the same ad-
vantages she would have received had her
father lived. She was sent to school at An
COLA College. and after four years graduat-
ed from that institution with high honors.
Her expenses at the school were paid by
her relatives with the understanding that
she ways to repay them when she secured a
position as a school teacher. Her mother
advanced her $500 during the four years she
was in school, her stepfather SIS, and an
uncle. Robert Cameron. of Fremont, Ind,
druggist. loaned her $40. After graduating
from the Angola school she secured a DO
sition as country school teacher near
Hamilton, Ind. and for two years taught
school, living with her uncle, Frank Cam
eron, wealthy citizen of Hamilton. The
strain OF teaching Tea hin was too great for her and
the Marion Normal School through the
winter.
HER MONEY GAVE OUT.
When she left her home for Marion she
had SIS. and with that she hoped to pay her
expenses until she could find some position
for afternoon work where she could earn
enough to pay her board and room rent
while she attended the school In the morn
ing. She entered the normal school, paid
her tuition and had a few dollars left with
which to defray her living expenses until
she could obtain employment. Days passed
by and she could find nothing to do. her
money. in the meantime. slowly passing
out of her hands. When she had spent all
OF her funds but the 50. she became des-
perate, and after much hesitation decided
TO commit the act which placed her behind
the bars.
She purchased a bottle of white ink and
with pen drew cipher after the figure
on dollar bill. making il read $40 instead
OF 81. One of these bills she passed at a
dry goods store and the other two were
found in her possession when she was
placed under arrest, She gave the name
of Maude Miller when first taken into
custody by the United States authorities.
but later revealed her identity when she
found that there hope for her
escape. She said last might that she had
cousin. Clyde Carln. who Is an attorney at
Angola. and she believes that IL he can be
communicated with she will be freed When
asked IL she did not realize the seriousness
OF her crime when she was committing it,
she said that she knew IL was wrong but
did not realize how bad IL was. She added
that she desperate and needed money
To complete her education and did not care
to borrow more from her relatives to whom
she was already SO deeply indebted.