The evening world., 1905-07-29
GIRL LIVED IN
The PARK FOR
THREE MONTHS
Pretty Isabel Cowan Existed
Like a Savage Among
Birds and Squirrels.

Isabel Cowan, the hfteen-year-old
girl who lived for three months like a
savage in the depths OF Central Park,
was arraigned in the Children's Court
to-day. Since she was captured by De-
tective McManus there has been a great
| change for the better In her appearance.
In n clean new frock she looked almost
Jaunty.
From what I have been tolc of you."
said Justice Mexican, II believe it
would be to your best interest to send
you to an institution. I am told by
your guardian that she is afraid she
would have no control over you IL l
SHOULD allow YOU to go free. The House
Of Mercy is the best place for you, and
you must remain there until the Sisters
are convinced that you lave mad up
your mind to be a good and obedient
girl"
The girl was found yesterday after q
search which had continued since the
first of last May. and which had en-
ga ged the attention of the entire Police
Departn. mt She looked more animal
than human when found. with her
heavy hair matted about her head. her
garments hanging on her wasted body
in shreds. half starved. half mad, know
ing only how to run when capture was
threatened.
Victim Of Fiend's Drug.
This girl-and a beautiful girl she was,
too-before a tragedy came Into her life.
The latter part of last April, when,
motherless. she fell into the hands OF
some designing man. who CAV her
lr.r-. Ia ,LA Ia,,xhta~ a fhA 1ata
d. elk" Cowan, who. a score of years
asp. was q prominent newspaper editor
N this city.
Jack" Cowan made good money, but
he spent 1t in good living. in having a
good time. There were several children.
put they all died but one, and then
came the death of his wife. leaving
Cowan to care for their little three
year-old daughter. Isabel. Cowan died
tweive years ago, and little Isabel was
adopted by Mrs. Jean lley. OF No. TO-
~o.u.iIous avenue
she was as good a girl as there Is
N Inc word" SAID .lrs. Riley TODAY,
as she told OF Isabel. "IAen, a..e.
sac veeaine proncient IN musicals pro-
ncIent. at least. as a g!rI OF her aSe
could be expected TO Ue-she maze
friends Of wnom 1 uid not approve.
1t was the latter part OF April that
| lSuptl SAAOh GU Az AAiuI SiC Was
ing me. She was invited TO a chiidrenis
panty neXt door, and | thought she
Vas there. she did not come home
until next morning. and then l dis
Colonial dance hail by some man. she
mad met"
Il believe she had been drugged."
continued the foster mother. However,
/ took her in and did nv best to com
fort her. she was so Young and 30
pretty in her Innocence;
peared. and / knew that she had gone
to toin that man. whoever he was. !
went to the Colonial dance hall anda
nhsFf Isabel sfW ran nf from oa the ea hall. r fas"' was as
Isabel went 70 a fruit stant and tried
no mother b y 'rH Then sh re- saw u t H. ht She ''s Wss
being watched and with n faint srrepm.
she started G?r the Park. For four
blocks the girl ran, the man following.
Manus and Short. of the West One Hun.
dredth street station, saw the little
bundle Of rags skimmlng along Central
which continued far into the Park. The
girl was about to dive into a thlcket.
where she would have been almost safe
from capture, when McManus laid his
strong hand on her.
Ashamed to Go Home.
Don't take me- .home:'' she burs. out.
trembling VIOLENTLY: Il would rather
live here, ] am ashamed 10 70 honn "
The girl was taken to the station
She ate r~lvenously. and In a quiverine
voice and with hating speech she toiS
her stor". ~
Tina; fruit man is the first person
who mas heard tho sound OF my voice
IN all these months l have been hiding
in tic Park most of the time. some
times At night l would steal over Ia
Riverside Park, and opce or twice i
bathed in the river IN a secluded spot.
Usually, though. ! bahhed in one of
them after the policemen had disap-
How did l eat? Well, the picnic
parties ioawe lots TO- eat u the park
Then | stole milk from the doorways
of houses and once l was so hungry
that | stole a loaf of bread from IL
passing. bakers wagon. One will steal
I'm the daytime I would keep in the
thickets. AWAY from the places wher
the police go. If / saw a policeman
coming | knew the hiding places so
well that 1t was easy for me to conceal
"sonetlmes at night 1t was very cold.
sspeSir,ny when IL rained; And l Eot
and they were afraid OF me,
Shields Villains Name.
don't want 10 go home!" the child con.
'luded. u am afraid. / am ASHAMED
to face. my fostor-mother"
man who. had drugged her and lured
her from home.
"'Th:lt ! will, not tell" she said. for
the ne%o Grst ,f Iime s f%hispl sa,ys. . slp,rdit' ana nj Will ~
questioning could dmw tae secret from
her.