The Washington times., 1906-04-07
Child Declares Father
Made Her Dig, Cook,
and Wash.
HANDS HARD AS MANS
Tells Matron Patron and
Paramour Twice Stole
Her.

With her hands hardened and call
loused by the toll to which she had
been forced. and with tears and sobs
alternating with a very winning smile,
little Mary Sidler, held at the House of
Detention on the order of her father,
told her story this morning to re-
porter for The Times.
When she was arrested at the Penn
syIvania station late yesterday after
noon she was making her way to
Bowiesville. Md, where her mother
lives. The girl is ten years old
Must Sue to Get Her.
AT the offices of the Board OF Chill
dren's Guardians this afternoon. II was
said positively that the child would
not be returned to her father. except
on the mandate of a court with COM
petent authority. The child's story has
impressed the officers OF the board as
the entire truth.
The father. John Sidler, is expected in
the city today. The mother has also
been notified of her daughters presence
here.
The unaccustomed kindness with
which she had been treated had served,
evidently, TO melt the girls heart and
she hung upon the matronS skirts and
looked up for protection into the ma
iIbii , eyes dS Slt icpSdlcO icA NiohbS.
Parents Are Separated.
Father and mother have been sepa-
rated for five years.. said the child,
and 1 have always lived with mother.
Last Fourth of July father stole me
away. but after six weeks l managed
so get away from him. and my brother
sent me back home I lived then with
my mother, near BowiesviIie, until two
weeks before Christmas.
Then father came again--in the
night Edna Duvall, who has left her
own husband TO live with him, was
dressing to 20 out. Before l knew they
Nvere anywhere about. father and Edna
Duvall came in. They caught me Up,
took me out TO buggy, and Edna held
me while father drove across TO the
river. At the river landing he turned
the horse loose and we took the boat
for Alexandria There we stayed a
week. At the end of that time we
moved to Wilmington, and just outside
of that city We have been staying ever
since.
Father was very mean to me lie
beat me often. and Edna would beat me
in the morning and light the fire for
breakfast. I had 20 wash all the clothes
and / worked in the garden
Hands Hard as Mans.
The child held out her hands. in mute
explanation OF her story They were
As hard as those of a man who tolls
all day with pick and shovel.
Day before yesterday father told me
20 rake off the lot. which had been
plowed. and where he was going to
plant q garden. When he came home
he said ] had not raked IL right and he
beat me with a stick. He made this
place on me, and this
The child showed two bruises. one on
her forehead, and the other on the
back of her neck The matron said
there were other bruises on her body
Then 1 decided to run away" con-
tinued the girl Yesterday morning
father had gone 20 work and Edna
went to the store When father stole
me away from mother. ! had $40. which
I had made by selling a calf Father
took that. and / took S1O from him. I
took IL from his trunk He had So
there. but / took only what was mine
Money Belonged To Her.
Then ] got on the trolley car and
went TO Wilmington and from there, on
the train, 10 Washington. When L got
off the train at the station a gentleman
stopped me and brought me here"
The child was arrested by Detective
Hartlgan. who had been assigned to the
case by Captain Boardman. AT the re-
quest of the father. The request had
been made by wire from Wilmington.