New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-24
POLICE HUNT FOR GIRL.
Represents Herself as Daughter of
German Countess.

Miss Mary Clay, fourteen years old. daughter OF
A. A. Clay, OF Nsrberth. Penn. travelling man,
IS supposed TO be lost somewhere in this city. She
left a school at Auburn y. Y. February 10. The
following day she applied for employment at the
Young Women's Christian Association. No. East
18th street. She sent TO their homo for work
ing girls. at No. 2l2 East 18th street and remained
there for ono day Then she disappeared and has
not been seen since.
There several remarkab BILE stories about the
girl ono Is that she became infatuated with
Mormon who appeared at Auburn seeking con-
verts. Although she is only fourteen years DID,
she appears to be fully eighteen 1t is said that
the girl was filled with desire to do missionary
work.
According to tho story told at the Young Wom-
ems Christian Association, the girl represented her
self Marguerite Won Graf. the uineteen-year-od
daughter of the Countess Won Gran living In
Donna Castle in the Bitten Mountains, Ger
many" The girl lived at Auburn with Mrs. shap-
lev on the day she left Auburn Mics Clay packed a
few things I'm a valise and slipped out OF her home
while Mrs Shapl5y was away. When she arrived
at the Young Womeus Christian Association the
girl had 90 cents. She insisted at the home that
her name Won Gran and not Clay With an
other girl named Priscilla Ewing, Miss Clay went
out walking soon after she arrived At the home.
Her actions that afternoon were told yesterday by
the secretary OF the associations branch IN 4Sth
street ION the way downtown Mary gave Pris-
ella two envelopes size said, which she said
were documents that would prove that she was
The girls later became separated in the crowd Sns
had given the papers to Priscilla TO keep, that
Il she herself should by chance not return To
the home there wo1Id be no question Of her lden-
tty che didn't come back
that they were curious things. They had az the
top OF the page "a rudely drawn crest, with an
arrnoriaI bearing; the paper very old one OF
tho letters was addressed TO MY Dear Mr.. clay
and read something after THIS fashion; I send
ing you my little daughter. Two years old VIII
YOU please take OF her? l hear that you are
not married, but about 70 DO married / am
afraid TO keep the child with me. lest my husband
kill her Take good care OF her. Name her Mary
This letter purpOIted 10 bee cIgued by tho Countess
Gran.
.'1Yle other letter bore a date about a year and
halt subsequent the first, and seemed 20 De an
ackuuU led Smeut from NJ. Clay to the countess 10
the effect that he had taken care o. the child
But last Sunday Mr.. clay arrived. and when ne
saw the letters no said they were written IN dis
Euised hand OF his daughter sheets she had torn
from an old German book that belonged TO MS
mother He said that the story that tho child told
about being the daughter OF the Countess Won Gran
was Identical with one OF the stories IN tae book
belonging 10 her grandmother
Several detectives from ponce Headquarters' pc
Sides two private detectives. are looking for the
Clrl but as yet have no Cew 10 her Whereabouts.
Auburn y Y Feb. 23.-AIary Clay entered the
Auburn Grammar school last September She had
been an inmate OF a local orphan asylum previous
10 that time. Her father IS Alvin A Clay. and II
IS said no had provided for Ler ana a younger
brother IN this city