Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-14
GIRL REMAINS
TRUE TO CONVICT
because Law Branded George Bow
dlch Is No Reason Why
Should Forsake Him."
She Says
Special to The Herald.


KANSAS CITY, April 13.-Day by
day, from early morning until late at
night, seven days of each week, Miss
Dessa Mott, slender, dark-eyed girl,
frail and sad looking, is working in
little restaurant on East Thirteenth
street, between Main and Walnut
streets, to earn money with which to
establish a home when her sweetheart
Is released from the penitentiary.
George Bowdich, youth who had
but short time ago attained his ma
jority, and Miss Mott. were to be mar
,ried, and the date for tying the nuptial
knot had been fixed. The girl lived
with her widowed mother on Indepen-
dence avenue. Bowdich called at the
house frequently and one evening had
arranged to take the young woman to
theater. She dressed that evening
and fixed herself to look her incest, and
then sat down to wait. The time that
BoWdfch was to be there came around,
but he did not appear. The clock
struck 8 and finally 9, but no sign of
Bowdich. He had been arrested and
was then in jail, but this the girl did
not know until the following day. He
had accepted a set of moving picture
films that had been stolen and the po-
lice took him in for receiving stolen
property.
Money Soon Disappears
Bowdich had some money, but he was
in trouble, and this little hoard was
soon eaten up in attorney fees More
money was needed to fight his case.
Things looked blue for the young man,
but at this juncture the girl bravely
came forward declaring her intention
of earning money with which to free
him. She went to work In the restau-
rant and during her long, tiresome days
of labor worked with ardor. She had
an object in view, and this she never
once forgot. Her diligence attracted the
attention of her employer, and when
she asked to be allowed to work extra
for the little more pay 1t might offer
she was given that privilege. Every
day she called at the county Jail to
offer encouragement and brighten the
spirits OF the man she loved. At the
time OF the trial she had saved $45 from
her earnings. She had skimped, saved
and overtaxed her strength to acquire
that money and had even denied her
self some necessities. but it was with
a spirit of happiness that she gave the
money over to the attorney.
However, Bowdich was convicted and
sentenced to five years in the peniten-
tiary. When the group of shackled and
handcuffed prisoners were taken from
the county jail to go to the peniten-
tiary Bowdich was among them. AT the
Jail door stood pale, thin girl anxious |
ly gazing at the row of prisoners as
they passed out, and waiting for the
appearance of her sweetheart. AS Bow
dich walked past securely fastened to
companion there was a hasty good
by, kiss and. as she pressed coin In
his hand, the march to the patrol
wagon continued.
Back to the Restaurant
The girl turned and walked slowly |
away and a half hour later she was
back to her work in the little restau-
rant and her sweetheart was speeding |
toward Jefferson City.
"I will not forsake him even though |
he Is a convict" she declared yester-
day. "I will even work harder now to
obtain his release. But If he does not
get out before his five years are up
he will find me waiting for him. We
were swethearts, and now while he
needs my encouragement and help the
most 1 will not desert him because he
has been branded by the law and will |
come from the penitentiary bearing the
stigma of the prison"
Miss Mott is II years old and her
lissome figure and girlish features
would mark her as one even younger,
but behind II all there is womanly |
bearing, supported by determination
that determination, the present OBJ
ject of her life, to secure the pardon Of
her sweetheart.