Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1909-11-30
CHILD ADRIFT
SEEKS SISTER
Pathetic Plight of Fourteen
Year Old Winifred O'COnner,
Who Came From Camden
SHELTERED BY A
PITYING FAMILY

t'AA W0AAhf WIN NW0 EAnAtAo anu n
brother somewhere, a sister and the
brother presumably residents Of this
city at this time. Winifred O'Conner.
aged IA years. of Camden, n. j.. Is be-
ing temporarily sheltered az the home
of Harry d. Fell, No. 4o5 Tatnall
street
The child came 20 Wilmington from
Philadelphia by boat on Sunday night
in search Of her sister, Lillian O'Con-
ner, who had told her she worked at
Lippincott's store, in this city. and
boarded at Fourth and Market streets
The child was a stranger in the city
and she asked a colored woman to
direct her 10 Fourth and Market
streets. She made inquiries in that
locality for her sister. but without
success. Finally she reached Tatnall
street, and seeing a light streaming
from the window Of the Fell home.
knocked at the door
She asked the oft repeated question
II the family knew Lillian O'Conner.
They did not, and while the child was
telling her story Patrolman Carmine
DiAfare came along He took her 10
the police station where she remained
all OF Sunday night. Yesterday morn
ing she left there again to take up the
search for her sister or brother.
She wandered around the city all day
and made inquiries at many boarding
houses, but she always received the
same discouraging reply. At $50
o'clock the child stood outside Bippin-
colts store and anxiously peered into
the face of every girl as she emerged
to go home, and again she was doomed
to disappointment She asked them
in the store II they knew Lillian
OConner, and was crushed by the
reply. mo girl by that name has
worked here for two years." she was
told.
Taken in by the Fells.
The child walked away and several
tears ran down her cheeks. but she
tried to be brave. Her weary feet
carried her TO Fourth and Tatnal
streets. and there she stood on th'
corner. She was near the home o
the Fells, where she had heard tn
first kind word for a long time. an
she was loath TO leave the spot
Thinking perhaps Of her dead fathe
and mother and OF her lonely exist
ence the child unable longer 10 con
troll her feeling, burst into tears Sh
was weeping as if her heart woul
break when Edward Fell. the nine
n year.old son Of the Fell family dis
covered her He ran back to tn
house and told his mother that tn
little girl who had been to the hous
the night before was at the corne
CRYING. Mrs. Fell took pity on tn
child and took her into the house an,
there she is now, waiting for her siste
to find her.
The child unfolded a sad story to
reporter. for THE EVENING JOUR
NAL when he called at the Fell housl
to-day. She said her mother had beei
dead for three years and that he
father died some time before. Sh'
and her brother. William O'Conner
had boarded with Mrs. Maggie Doris
at No. 400 Stevens street. Camden, bu
the brother left there last Friday pre-
sumably 10 come 20 Wilmington. ShI
said she had another sister besidl
Lillian. but does not know where sh'
Is.
Kept Over Night by Police.
Lillian was up to see me last sun
day a week. and gave Mrs. Doris s
and said she would send moro none.
the following week and also come al
before Christmas and bring me som
clothes" said the little girl. "She di'
not send the money and when brothe
left ] was alone with Mrs. Doris. Sh
said that Isdid not do my work righ
and If I didn't do better she woul
not wait for me to leave. but woul
kick me out OF the house. I coul
not stand that and left TO come {
Wilmington to find my sister"
Winifred said when she wrote TO he
sister she always sent the letters
the postoffice here where her siste
called for them The whereabouts {
the sister is mystery. No sue
name appears in the directory.
Mrs. Fell said to-day that she woul
like 70 keep the child. but she is ur
able to do so. She cannot understan
why the police turned the girl out {
the police station yesterday mornin
after she had spent the night Their
knowing that she was a stranger an
was lost without means.
Humane Agent Frank Stout wi
probably be called into the case IN n
, event the child's brother or sister al
not found.
wmifred came to Wilmington scan
fly attired, and she suffered consider
ably from the cold.
; - rw-wrrr