The Washington herald., 1909-03-10

northeast. driven almost frantic by recent
knowledge Of suffering and brutal treat
ment endured by ehis eight-year-old
daughter. will to-day claim the child
whom he gave away more than two
months ago to a man who forced her to
support him and a woman by begging.
Florence Speakman. eight years old. the
little girl who has been forced by a
Fagan TO lead a miserable existence since
she was given away. is3ow in the care Of
the American Salvation Army in Balti-
more. The father will leave here to-day
TO claim the child and bring her home
with him.
Frank Mcdonald. alias Adams, who
was intrusted with the care Of the Speak
raan girl by her father. was sentenced in
Baltimore 10 two years in jail. Mrs Bar
bara Mcdonald, alias Adams. is locked up
IN the Western police station in Balti-
Iaore to await further hearing. Nc
DONALD says his wife opposed his treat
ment Of Florence Speakman and was not
70 blame for the child's suffering
Edward Speakman says he had no idea
his daughter would 5e subjected TO the
treatment she received. He is the father
OF two other daughters. who are being
cared for ar the American Salvation
Army home in this city. speakman says
he is determined 10 obtain his daughter s
release, and bring her to Washington
VIII Claim the Child.
The girl was given in charge OF the
Society for tie Protection OF Children
when the police heard her story, after the
arrest Of Mcdonald The child was then
given to the American Salvation Army.
and the army's representatives in this
cley Iefl here iast nisht 10 claim the girl.
According TO advices received by Mai.
Smalley. Of the American Salvation Army,
the Baltimore authorities Of the army de-
eIined TO release the child. Speakman
was informed Of this by a reporter for
The Washington Herald
Il viii go TO law, II necessary. 10 get
my daughter back" he said II gave her
TO Mcdonald because he told me his
daughter died from the bursting Of a
blood vessel when she accidentally
swallowed q nickel lie said he was a
travelling man. and wanted a child to
stay with his wife when he went away on
business trips.
He went 70 the American Salvation
Army Home in this city to find a child
and when he saw Florence he came to me
and asked me for her. I would not give
up my daughter, bat he bounded me for
five weeks. The girls mother is dead,
and took my three daughters from the
Washington Orphan Asylum and placed
them IN charge OF the American Saliva
tion Army until could start home
again.
"McDonald kept after me He followed
me here TO my work. and hung around
for hours. arguing and pleading for the
girl He brought mis- wife with him. and
she pleaded for the girl. saying she was
lonesome after the death OF her own
child
Promised Good Home.
Mrs. Mcdonald. as I knew her. ap-
peared to be kind and a motherIy wom-
an. She was pretty and about twenty
seven years old. Mcdonald was about
forty-seven. They took me to house
at 123 A street northeast. and said It was
their home where Florence would live
with them II gave her to them The
house was nicefS furnished, and a good
home
They promised TO send the child 20
school, see that she received medical
treatment. and do things for her which
I could not do. and so. after they had
kept at me for five weeks, gave in and
told them they could have the child.
"She left the American Salvation Army
Homo and went TO live with them at the
house in A street. 7 went TO see her
there every day and Mcdonald and his
wife appeared to like the child. One
day, about two months ago. I went to
the house, and Mcdonald. his wife, and
Florence had disappeared. I did not re-
port the affair TO the police. but trusted
TO Mrs Smalley to find my daughter.
Then followed the arrest Of Mcdonald
and his wife in Baltimore. and the find
ing OF Florence. I intend to have her
back, and I am going 10 do everything
IN my power 10 regain possession Of my
daughter. They say some benevolent
persons have decided to take charge OF
be in a position TO do that myself in a
short time.
Tragedy of Young Life.
Inc STORY lOiu Dy tiOrence SpeakTnan
reads like a romance from Hugo or Dick
ems. It is tale Of suffering on the part
OF little child that seems almost impos-
slble IN these days OF police protection
and organized charity. The truth OF the
chid's story was admitted by both Nc
Donald and his wife.
L deals with the brutal treatment OF
a child who lost her mother when an in
fant who was placed in a Washington
orphanage. and later taken to the home
OF the American Salvation Army. where
she was turned over to Mr.. and Mrs.
Mcdonald.
Teaching her to beg. they visited sew
eral large cities, living on the results Of
her work. After operating in one town,
they would move on TO the next, so as 10
avoid arousing the suspicion Of the po-
lice or organized charities. They had