Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-16
S1,374 RETURNED
IN AN old THEFT
Death Bed Confession of Man
at IA Results in Restitu-
tion to Woman.

Chicago, Ill, April 16-Twenty-two
years ago Thomas Connolly, a yard
man at the Palmer house, stole jewel
~ valued at $500 and, when dying in
the county hospital one year ago, he
left a letter confessing the crime
which resulted in the probate court
yesterday allowing Mrs. Jane Gallag-
her McCauley S1,374S4, representing
the amount of stolen property, with
interest from the time Of the theft.
Judge Charles c. Cutting, in allow
inE this claim, said that Connelly's
letter was probably the most remark
able document that ever has been be-
fore the court After stealing the
money Connolly began to prosper, and
at the time of his death had Sl,577
sewed in his clothing and nearly
S1,SOO in a safe deposit box. He kept
track Of Mrs. McCauley, who at the
time OF the theft was a maid employed
by Mrs. George Eddy, who now lives
at 1852 Sheridan road.
/ When he realized that death was
near. Connolly wrote TO Rev. Francis
X Barth, pastor of st. Patricks Ro-
. man Catholic. churGhu q. EseanAhas,
Mich, stating that he had traced Mrs.
. McCauley to that city and asking the
/ priest TO see that restitution be made.
/ His letter is that of an ignorant man
and was as follows:
Chicago, Jan. 29, 1912.-Rev. Father
Barth: say your name in a paper
from Michigan and I now ask for Gods
saks to help a poor dying sinner.
am looking for a laddy her maiden
name was Jane Gallagher and / found
out that she married a Patrick Nc
Cauley and moved TO Escanaba. She
had brother in law living here and
( ust TO wash windows for him and
asked him where the pirty sister went
and he told me TO Escanaba but father
tnis man was a professand and eng
lishman so l could not tell him my
story for 1 am a irish and my name
is Thomas Connolly. am 72 years old
and want to make myself rit with God.
the reeson I want TO find this laddy is
( stole about $50 worth OF fine juleTy
from her bout 20 years ago. also
stole a butiful prayer book. / sold the
julery and got some goods and started
70 peddle and made money and now
am dying and want 20 pay back this
money for / sold all her things only
her prayer book and I saved it is bon
, IN gold and her name is inside like
this Anna Jane Gallagher from Mary
L. Purdy. Dec. 25, 1880.
This is in side Oh the book now
father for Gods sake try and find this
! laddy. father / have suffered for al
my signs and am living like paupel
in a Van Buren lodging house and
have $500 save in my under ware try
ing 10 save il for this laddy. made
every cent Of this money out of hel
things / stole and have paid every
thing back ever stole and want tC
pay this laddy her money for her jul
b cry. everyone hear thinks / am
pauper but if di call they can doc il
find the money. They can pay for th'
Z funeral and all the rest / want TO g
% Anna Jane Gallagher.
now father try and find this ladd!
Snd address my letter 10 the Chicago
( postoffice general delivery Rev. fathe
= will pay you we'll for your truble
p This laddy ] ask you TO find is tai
with braun wavy hare and blue eye
= and fare as o lily when I last see1
70 her she was beautiful and she oftel
/. gave me a good meal when wa
hungry and father that is the reasol
q { want TO pay her for God knows ar
: sorry for what ( done and try an
. find this laddy for II she was pade
o could die IN peace. Of corse 1 cOul
fever pay her for her things wer
beautiful and / don't think she woul
take any money for them but she ca
have this $500 have and hop
- she will forgive me and I hope Go
will father for Gods sake doc hel
me. will close and hope TO hea
/, from you soon. I will die a paupe
and fast for my sin and may so
J. bless you father and help me find thi
= girl till see her pade before die.
THOMAS CONNELLY.
y father this is a good irish name an
J. wish never brought shame on it.
, lie Roy Hackett represented MI
't McCauley IN making claim 70 III
$ money Mrs McCsuley states that {
L the time OF the theft she never coul
G form any theory as 10 how her !ewe
: ~ disappeared