Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-21
y ESCAPED LuNATlc, WHITE, AGED
is YEARS. WEEDS NEGRO At
CEDAR RAPIDS.
MAKES TWO ATTEMPTS
TO MURDER HUSBAND
Arrest Of Negro For Theft Of Diamond
From Candidate John r. Hamilton
Results in Startling Revelations Re-
sardins White Wfs-re Be Re-
turned to Asylum at Watsrtown, III.

Cedar Rapids. Oct. 21.-Because
cammeth Baker, negro chauffeur, stole
q 5000 diamond from the homo Of John
I. Hamilton, the police Of Cedar Rap
ids arrested the negro's white girl
wife. She is only Is years old, but she
has history that reads like a stretch
of imagination in the brain of a writer
for sensational Sunday paper. The
theft of the diamond probably was luck
for some person. The girl is incurably
insane, and there is no telling but what
she might have killed some person if
left free in the city. Her negro hus-
band, who lived with her but for few
days twice narrowly escaped being
murdered by her.
The girl whose name is Mary Kene-
efick is not a thief, however. While
investigating the theft of the diamond.
Detective Mcclure arrested the negro
cauffeur. The detective thought that
the black mans wife might know
something about the theft. and so ar
rested her also. While she was being
held in jail for investigation. Mcclure
secured the information which reveals
the girls weird history and her iden-
tity She did not know that her hus-
band stole the diamond but the con-
ficting stories she told when ques-
toned about her identity prompted
Mcclure to investigate.
According to letter received from
the girls mother who is Mrs. Flora
keneefck. of Atlanta. Ga, the girl
committed an act which resulted in
her being confined in the reformatory
in Geneva, Ill. From this institution
she escaped, and Went to Joliet, H.,
where she was arrested. When Off
GERS tried to take her back to Geneva,
she became SO violently insane that the
officers had to use handouts and leg
irons to get her back.
Escapes Again.
Later she was committed 10 the in
sane asylum in WATERFOWL, Ill. AL
though she was locked up and watched,
she managed to escape from the asy-
lum about month ago. 1t is evident
that Immediately after escaping from
the asylum from Watertown, she came
10 Cedar Rapids because she had rela-
tives here.
In Cedar Rapids Mary keneefick did
not try to find her relatives. She Sc
cured a position as telephone girl for
French Perkins, colored, who has
carpet cleaning establishment west of
Cedar Rapids. Then she became ac-
quainted among colored men. The
girl boosted that one of her ancestors
was negro. The police have learned
that this is untrue. she comes from a
very respectable white family.
Finally she became acquainted with
(.ammeth Baker, negro chauffeur who
intends TO ask for immediate sentence
for stealing the $500 diamond ring
She married Baker week ago last
Monday.
Tries to Kill Husband.
Although Baker lived with his white
girl wife but few days. he had oc-
casion TO suspect that she was in
sane. On abou, the second night after
their marriage, he awoke and was ter
rified Standing near his bed and
bending over him with long knife
in her hand was his white wife. She
told him that she wanted to kill him.
Baker orerpowered her and got the
knife without being injured. She Also
tried to kill him on another occasion.
Friday Baker was arrested for steal
ing the diamond. A few hours later
his wife was arrested. When inter-
viewed by Chief Burgin and Detec-
tive MCGUIRE the girl showed cum
ming which indicated that she had been
in the hands of the authorities before.
She denied knowing anything about
the theft. Also. she pretended that she
was very penitent over the marriage
with the negro. and asked to be al
lowed to 20 to her mother. Her stories,
however, were conflicting and the police
could get no definite idea as to the
places she lived at during the past year
For this reason she was held in jail
and Detective Mcguire conducted his
Investigations.
The Investigations resulted in the
finding Of the address of the mother.
The mother wrote that her daughter
escaped from an asylum. She said
that she was not in position to take
care Of the insane girl at present, but
would try to make some arrangement
soon Then telegram was received
from the insane asylum at WATERFOWL,
ILL.,. and in this the superintendent Of
the asylum asked that the police hold
Mary Keneefick until the asylum Off
GERS come to Cedar Rapids to take her
back to WATERFOWL. The officers from
Watertown are expected to arrive In
Cedar Rapids today.
The girl appears rational most OF
the time. At intervals she means. No
one, however, would consider her
violently insane. It has been learned.
however that at times she goes into
! fit of insanity and becomes dangerous.
ENGINEER MANNED FOR LIFE.