Evening star., 1915-11-21
GIRL IS LOCKED Z
YEARS |N0NE ROOM
Although % Years Old She
Weiqhs But 81 Pounds When
She Is Found.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

EASTON, Md, November 20.-Grace
Marshall. twenty-eight years old, who
for the last twelve years had been kept
a prisoner in a small room in the house
of her father, Frank Marshall. near
st. Michaels, has been taken from her
fathers home and placed with her aunt,
Mrs. NJ H. James. When the girl was
found by Miss Emma Davies. agent OF
the Children's Aid Society Of Maryland.
she was clad only in her underclothes
and was a mere skeletoh. weighing ohiS
fifty-seven pounds.
1t is reported that when Grace Mar
shall was sixteen years old she had as
an admirer young man to whom her
parents objected. To keep her from
seeing this man her parents locked the
girl in a small room. She escaped from
the room, however, and jumped from
the second story of the house. Her leg
was broken and she was carried back
to her ROOM Her leg was set, but i'm
nroner1v and is now four inches short
er than the other.
Locked in Small Room.
Since she recovered from the injury
Grace Marshall had never been allowed
prison. Her own mother was dead, ana
her stepmother, it is said. always car
ried the kew to Grace's room. She was
allowed to see no one.
Marshall had several other children
but on the death of his first wife tney
were distributed among relatives 70 os
cared for. One little girl was placea
about on Sc Seven or eight years ago this
child died. Her body was prougnt
from Kent Island in a motor boat to
the home of Mr.. Marshall ana as was
buried ,nd from aead thspn ehid was Grace Mar
shall, and it is said this rumor was
never contrad1cted.
Several weeks ago John Hancock OF
Wilmington, Del, an uncle OF Grace
Marshall, visited the Marshalls' home.
He was given a room next to that IN
which Grace Marshall was confined. All
night he was disturbed by means COM
ing from the adjoining room. When
daylight came he made an investiga-
ton. Peering through the closed shut
ters from q second-story porch. Mr.
Hancock saw a girl crawling about the
floor, clad only in underclothes. She
seemed to be searching for crumbs on
the floor and devouring them as she
found them.
Reports Case to Authorities.
Mr.. Hancock said nothing to his
brother-in-law of the discovery he had
made. But he came Immediately to
Easton and reported the case to Miss
Davies Miss Davies went to the Mar
shall home and asked to see the girl,
but was told that no one was allowed
to see her.
Miss Davies returned to Easton and
swore out a writ of habeas corpus, and
armed with this writ and accompanied
| by Deputy Sheriff James A. Cannon,
she went again to the Marshall home
girl to this city. Before she could
move the girl, however. Miss Davies
was compelled to get her complete
outfit of clothing.
deputy entered the room she had never,
| in all her experience as agent of the
| society. seen such pitiful sight. She
said that in the room was an old
| comforts fhe room was small, hav-
| ing only one window, with the shutters
to that closed, and with practically
no ventilation.
Had But Tw9 Meals Day.
In this condition, with comparatively
no clothing on. the girl had been COM
PEELED to spend the last eleven years
amy fire and the summer without much
air. 1t was said, also, that she was
given only two meals a day.
Arriving in Easton. the girl was
taken to the courthouse. The regular
| session for the day having adjourned,
| she, her father and the witnesses in
| the case were taken into the courtroom
and behind locked doors an investiga-
| tion was started.
DR.. Charles F. Davidson, who made
an examination, said the child did not
have two ounces of fat on her body
and that she had barely enough blood
left to keep her alive.
Marshall explained the condition of
the girl by saying he was not able to
send her to a hospital 1t has been
found. however. that he is a man of
considerable means.
The lchild is now at the home of her
aunt, Mrs. NJ. H. James. where she Is
receiving medical treatment.