The New York herald., 1921-07-10
WAR nurse MOTHER
Brings FREEDOM TO
DAUGHTER in TOMBS
Girl Stole Because No One
Loved Her or Provided
for Her Needs.
THOUGHT PARENT DEAD
Had Been Told So by Her
Father, Who Took New
Wife Into His Home.
WARDEN OBTAINS BOND
I'll Never Go Wrong Again,
Says Girl as She Is Adj
mitted to Bail.
WARDEN OBTAINS BOND

IN the Tombs last Thursday on a
larceny complaint. She admitted she
took $40 worth of wearing apparel
and jewelry from a nurse at the Man
haitian State Hospital on Wards
Island because she never had any
one to lover her or provide for her
since her mother died several years
ago
Yesterday he girl entered the visitors
office in the Tombs in response to
Warden John j. Hanley's summons
He sent word some one wanted to see
her. The girl glimpsed at woman
staring at her with wide eyes. Then
she cried:
Mother. Mother! Father told me
you were dead"
With tears streaming down her
cheeks the woman took the girl In her
arms. While the reunited pair sobbed
Warden Ianley. in the background
dabbed his own eyes.
The girl was Edna r. willsey. who
was brought back from Bath. N. Y. on
the larceny charge. and whom many
persons have sought to befriend since
she made her first misstep.
Served ms Nurse Overseas.
The mother was Mrs. Agnes Willsey,
who served throughout the war as Red
Cross nurse overseas, and who has been
searching for her daughter since she re-
turned from France.
Mrs. Willsey was separated from her
husband at Owsgo. n. Y. six years ago.
Edna was left with Mrs. wiIlsey
parents. After she enlisted in the Red
Cross. Mrs. Willsey said. her husband
returned TO Owego with another wife.
According to Edna he told her that her
real mother was killed In France Un-
able TO live in the household with her
father and unwilling to stay with her
aged grandparents, she came to New
York. She was a student nurse in the
Manhattan State Hospital on Wards
Island when she committed the theft on
June 2.
Warden Hanley did something yester-
day that oldtimers at the Criminal Courts
BuiLiing say he never has been guilty OF
before. He left the Tombs while on
duty. Hanley hurried to 10 Franklin
street, the office OF the Fidelity Casualty
Company. where he met Harry Lewis.
an agent.
Make out bail bond for $1,000" the
warden directed Don't charge a cent s
premium. I'll tell you why"
Lewis got his partner. Albert Curley.
on the phone. When he heard the story
he ordered Lewis TO make out the bond
as Hanley requested
Judge TaIIey Takes Bnil.
None Of the Judges of General ses-
.sions wac in their chambers when
Hanley next took the bond TO Assistant
District Attorney Lavelle of the Bond
Bureau to have II approved. Somebody
got Judge TalIey at his home. He
heard Hanleys story and in a short
time arrived at the Criminal Courts
Building and admitted Edna to bail.
'I believe your story" Judge Talley
told mother and daughter.
"I'll never go wrong again said Edna.
"All I want Is TO be with mother.
>ihcc Ic.drned from France | have
watched the newspa pers in the hop.
that I might learn something OF Edna 8
Whereabouts the mother said mo
one could tell me where she had gone.
The news OF her arrest was the first
word of her"
Mrs. willsey said she lives at 512
West Forty-second street. After Edna
had been freed the two left together,
presumably for this address Late in
the afternoon the girl telephoned
Warden Hanley.
IF grandpa or grandma should come
down looking for US. tell them where we
are. II you hear from father, don't let
hin, know our address"
When Mrs willsey went to the Tombs
Yesterday and said she was sure her
daughter. Edna, was In custody, Warden
Hanley was not inclined to admit her
20 the prison.
mo. you're mistaken" he said This
girls mother is dead
vislbly excited the woman persisted.
Hsnley relented and brought Edna into
the room 70 test Mrs. willsey's story.
When the girl appeared In General
Sessions Thursday the complainant
against her. Miss Rose Reilly. wanted
TO drop the case. But Superintendent
Hyrnan of the State Hospital insisted on
pressing the charge. Edna and Rose
kissed each other In court.
Detective Cunniff learned this week
that Edna, after leaving the Wards
Island Hospital. went TO Corning. y. Y.
She was lodged in the Steuben county
jail In Bath on suspicion 81 having taken
$3.50 diamond ring and SO In cash.
The charge was not pressed. Warden
Wilson Of the Bath jail became interest
ed IN the girl and he ard his wife took
her into their home Cunnin found Edna
there