Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1883 — MARY CHURCHILL. [ARTICLE]

MARY CHURCHILL.

The Leng-Lost St Louis Girl Discovered in an Insane Asylum in Indianapolis. She Consents to Pay Her Family a Short Visit. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Mary Churchill has at length been solved by the discovery and complete identification of the missing girl in Indianapolis. The circumstances of the girl's disappearance are, briefly, as follows: dn the evening of Aug. 19 last Mr. and Mrs. James O. Churchill returned from a drive to their home at 2737 Morgan street, St. Louis, to discover their daughter Mary missing. A careful search revealed the fact that she had taken only the clothing worn at the time, and no money other than the few dollars her purse contained. Detectives were immediately employed. Circulars tfere sent to all police headquarters and detective agencies in the land. Dramatic agencies were notified and the minutest search made for the missing girl in every city in the country. Churchill was a Wealthy merchant and spared no expense to discover the whereabouts of hisphild, but to no purpose. She was but 16 years old, had been reared in luxury, and there was no reason which could suggest itself to the minds of her friends why she should have left her home, and the gravest apprehensions were entertained for her safety. It was reported that the gffthad been found murdered in New Mexico; and a detective was dispatched to the scene of the tragedy only to find that the victim was not the miss'ng girl. Similar reports were run down with like results in all parts of the country. One day, not long ago, Col. Churchill received a letter from his daughter dated at Indianapolis, Indicating that she was at the time in that city and in good hands, but would immediately leave, and that search for her would be useless. Detectives were immediately sent to Indianapolis. The attention of Superintendent Fletcher, of the State Hospital for the Insane, was attracted to a description of the missing girl in a city paper, and he was struck with the remarkable closeness with which it answered the appearance of a domestic at the asylum. The girl came to the asylum about the Ist of September and asked for employment. She was told that there was none to be had for her about thq hospital, at which she burst into tears, and evidenced the bitterest disappointment. Superintendent Fletcher was so taken with the girl’s appearance and actions that he made a* place for her in the ironing department of the hospital Where she has since been employed. When she presented herself at the hospital she had with her a copy of the life of Marie Antoinette, and pursued such a course of reading, preferring classical works, books on Grecian mythology and the like, that, the Superintendent was convinced from the first that there was a history connected with the girl and has allowed her every privilege. She gave her name as Jennie Lockwood. —k When permitted to practice at the piano she played the most difficult classical music, and her conduct in every particular was such as to strengthen the suspicion of the Super-! tendent that Jennie Lockwood, the ironing; girl, was the possessor of a superior education and the petted child of wealthy parents. The description of Mary Churchill falling under his observation, he at once noticed the similarity, and, without approaching the girl on the subject, notified the police. Thomas J. Gallager, of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, then called at the asylum and identified the girl fully, and with her consent her parents were notified. Col. Churchill went to Indianapolis and met his daughter at the Spencer house, the meeting being a most affecting one. Strange to say, the young lady positively refused to return to her home for permanent residence, but left in company with her father to pay a brief visit to her mother. Her lust words in leaving the city were to Dr.. Fletcher, whom she adjured to keep her place for her, for she would return. She assigned no reasons for her actions, but says she can earn her own living, and proposes to do so.