KinSource - Tale of the Week - A Daughter's Shame

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The (Minneapolis) Evening Journal, December 22, 1885, p. 1

A DAUGHTER'S SHAME.

Her Father Leaves the Illegitimate Child on a Priest's Doorstep.

One of those distressingly sad cases of a daughter's shame and parents' disgrace was brought to light Friday evening when a strange man left a boy infant at Rev. Father McGolrick's residence.

The waif was taken in and cared for. The police were communicated with by a Mrs. Trober, residing at 213 Second street north, relative to a young woman, whose baby was believed to have been carried off by the girl's father.

Putting both circumstances together a clue was obtained to the affair of Friday night. Accordingly Capt. Daly visited the house on Second street and there awaited the coming of the man who was supposed to be the girl's father, and at the same time the one who left the infant on McGolrick's door step. When brought before Chief West and Father McGolrick the man gave his name as C. P. Wilson, a land dealer of Bay City, Mich. He admitted having disposed of the child, and pleaded that no charge be brought against him. He had formerly been a Baptist minister, and the disgrace to which he had been brought quite overcame him. He seemed anxious to care for the child and make all the reparation possible. He is a fine looking man, about 55 years old, and is evidently not accustomed to such grief as now bows his head.

Commencing at the other end of the story, dating from the time when Miss Wilson first arrived in Minneapolis, the facts are as follows: On September 14 a young woman, not over 18 years of age, and of handsome face, applied to Mrs. Trober for a room at 226 Second street north. The woman saw the girl's condition, and at first refused to receive her.

The story of his daughter's ruin and shame is affecting, indeed. When the truth was made known to him he endeavored to keep the world in ignorance of the affair, and thought he might find a home for the child, and at the same time remove traces of the disgrace by leaving the infant to the Sisters to care for.

Finally after pleading earnestly and paying board in advance the girl was allowed to remain. When Mrs. Trober moved to 213 Second street the girl still begged to remain and followed her there. She gave her name as Fannie Williams and continually spoke of being married, but that her husband had been cruel to her, and she had left him. Further information about her people she would not give. Four weeks ago last Wednesday she gave birth to her child. It was during her illness that she was prevailed upon to make known the whereabouts of her father. Accordingly he was telegraphed for at Bay City. He arrived on Friday and that evening while most every one was out of the house he stole away with the child. He seemed to exhibit intense grief at his daughter's misfortune, and desired to leave the city as soon as possible with his daughter.

It is stated in connection with this sad episode that the author of the young girl's ruin is a young man named Barnes and that he is now gone to California, far beyond the law's reach. The girl has been attending school at St. Cloud, and, it is said, became acquainted with Barnes while there. The child is now in St. Paul in charge of the Sisters of that city.