Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-30
From a la,e London paner.


CPutt Treatment Of Parish .4ppreHtices.
.hurder. At the Old Bailey, on Friday last, on
the trial of Esther Hbner the elder Esther Iibner
her daughter, and Ann Robinson, their servant Tor
the wful murder of Frances Copitt, child ten wears
Of ngc, system of most arocOus cruelty and oppres-
sion cxpnscd, to which siuce October last the
deceased md several other children, parish apprent-
ces, had been subjected 1t appeared upon the trial
that The deceased was of number of pauDer chill
drcn, apprenticed To the elder Hibner bv the over
seers oil st. Martins parish, TO learn the business of
tambour working. The prisoners were nrrairned on
the verdict OF the coroncrs jury for having produced
the death OF the deceased, by starvation and other
cruel and violent treatment. The deceased and the
other children were not allowed suIicicncy of food
their food for the day frequently consisted of only
slice OF bread and cup Of milk and water; a: OF her
times. when the elder prisoner said they had not earn
ed their breakfast, they were allowed few potatoes
III the middle Of the day and nothing more till the fol-
lowing morning; nine pounds Of potatoes were the
allowance for the family which consisted Of twelve
persons, They were allowed fresh meat only once
fortnight They often cried for food and frequent
~ picked It from tub III which refuse was kent for
the pig They were compelled to rise to begin work ut
three and four lnthe morning. and were kept at work
I'LL eleven at night sometimes two IN the morning
and sometimes all night. They had scarcely INV bed
10 lie and frequently, during the most nclepent
season. their resting place was the oorino and their
only covering was an Ole rug They were not al
lowed 70 go out Tor air or exercise, and Sundays
they were locked up in the Kitchen the windows Of
which were closed The deceased by this treatment
was reduced 10 such deplOrablc condition that her
icct mortified, and tins, with te bursting of an nh
gees IT the lungs brought on by abusive treatment
occasioned her death. The younger IIibuer had ia
ken the deceased from the frame az which she yns
worknA though IN Il state Of extreme illness knock
! cd her dOwD, then lifted her up and knocked her
down again. The deceased, when she could hardly
crawl about the house, was told by the younger Hib-
ncr TO wash the stnlr9 and not being able TO do this
she was logged vith cane aud rod, and then scpt
down again TO perform the task when hovino yge,
tho stairs from being unable 20 10 the proper place
The younger lllbner put The chd's nose and face in
II, and afterwards plunged her head into n nail al
water; the prisoner Robinson, who was STANDING bv
encouraged witness 60 commit this violence. and
aid, Course her do aguin and that will finish nor
The medical gentlemen who examined tho BODY, ne.
cbcd the death Of tho deceased TO want Of air and
exercise and the improper treatment she had recev.
Ell The Judge ~ summing up, told the jury TINT Il
they were OF opinion that death had been occasioned
Ivy the general treatment which the deceased had re
cciycd- The verdict must be against the elder pris
onor, but that IT they thought tho immersion Of the
. chlds head ~ cold water had been the cuuss
OF It, the verdict must be against the Younger Hib
ner and Robinson. The jury, after consulting 10
. gether TOR on hour, rctupned verdict OF Ouiifv n
ganst the elder prisoner and acquitted tho other o
Mr.. Baron Garrow passed sentence upon the eide,
thbner, after commenting upon her crime and IN,
IS WretchCd womun was ordered % be executed NJ
L Monday. The conduct Of the wre'ched criminal in
Tie interim between bof sentence and execution
y was callous and unfeeling beyond description. Sh,
would not be induced 10 say single prayer or Z,
n"E"us sIghics' preparation ~ death AID 'lc On