The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-21

I DEATH FROM CRUEL TREATMENT.-Consider
able excitement was produced in this city DUR
ing Yesterday and the previous day, growing out
\ of report that colored girl, who had for some
time previously lived in the house of free col
ored man named Ignatius Adams, not far from
the Railroad depot, had come to her death ey
cruelty and inhuman treatment. In consequence
of these rumors and the representations of many
respectable citizens residing near the dwelling
| of Ignatius Adams, 1t was deemed proper by L.
| Woodward, Esq the coroner, and two city mag
istrates, to hold an inquest Accordingly, notice
was Immediately given that the corpse, which
had already been placedIin the coffin for burial on
| Wednesday, must be examined and thoro' inves-
tigation take place before the coroner and jury
duly summoned for thatPurpose. On the inqulsl-
ton which was held on Wednesday hight, seve-
raj respectable witnesses were examined, VINO
all agreed in testfying to repeated acts OF inhu-
man treatment and excessive severity PraetIsed
for more than a year past upon the deceased by
Mary Ann Adams, the wife Of lgnatius Adams.
Moreover, it appeared, on examination OF the
poor girl. that there were several marks OF vlo-
ience upon her person. Three medical gentle
men-Dr. G. w. May, Professor May, and DIR.
T. d. Jones-were also examined, of whom the
two latter gave as their impression that the
death of the unfortunate girl was produced by
the violence committed upon her person.
To give time for the medical gentlemen to
make farther examination Of the corpse, and
for the jury to act deliberately in the natter the
inquest was adj urned until yesterday morning,
when Professor May being again examined be-
fore the Coroner, expressed the opinion that he
had before given, that the girls death was pro-
duced by violence, remarking, however, that DIR.
G. w. Nav and Dr. Lindsly, who had assisted
him in the second examination Of the deceased,
entertained doubts, and differed with him on
that subject, although they were all of the opin-
ion that some of the wounds upon the body OF
the deceased had been caused by fagellation,
and were not liberated wounds, as had been at
first stated.
Under all the circumstances of this shocking
and painful case, the jury, after some time spent
in consultation, yesterday morning returned the
following verdict:
owe find, after full and impartial investiga-
ten of the evidence of numerous witnesses, and
the opinions of medical gentlemen, that the
death of Harriet Mason was caused by long
series Of i'll treatment and severe whIPpings
inflicted upon the deceased by .Md1yd1ln adams,
wife OF Ignatius Adams"
Whereupon the said Mary finn adams, who
at an early stage of the investigation, had been
taken into custody under warrant issued by
Justices Morsell and Thompson, was, by the
same magistrates fully committed to the Jail of
this county fer trial at the ensuing Criminal
Court.
We have been more particular in our account
of this shocking affair, from desire not only
to satisfy the public curiosity upon the subject,
but from desire to allay public excitement, and
to correct many Misrepresentation of the cir
cumstances which lave already obtained cur
rency in this city.-.Nat. hltelhgencer.