The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-03-26

There is nothing more revolving to
the mind and feelings of . person
possessed Of an ordinary share of hu-
manity than the abuse Of innocent and
confding children. The Creator has
made them dependent that their very
helplessuess might inspire love in the
hearts of parents and other kindred, and
pity or compassion in the bosom of
strangers. None but those who approx
innate to fends in their nature aud dis
position, will be guilty Of such gross in-
humanity. The recent case of a step
father, namedLiviugston, living in Byron
.Ogle County, Illinois, makes ones blood
curdle in the veins. The cirsums stances
are as follows: He had married .
widow with two children, aud took NOR
tai offense at some remark one of the m
made to him. Getting his wife away
by going with her to call at neigh Dor 8
be returned home, aroused the child
from sleep, and proceeded to beat it un-
til it was insensible, when he deliberately
washed the blood from the clothes of the
child and the bed-clotbes, and returned
TO the place where he had left bis wife.
A neighbor happened to witness the
cruelty of Livingston, and when the
child was considered to be in danger,
she informed the authorities and be was
arrested. The enraged citizens seiz ID
him and took him into the street, and
there gave him such csstigation as be
will probably remember to the day Of
his death. Another case of barbarous
inhumauity occurred short time since,
at Staten Island ; that of freezing and
baking, pounding and starving Of poor
little orphan girl taken from the mission
school Of the Five Points, N. Y. city.
The monster woman who caused the
death Of this child is now in prison
awaiting her trial on charge of man.
slaughter. We sec not why she should
not have been indicted for murder in
the first degree.
Another case of like demonism has
recently occurred in Boston. A little
girl of twelve years, named Josephene
A. Gray, was found dead 10 her bed, at
% Oneida Street, on the 9th inst. The
Jury of Inquest at first rendered YER
dict that "the father of the child, and
Mrs. Upham, with whom sbe resided,
though sincere in their motives, were in
judioious 10 their treatment of her. "
This kind Of honied phrase at a foul
murder, did not suit the neighbors, and
they demanded a medical examination,
which was had, and the jury gave this
verdict -
That Josephine A. Gray came to
her death on the 9th Of March, at No.
% Oneida Street, at about 4 O'Clock,
q. M, from extreme exposure and other
suffering contingent from the long con.
tinued barbarity aud inhuman treatment
of her father, Samuel w. Gray, and
Philsnia Upham."
1t was in evidence that the deceased
child was firmly bound to narrow plank
or board with her arms pinioncd, and
that she was long confined 10 that way,
aud her dead body was found in that
way, and her dead body was found in
that position. The idea that father
could be guilty Of the atrocities here
uamed, seems impossible - yet such
things have been. IF the fellow should
be condemned to halter, We presume
that there are many in Boston who would
not feel bad to be compelled to
assist the sheriff in the discharge of his