New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-14

dcted for manslsughter, in causing the death OF
| female apprentice BY starvation and stripes, has
brought cross action, (or something in the nature
Of that) against tie proprieters Of Sunday newt
paper, who undertook to show that che had inflicted
similar crueliies upon other little girls committed
| to her charge. The paper alluded to, printed the
verdict Of the Coroner's Jury, which found that
:" Anna Hilton came to her death BY being beassn
l." in brutal manner, and from exposure and want
e." Of food at the hands of Mrs. Matilda Decker"
AIMS, the child in question, was sent from the
bept VIOLENT institution Of Mr.. Pease, in the Five
Points, 10 which the negligence Of drunken
mother had consigned Der, aud her father was dead
| The defense called the reverend gentleman, who
swoIe that when the child LETT his custody on the
10Th of June, 1856, che was healthy and amiable;
that she was spprentced to Mrs. Decker who
showed herself 10 be church member; aud that
the next time be saw her che was dead i'll the house
Of Der mistress, sttred for the grave in the very
clothes which be had provided for her, aud bearing
marks upon her person, which to bis experienced
eyes, plainly Indicated copOral illussge before
death. There vas further evidence 10 snow that
Mrs d. scolded, beat and whipped the child, (''f
she got to ing with her," sad one witness,
she never let her 60 without whip.
png;") that she poured hot water into her
mouth; that che pursued the unfortunste,
with deg, when the sufferer tried to
run away across the meadows; that she was
fourd dead upon the carpet in the corner Of the
rsom that che had before death been seen to hang
her head and to sroan mosningT; that when 80
sick that she could hardly walk she was obliged to
perform msnial Offices and was sent out Of doors,
aud into the snow without stockings and Shoes
that when ste died she lad only bundle OF skirts
Under her head for pillow; that Mrs. Decker was
woman Of very violent and undiscipiled tem-
per- and was wont to beat her own son and stamp
upon bis head in cruel ard unusual manner.
Other children, fortunately yet living, were put
upon the stand who testified to the crueltes Of this
same mistress Inflicted upon themselves. Sarah
L. To1nsend, aged l3 swOre to having been struck
with Ratchet by Mrs. Decker, because she would
not bill cat; to having run away from her in cold
weather in consequence Of barbarOus treatment;
and to having been impOrtuned BY her mistress to
tell lie in order to explain certain bruises upon
Der head. Rachel Andersen, aged Ia, testified that
sue Was sent uOm pour -uOuec W hFo Will uAIs.
Decker; that che staid q week with her; that chs
was scourged with rCds upon the back, feet and
elsewhere, and that in the absence Of Mrs.. Decker
che ran back to the poor house from which she
1t 10 not ct all necessary that We should 20 into
further painful details of the torments and elaborate
cruelty Of vulgar ard coarse harrdan, inflicted
upsn helpless and tender children We have ex-
aniLea the testimony fox the plaintiff, aud we
not zee that it materially affects the case. No ua-
prtudiced person can READ the reports Of tho trial
without bere irresistably drawn to the conclusion
that this child after undergoing the sharp ordeal of
erpl snase and of q drunken psrentsgs 10 the Five
Points-sfter a brief respite from t,e woes which
pressed 90 heavily and early upon her life-was
copscLed 10 worse hell than that from which che
| hs frat escsped was cut of, not merely from the
chance of mental culture, from the pleasures
ard relsxsiions which were pertinent to
her period Of life, but from common ply
steal comforts. II must have been dreary
in the Five Points, for poor little Anna Hilton,
before Mr. Pease found her; il must have been
6rearier far in that isolated house OF Mrs Decker
in which blow followed every word, aud 10 which
she fouLd only 8 coarse tongue, heavy hand'
pcor Diet, in adequate raiment and hard work. On
the whole, and viewBg the case upon quite Epicu-
resn principles we think Aur> Hilton would have
been better of in the garnet OF her Bscchante OF
mother in the Five Points. She would there have
found occasional moments Of relaxation. The aus.
terities Of her young life would have been tempered
by moments Of plSy-by little occasions oil hsPP'
re,s-by small relief from the charitable-st least
b, that i6leness which 10 the bliss OF early chd-
tood. Instead of this, from the cold mornioS %
IT. gray evening she hardly knew respite from
the ,bsrp chidinss of her vixen mistress-she was
doomed to toll without equitable requitAl-she
.toed all alone bereft of human sympathy for which
our little ones 10 so perpesualy hunger sad,
,ore. heavy hearted moaning, suffering child, the
psir fullest spectacle in this world
We thrk that case like this should direct the
after ton Of Dir. P.ase and Of oil other persons
having the disposal Of children deserted BY nssars
guardians, to the great responsibilities attending
their oHice. Tie ri,k is great. Forthese orphius
under the nost favorable eircumstaoces we csenot
hope ftr tie best Blood is thicker than water
ard If il Lot We suspect in one case out OF thou
,aId. that the little adopted secures that hold upon
the parental heart which will be surety for tender
lees, confederation AMI lberahty. In many more
cases there msy be decent fostering without toat
valiant care necessary to the rounded formation
# character Ard frequently, We fear, the relation
hch phIanirophic officials create, sud which IL Is
in their power to control, brings only severity ao'
ueglect and privation. Such relation SUCCESS 10
.sr.e of re,pcosiblliiy ~ scared conscience. Us