Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-12-09
N. o. WALLACE. Editor.
Thursday Morning, December 9.IS5S
A Human Monster.

is Republican gives the following ac-
count of case of inhuman cruelty |
to a little child, which transpired in /
Nevada City, Mo, a few days since:
A little child, some four years old,
was taken with a severe diarrhoea,
which lasted several days. During |
this time it happened to soil its
clothes, from the effects OF the dis
e,se. Its mother (step mother) be-
came greatly enraged at the child
for the act, and providing herself
with hickory withe some two feet
or more in length, proceeded to chas-
tise the child in the most abusive
manner. She gave it some thirty |
odd lashes, and presume, from the
facts gathered, that she put them on
as heavily rs her strength would ad-
nit. The cries and petitions of
that poor little babe ior a remission
Of the strokes, and promise upon
promise never to do the like again, |
made no impression upon her hard
ened and guilty heart, until her
strength failed her. She then order
ed the child's brother, who was some
eight or nine years of age, to con-
tinue the exercise. He, having a
heart of childish tenderness, refused
to do so. She becoming enraged at
the BOY for his audacity in refusing
to obey, turned loose upon him aud
whipped him until his consent was
obtained to prosecute her orders
He grasped the fatal rod from the
hands Of the nendish woman and
proceeded to the corner Of the room
where his poor little sister sunk up
on the floor from exhaustion. Read
er, Just imagine the scene. Behold
thatinnocent child Joseph, take his lit
tie sister by the hand, while tears--O,
such tears!--coursed down his hag-
gard cheek, pull her up from the
corner in which she was secreted, and
commence his painful task. Lash
after lash did that guilty woman
cause him to place upon the already
mangled form Of his little sister un-
til her wrath wasina manner appeas-
ed. After the little boy was through
his task she (his step mo'her) gath
cred a rod and gave him severe
beating, as she said, for whipping his
sister. She then exacted promise
from the boy, that if ever he should
bs questioned as to the whipping of
the child, he was to state that he
did if while his mother was from
home. She made him promise this
under a threat, if ever diYulged, she
would kill him.
La day or So the little girl died.
A few of the neighbors gathered in
to assist in making preparations to
consign its body to the grave. On
removing the clothes from the child's
body, the ladies were horror struck
by the bruises and scars found upon
its form. They asked how it occur.
red. A cool answer was given by
the step.mother. stating that her
brother did it. The ladies then
questioned the boy and he confessed
that he did it all. 1t was soon de.
cided by those present that it was
not possible that acbild of his age
should maugle form 10 such man.
ner. Suspicion as to the true facts
bof the case wers soon aroused, and
a private examination of the boy
was had, but no clue TO the facts
could be obtained until they assured
him that he should not be hurt if he
would tell The truth. Upon this as
suranee the boy disclosed The whole
facts as detailed above.
The committee that we're engaged
in eliciting the true character of the
affair from the boy, examined him
also, and found upon his body bruises
which were really sickening to OBJ
serve. These facts. Of course, we're
sufficient to establish in the minds of
that committee that bis assertions
were true.
+ The woman was taken into custo-
DIX forthwith, put no proof could be
adduced--save that of the little boy
10 establish a legal course of law
against her. Those present suppos-
ing that .he evidence Of the boy was
not valid, as be was too young, con-
sequently she was set at liberty.
Certainly she will not go very