Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-23
aE<o1RGHTOwNJ.
Corrsspsndencs Of Txs Star.


- - >s-sG soRe krowr, March q, 1853.
Corcna Woodward held an inquest Yesterday
afternoon at the house Of colored family on JEFF
ferscn street, Over the remains Of yellow boy
about ten or twelve ycsss o. age, by the name Of
John William Harris The evidence before the
inquest disclosed sspecics Of brutal cruelty which
both in degree and character is almost without 4
parallel in the history Of civilization II appeared
from the evidence before the jury that the boy had
bcen living for something like year in the family
OF gentleman residing in Washington. whose
name we deem IL prudent TO suppress, az the mat
Ter Is TO be made the subject of juica investya.
ton. On last Monday the mother heard that he
was very sick, and went out 70 see him. The
gentleman gave her money TO hire a hack 10 bring
him home, which she did, and the boy died early
Yesterday morning Capt. Donaldson, Of the pc-
lice, hearing OF the matter, went TO the premises
and after seeing the revolving condition Of the
could be held.
house in Washington where the boy had been
living, and summoned several of the inmates as
witnesses, the concurrent testimony (elicited by
dint Of very rigid questioning) Of all Of whom
showed that the boy had been for months the vic
tim Of the most cruel Treatment II appeared that
he had been kept chained by the ANGLES G. the
floor at night, until the bones Of the hips, knees
and elbows had actually chafed through the skin.
and the links of the chain chafed the ankles until
they had become liberated to a revolving extent.
Ills hands were also much swollen said TO he
S"uSth upon tlltfll. anu his
back literally covered by the marks of severe
whippings which he had received sometime asst,
and which had entirely healed up. He was I'm
the most cmaciated condition. showing couclu-
sively that he had been deprived Of the common
necessarCs OF life.
Some Of the witnessed testified that he had been
sick for several months; at the same time, how
ever, they acknowledged that he was compelled
TO work every day, was regularly chained at
night and notwithstanding physician had been
in the almost daily practice Of attending patient
in the house. that he was requested TO exam
Inc into the condition Of the boy The jury after
a most patient hearing of the evidence and a tho
rough scrutinizing Of all the facts connected with
the affair, rendered Il verdict of which the follow
ing is the substance: % That the boy came TO his
death from the want Of proper nourishment and
from the neglect and cruel treatment inf cted upon
him by the inmates Of the house where he had
lived.n
In point Of size and weight-and physical ability
we might say. tco-we think we can safely nit the
(nine) police force Of city against that OF any
other city in the Union. Their combined weight
| Is ZIP pounds, average weight 100 90 pounds
and Individual weight rs follows: 232 Us, 1877,
| 1872. 1872, ISL, l76, 166, and 1i5 pounds
The canal steamer Antelope returned 10 her
wharf again yesterday afternoon, and left again
this morning on her regular trip TO Harper's Ferry
| The Potomac Light Infantry, Capt. Holdings
worth, had dress parade at Forrest Hall on We'd
| nesday evening, which was attended by large
| number Of gentlemen and ladies, all Of whom were
quite delighted at the military exercises Of this
| sprightly and well-drilled corps.