Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-06

eulation relative to tho matter, and It has boeI
difficult to tell what to depend upon as the simp
truth.
The evening papers of Saturday published tb,
hhtory Of the search which was made on tha
morning, with some strong oOlOring of the case
that Of the Herald, especially, being evidently
grossly unjust to certain parties. We have no In
terest In the matter, save ts pubish tho facts In
the case, and to do this, We were no. satisfied tC
take as final, the story Of any one party. The
circumstances of the return of the girl to Mr.
Parker arc briefly these: On Saturday morning
0iieer McIlrath and Mr.. Parker, hearing that
Anna was ct Mr.. Saxton's, at East Cleveland,
went there in search of her, but on reaching
there they found that she had been brought into
town by Mrs. james Hill. At Mr.. HilPs Mar
shall oraW succeeded in Obtaing the promise that
tho girl should be safely delivered at Mr.. Par
ksr's at o'clock that afternoon. The girl, mean
whils, having been left by Mrs. Hill in the upper
part of the city, had returned to Mr.. saxton's,
and 10 the afternoon Mr.. Il. went there for her, and
brought her to his house, from which Mr.. saGtOn,
who had been in the city during the day, took her
to Justice Miller's office, where, in the presence
of the magistrate, several legal gentlemen, Mr..
Parker, Mr.. simpkins, bOardor at Mr.. Parkers's,
and the reporters, she told her story, after which
she was taken to Mr.. Parker's,ss had been agreed.
So much for the bare facts of her return.
We have the girls statement given at three
different times, once at Mr.. Hills, once at Esq.
Miller's, and once while with Mrs Parker, at
home. She is fifteen years of age, and is unusu>
ally intelligent In her story as told at Mr.
HilPs and ct the magistrates Office, there is not
disoOverable the slightest discrepancy, and we
give it as she gave it.
She says her name is Anna Maria Cunningham,
and that she was born in Bath, Cannda, where her
parents reside. She has two brothers, younger
than herself, and two sisters older, one of whom
is Mrs. Parker She has lived with Mr.. and Mrs.
Parker for four years, during part of which time
she has attended school. She says she has been
sadly abused by her sister, having been frequent
Iy beaten SO as to produce serious bruises. She
showed to the magistrate bruises upon her arms
and hands, and broken bone upon her left hand,
also cut upon her head, which she says was
caused by being struck with a stick of wood
She says she left her sisters house on Wednes-
day to prevent further abuse. That she intended
to get work to do with some family To do this
she calIsd at a number of houses upon Euclid St.,
without success until Mrs. Custead, upon the East
Cleveland street. referred to Mrs. Saxton, as
plSce where she could probably stay for q time
eveu if she were mt wanted to do work. Mrs
SaxtOn told her she vas not in need of a working
girl, But she could 60 il and warm her aud stay
all night. She then told her story, upon which
Mrs. s. told her she could stay there for a time
She says she came to town on Friday, and put
letter into the post Office for Mr.. l'arker. On Sat
urdsy morning Mrs. Hill called at ur. Saxton's
and took her into town. leaving her at an acquaint-
anoe's upon Cedar street Not wishing to stay
here, she walked back to Mr.. Saxton's, where she
was when Blr. Hill went for her. She did not
want to go among strangers, but was afraid to so
home.
Annals story as told TO us at home, is different
in some particulars. She then told us that she
left home on Wednesday morning on the impulse
of the moment, she being Vexed about some ques-
ton Of the schooling, her parents having desired
that she should 60 to Detroit TO school, and she
opposing it. She started out to run away, but
soon saw the fOOlshness of her purpose and OFaher
anger, but was then half ashamed half afraid to go
back She accordingly called upon her friend at
Capt Barrews', as has been before stated, and not
finding her at home. she walked on without any
definite purpose until she found herself upon
Euelid street. She then determined to apply for
work at some of the houses, thinking she would
work for few days until her parents began to
hunt for her, and then go back home. She called
at several places before she reached Mr. Saxton's.
Mrs. Saxton told her she could stay there, which
she did, taking care OF the house that evening while
the family came to town. She stayed there until
Saturday morning, when Mrs. Hill called to Mr.
Saxton's and told Auna she wanted her to come
into town with her and ga to Mr.. D. L. Wightmans'
Mrs. WigAtman being in want of her to work
Anna replied that see did not want to go amongst
strangers. but had rather stay t,eere' MIS- hlli'
however, insisted upon it, and wral l0ped her up IN
a shawl, hood, veil, &C., so that she could not Dc
They then started for town, and met
Mr.. Parker and Hr. McIlrath. They passe rapid
ly, and Anna said she wished she had spOL en 70
them, Mrs. Hill replied, IF you had they We Na
have taken you away from us.
They rode up to Mr. Wightman's, upon Cedar
street, where Anna was left in the buggy while
Mrs. Hill Weut in to talk with Mrs. w, They soon
came out and told her she could go in. She went
in and found that Mrs w. could not tell until her
husband came home to dinner whether she should
want her to stay or not. Mrs. Hill left her there
When Idr. Wightman went home to dinner, he told
her that it was his duty to return runaways, and
not hsrbor them, and that it would not do for her
to stay there. She could. however, stay to dinner
This she declined and put on her things and walk
ed all the way back TO Mr.. SaXtons again. Mr..
Hill called here for her in the afternoon, and tod
her that he must tax e her home as her father re-
quired it. He took her to his house on Oak Place,
where Mr.. SaxtOn WIS. land the latter took hur
from there to Justic Miller's, from whence she
went home. She SCI .med much exhausted with
crying when we saw her, and said that she was
very sorry she went away. She did not know
what she was doing, &c.
Mr.. Parker said Il at it was true she was Eot bis
own child, but that she had been given to them
when two years old. He said they had always
treated her kindly, and Mr.. Simpkins, who has
boarded in the family for year. says that she has
always appeared to him to be a very pleasant,
capable girl, and that he has never known Of her
being ili-treated. On the other hand, the neghbors
tell US of knowledge that they have had for long
time that the girl has been much abused by her
sister A family living near by state that on We'd
nesdaY morning she had number of severe bruises
and marks upon fIer face and neck, which she said
she got by falling down, but which they thought
could not be produced in that wsy.7
1t is with no desire to do one iOta of injury 70
any party that we make these statements, but the
story of the girls running away and the alleged
causes, are already public. Certain it is that the