Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-07-12
SHOCKING DEPRAyITy
a NEITHER Attempts Infanticide ON
Her own Offfspring miraculous
Recovery OF the Chiid-Arrest OF TN c
Unnatural Mother
Iron the Charleston ullinoisj Courier


From the Charleston ulllnois) cOsrisr.I
About two months sinse, Martha Martin. a
young woman about nineteen years Of age, came
20 thi. city and obtained employment as q house
girl She worked at different places, until about
noon on Wednesday Of last week. when at a
house near the cemetery, where she was staying
temporarily she gave birth 10 a fine. healthy
male child. She Was driven from this house
xithing Al hour after the event. She took refuge
a. 40 another place. but was driven by an evil
genius Of her Own sex. who appeared 10 take
pleasure in pursuing her, aud who is said TO be
no better than herself, from place TO place until
Saturday morning. when soc wandered of with
her child 10 a slough Of water by the side OF the
railroad track, about three quarters Of a mile
east Of town. Here. after tying a cord around
tie ehild's neck she threw il into the slough and
started Of. she says. with the Intention Of de
stroying herself.
Before proceeding far, however. her heart
failed her. and she returned TO her offspring. She
vent back and forth three different times The
last time she took tho child out Of the mud and
water. and after cleaning the mud out OF its
mouth, attempted TO nurse IL, but IL refused 10
nurse, and becoming 90 still aud quiet, that she
At last thought il was dead. and laid Il out the
edge Of the slough in which che had previously
thrown Il. and she wandered of. homeless pen.
niless. and frendless. che knew not where
This was about 10 o'clock In the forenoon Of
saturday At about O'Clock in the afternoon,
Of the same day. hr. Thomas Cheeseman hap
pened 20 be passing along by the slough coming
TO town, when his attention was directed by hear.
ing child cry. lie dismounted his horse aud
Instituted search, aud AZ last succeeded In find
ing the child. surrounded by the slough in the
midst Of weeds and briars. where the unnatural
mother had left It. covered all over with mud.
Mr.. q picked IL up and took il TO the house Of
NJ fIaaHanau ..h.a nj 10 nd fnnL
care OF IL. until Mr Chscseman could come 10
town aud make some provision for IT,
Mr.. Cheeseman returned home that night. and
vas told that young woman had stopped there
that evening hunting her friends. aud had re-
tired 10 an adjoining room lie related tho cir
cumstanees OF finding the child To his family
not miitrusling that his guest had anything TO do
with IL. until nert morning, whom messenger
Was sent IN 10 summon the young woman to
breakfast She remarked that sho was too III to
rise. and that the child Mr. g. had found the
evening previous was hers.
The unhappy mother remained al Mr, Cheese
mans until Monday, when Constable Gilman
went out aud arrested her. and brought her 90
town IN o carriage. but she being too III 10 stand
her trial. he took her to ha house for safe keep
ing. Ia the meantime, her child was taken 10y
the Oyefseer VI the Poor 20 Mrs Donaldson. In
whose care IL remained until Monday morning,
when Il was placed in charge Of Mrs. Julia How
ard. who still has IT,
The mother states that her step mother resides
near Neoga, Eflingham county. aud that her
father Ia IN the army, She also had brother.
ia the army. who went from Mattoon. whcfe his
wife now resides. She also states that che was
oduced by Tower Thomson. married man.
about Thirty six years Of age. who resides about
three miles west Of Nooga, and that he IL the
father OF the child. which, so far. has undergone
maay privatious. aud perhaps. mote hard
ships. than did Moses OF old among the bal
rushes. who afterwards not only smote tho rock
aud made IL bring forth water. aud led the chill
dfed OF lsiael successfully through the wilder
ness aud across the Red Sea. but also Inscribed
the immutable laws OF God and man upon tab
lets OF stone.