Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-08-10
Negroes Tortured.

WASHINGTON, July Zz, looo.
General Howard has received volumi-
nous reports concerning the cruelties prac-
tised by Mrs. Henry Abrahams Of King
Williams County, Virginia, upon her SER
wants. The matter came to light through
investigation set on foot about month
ago. The reports show that on the sec
ond of June freed-girl named Martha
Anne, aged IL, was brought to hospital
at Richmond. The surgeon says that
there were upon her body seven ulcers,
all the result of burns and all produced
within two or three weeks. The largest
was nearly two inches in diameter. In
addition to these her entire body was al
most covered with scars, some old and
some covered with recent scales, some the
result of burns and some the result of
whipping. She had been SO abused that
she was scarcely able to give expression
to an intelligent idea. The investigation
made before the Judge-Advocate at Rich
mond proved that this monster, Mrs.
Abrahams, whom half the lawyers in the
city volunteered to defend, has within the
last few years been the cause of the death
of four of her negro servants. An ex-
tract from the report is subjoined:-
"Lucy Richardson, mother of the girl
taken to the hospital, has been made blind
of one eye and has been SCARED in the
throat with hot iron. Five of the chill
dren of said Lucy Richardson, named
Martha Anne and Mary Ellen, twins,
aged sixteen, George, aged nine, Francis,
aged eleven, and Robert, aged seven and
half years, have on many different oc-
casions each of them been placed in a
nude state before the fire until their backs
were actually broiled, and then whipped
| with birch rod on the back until it was
raw, when strong salt and pepper water
was rubbed on and they were whipped
again. Francis died in February, 1866,
from injuries received at the hands of said
Mrs. Abrahams by being stamped upon.
The children, while being tortured, had
their feet and hands bound, and were
bucked to keep them from struggling or
resisting. The house would be closed
while they were being burned and whip
ped, but then their cries would be heard
, for long way. They would often faint
t away, and Mrs. Abrahams would continue
to strike them with poker, saying,
"You're dead, are you? I'll make you
catch your BREATH" After the punish
ment they could not lie nor sit down, and
had to stand up a number of consecutive
days and nights. Before the children re-
covered from their injuries Mrs. Abra-
hams would scar them with hot Goals, or
with hot iron. She never had SER
want without scars from her hands, and
never did day pass that some servant
did not receive torture.
Sarah cambridge, milkmaid, was told
to get all lie milk she could in time for
dancing party, and because she did not
answer soon enough Mrs. Abrahams tor
tured her to such an extent that she drown
ed herself in the creek.
Eliza Hill was beat over the head with
an iron poker, and pieces of flesh were
cut from her head and face with a knife,
by Mrs. Abrahams, until she became blind
in both eyes. She afterwards died from
these injuries.
The evidence fully establishes numer-
Gus instances of assault with intent to
wound, main, disiigure, disable, or kill
Much of this cruelty has been practised
since the fall of RichmoaJ. Burning on
the bare back with live Goals of fire seems
to have been a common punishment
Whipping was done with clubs, tongs,
pokers, fre-shovels, &c. Mary and Fran
ces were twice taken to a pond and half
drowned.