The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-09-30
HORRIBLE TREATMENT OF A PAUPER GIRL
IN MASSACHUSETTS.
From the Boston Herald, September

Last wecka girl seventeen years of age, nam
med Sarah Maria kNlceering, died in Law
renee, Massachusetts,, who in her earlier years
WAS made the victim of most shocking cruel
ty al the hands of a wealthy farmer and his
wife well known i'll that vicinity. Her sad
story, in brief, is as follows: She was born
IA poverty al Deer Island and at an early age
hcwas taken by Il Mr.. Sanborn, a chidless
father Ia his happy and pleasant home in
salem. She was then about ninetcenmonths
o ace While there she enjoyed all the hap
pincs~ which a child wascapable until her
kind protector died and left hiswife in power
ty Shctoo, also fell sick, and soon the only sup
port Of tile two was what Sarah, then but four
olilvc Years of age, could beg upon the streets
in cold, rain and snow Some gentlemen
toundout that state of things, and took charge
OF Mrs .Sanboln and Sarah was taken to Tews-
bury AT the ame six years this mere infant
was taken by wealthy familyin the vicinity
of Lawrence and it was naturally presumed
That She would be kindly treated and edr-
Gated.
At the TeWk shurv institution, a few years
NICE ii WAS thought properto appoint an agent
to inquireinto1hc welfare of those who had been
taken iromthc institution. Inthe case of Sarah,
the family who had given bonds to educate
and trin@ her up in Il respectable manner,
reported To the agent that, after living with
them four years, She run away. Further
scarrhrcSulted in finding Sarah with a respect
able family in Lawrence, who had taken her
ia the day after She left her place, and who
were ted to do SO by hearing of her as being
nj lhc house of Il nei@hbor, where she had OBJ
Jainrl shelter over night, and where she
came the afternoon before in Il pitiabe condi-
lion, with arms black and blue from apparent
recent ll-lrcatmrnt. When found she was
sick and helpless-a beautiful girl some six
teen Years of a@c-emaciated, and pro-
nomcrd 10 be in Il consumption by four diff
tcrrut physicians, who had been called to her
mid. and she told story of abuse and and
-h;mrtul i'll treatment concerning the family
mlo whose charge she had been given by the
State ten years before. She alleged, substan-
tally that on one occasion, having not had
tnougA bio eat being fed fordays in succession
wl nothing but cold potatoes and salt--she
tuph piece of appc-pie and hid it; but her
in0sirr found it, and to punish her took her to
the barn. and compellcdhcr to eat moist cow
manure from faroe spoon held to hermouth
ihaI on another occasion her mistress drag
"'pi her to the kitchen stove, and put her hands
on the hol IRON holding them there till they
were bli@tercd; and at another time held a
chamber vessel to her mouth and forced her
tu drink urine that another day. when she was
' - 't'tii'S At lit'' VI l'iN VI Sftht ifCl
mistress made her take dose of epson salts,
saying that She would Sc physic it out Of her
thai, while thet;tmily always allowed the hired
hrlr-mrn and Womcn-to sit and eat at the
same table WIththcmsclves she was compelled
Ia eat her meals alone, and from q tin plate,
hlM@ on It stool in Il sink room leading out
ct thc kitchen. Andshe further alleges that,
for some slight misdemcanor, her mistress
tool. her TO the attic, and tying her to a post,
having irst stripped off every particle Of cloth
inE terribly beat her bare flesh with bunch
ol four sticks, till they were nearly worn up :;
and She alleged that the reason why she left
them WAS that they hadthreatened to give her
smother beating. which threat put her in such
Great dread that she ran away, clothed so
~hubhilY. rs is said by those who first took her
~. thai il could not be judged from the medley
oil her garments whether She was boy or
Girl
Sarh was the Girls story of her cruel treat
ncnl. and She adhered to il in the presence
0i lAusp Nhc had so fOully abused her