Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-05-24
a Father outrages BIS Daughter.

HayTorinQz Scsnc.-Seyeral days since
rumor reached police headquarters that man
named Willian Altvater had been guilty of
committing horrible outrage on his own
daughter, q girl of sixteen years. Though
such q thing would appear improbable, short
search discovered that the daughter lived
with her pateEnal grandparents on North
Eden street, and when she was approached by
the officers, after much hesitation, she declared
the offence against her father, and made at
fdavit of the facts. 1t appears that when
she was quite small her mother died. and her
fathers mother took her and reared her 81
her own, As she grew mp she became of pre-
possessing appearance, but her father did not
give her any particular attention, having
married again, and had other children. who
seemed to absorb his whole affection. In the
spring of 1868 he net his daughter several
times, and began to show an apparent affection
for her, which to the poor girl was as grati>
flying rs it was unlocked for. She was then
sixteen years of age, and had already been
confirmed member of the Lutheran Church.
On Sunday in March Of that year he called
at the church where she attended Sunday
School, and induced her to leave the school to
take a walk with him. Glad of the affection
of her father, she availed her self of his invi-
tation and accompanied him. They walked
out Belair avenue until they reached Balti-
more Cemetery, around which they went uu-
til, reaching a secluded spot, he seized her
and perpetrated an outrage upon her.
| Having accomplished his hellish purpose,
he threatened to murder her if she ever ex>
posed him, and out of very fear she kept with
in her own heart the horrible act of her father.
Subsequently another opportunity was afforded
him, and he repeated the outrage. In the
early part of 1869 she gave birth to a child.
and the grandmother, who suspected its pa
ternity, also kept the secret. and the child
was placed in. ST. Vincent's Infant Asylum,
where it edSshortly after. After the Sec
ond outrage she avoided her father altogether,
and did not meet him until last night. All
the above facts having been gathered, Detec-
| tive Pointer was detailed to arrest the father,
which he did last night, and Justice Hagerty
appeared at the Middle District Police Sta
ton to examine the charge. The father aud
daughter were placed where they could not
see each other until everything was ready for
the examination. At halEpast nine o'clock
A. Leo Knott. ESQ, States Attorney. an
nounced his readiness to proceed, and the
young woman was conducted to n chair near
the magistrate. near to which William Alt
water, the father, was already sitting. As
soon as she saw him she was seized with the
most violent emotion, and in minute was at
tackled with violent fit. Before she conld
be properly cared for by those present the
father was also seized with fir. and fell from
his chair. The proper restoratives were ap;
Piled. he lay in state of unconciousness for
some ten minutes. After that he became vio-
lent, but he was promptly thrown to the floor
ngoin. and everything taken from him with
which he might do violence to himself. The
| selling of all present towards him was one "f
INDIGNATION, while general sympathy was ex-
pressed for the stricken daughter. Upon her
sworn testimony the father was committed to
Jail to await the action Of the Grand Jury.
BdHiniOre Gazette.