The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-04-28

a Mother Kills her own Child.


We find the following account Of a bru-
tai murder, in the Badger State Banner,
published at Black River Falls, in this
State: ia
| This week i. falls to our lotto record one
/ Of the most cold bloodeGs and brutal muir
dets ever committed in the State of Wis.
/ cGnsin The murder took place near this
! dence Of the fact only came to light on Sun
/ day last. The victim was child about or G
! year of age, belonging TO Mrs Jennie
Woodbridge, now Mrs. Jennie Seville, and
formerly known as Miss Jennie Davis -
! The woman-or iend-came to this village
some time last fall, having two children in
her possession, one aged about four years
and the other about one year old. She
lived abou; town in various families, and
expressed a desire to give away her children
aid finally some one adopted the oldest
one, with the understanding that Mrs.
Woodbridge would help support it. About
Christmas the youngest one was missing,
and its mother reported that she had given
il away to some one living in this vicinity
Nothing more was heard of the child until
last Sunday, when it's body vas found about
two miles east of this village, near the rail-
road track, by some children belonging to
Mr. Thos. Pierce, who we're picking winter
greens ia the woods. Ihe matter vas at
once reported in town, and on Monday
Police Justice L. S. Avery summoned a
july, and an injuest YVES held On the body.
The body of the child was identified as the
one belonging to Mrs Woodbridge, ala,
DAYS., alias Seville, by DR.. Baxter, who
performed surgical operation on it last
fall. The Jury returned a verdict that
the child came to its death by blows int1ics
ed by some one TO them unk nown, but sup
posed to be done b. its own mother. The
body OF the child was wrapped u: in piece
of white cloth when found ,and had remain
ed buried with snow all winter, Dccompo-
sluon had not taken place to any great ex-
tent, and 1t was an easy matter to identify
it. There was no doubt in the minds of
any one Of the manner Of the child S death,
as its skull on the back o: the head was
broken in, bruises and holes in the back
and side. and everything indicated that it
. had been taken by the legs and dashed
upon stone or log until dead. 1t is one
OF the most cruel and cold blooded murders
on record, and it is almost impossible to
believe that any mother could be so cruel
and wicked as to murder her own child in
such horrible manner.
On Tuesday twas as certained that Mrs.
w oodbrdge was IN Portage City, and
telegram was sent to the city Marshal to
arrest Der forthwith On Tuesday evening
Sheriff Hobbs took the cara for Portage,
and returned with the prisoner Wednesday
morning. An examination was immediate
ly commenced before Police Justice Avery,
and brought to close on Tuesday at noon
The decision of the court was that she
stands committed until the September term
OF Clrcu'. Court.
During the examination much excite
ment prevailed, and the court house was
packed to its utmost by our citizens. The
prisoner is young and good looking wo.
man of about Is or 20 years of age, and i.
does not seem possible that one so young
could possibly commit such hedious crime,
but the evidence, though only circumstan-
tla, shows that she either committed the
murder or induced some one else to strike
the fatal blow. 1t is probable that tho
nytery surrounding this case will be un-
raveled before the next term OF court. A
person who could show as little excitement
and keep as cool aud self possessed a. she
did during the examination, would not, in
our opinion. hesitate to commit murder, in
order to get rid of a child which she con-
sdered burden. We hope she is not
guilty, but have reason to believe that she
is murdercss.