Wilmington journal., 1872-08-02
MYSTERIOUS FATALITY.
The Singular Deaths of Foar Chiidrcn
An ruIuclxV Nurse Girl

An CnA1cRy NuASc "AAA'
A brief mention was made in the Times
recently of the sudden death OF George Il.
Watson, little boy four years OLD, whose
parents lived at No. 1,191 Chrlsty avenue.
The Coroner made ftlH investigator and
most morton examination, but failed to
discover any cause for the sad event. Ger
tain facts, however, have become known
which involve the whole affair III most
painful mystery. The first tidings Of the
child'S death came from nurse girl who
had been left alone with him some time
previous. This is the fourth child VINO
has died While left alone with this girl dur
ING the last four months. Her name IS
Martha MILESTONE. and there is nothing
about her particularly noticeable save, per
hans, u sccIning lack OF intellect. She is
about sixteen years old, has d'ill, express
sionlcqs features, and is Of English parent
age. Her parents live near Chcltenham.
Thus far nothing has been discovered to
crimuate the girl, but chain of circuIn-
stances Point TO terrible COincidcnceS, II
nothing more.
Last April Martha was employed as a
nurse Girl in, the f,lmily OF i butcher named
Kohler, living Oh the Manchester road
She had cli1r,sa of the children, Il little boy
of three or fouryeus and baby. One day
the mother c,lm4 home after = temporary
absence and found the youngest child dead.
1t had Ueeu left alone 9th The Girl, and,
alth0umh troubled with some childish all
meut, was not thought to be really sick
A phs si.:iln was called iii who heard the
statements Of the eill and pronounced the
cause inflammation of some vital rart.
One afternoon, several days after the
death If the baby, the mother came into
the house where she bad left the girl alone
with The little boy, aud missing the latter,
made inquiry for him. lie was u bright,
adventurous yoUngStcr, ami the unWOnted
silence made the mother anxious. In reply
to the question, the girl said that Willie she
WAS left alone with !he boy, he climbed
upOn the cupboard and then fell off. She
picked him up and found that he had hurt
himself. She carried him upstairs, and
placed him on the bed. Tie mother at
once went To the room indicated and found
her little boy Il corpse. An inquest was
held and Il verdict Of death from concus-
sion of the brain was returned. Nothing
was found to iIhplicate the girl directly or
indirectly, but inasnuch as there was moth
inc left for her to do. she was discharged
and went home.
Several weeks later a sister OF the girl,
about four years cid, died very suddenly
and under very peculiar circumstances.
the little Girl in Martha's care, and when
She .etlrncd was met with the announce
ment that the child was dead. The cause
of the last death was declared to be heart
disease.
A few weeks ago Martha came to the
CITY and obtained d situation as uurse-girl
in the family of Mr.. Watson, on Christy
avenue. The boy, OF whom she had the
special care, was Il bright, healthy little
child, and at the time Of his death was per
fnctly well with the exception Of cough.
Wien the mother went out Thursday af-
te:noOn she left directions with Martha to
give the boy certain things which lie want
ed in order to have Il tea-party with play
mate. When the lady returned, Martha
met her at the door with the exclamation,
sMr8. Watson Your baby is dead" The
mother turned into the house and found
the dead body of the little boy lying Oh the
floor in the dining-roOm.
The circumstances are given by the girl
rs follows: The liLtle boy played about
the house Tor some time, and when he got
ready for his Lca-party was glieving be-
cause his playmate did not come. She Of
tered to play the part of company and set
down at the table with him. They ate
supper together, and had a good time.
AfterWard, while she was clearing away
and washing the dishes, the little fellow
complained of being tired, and said lie
would lie down! and take nap. lie curled
himself up i'll one corner of the dinh Z
roOH, and soon dropped to sleep. She
passed through the dinin9-room once and
saw him sleeping quietly. Going il the
second time she thought something was
wrong, and accordingly went to Kim. She
put her hand on his heart and found that
il had ceased beating.
A physician was summoned, and it is G
ported gave it as his opinion, after eXani-
nation, that The child had met with Il ViO-
lent death. Those who first saw it say
that there was u purple tinge about the
lips and face, but otherwise nothing no
ticcablc.
The event has caused intense excitement
in the nci@hborhnud where it occurred
| The authorizes have made careful inGui-
ricS and Investigated matters fully, but, as
already stated. ran find nothing Of crimi-
nal character. The b2reavcd family have
gone to OlIio,with the b"!y, and the cir
has returned to her friends al Chcltcn-
ham.-Cf. L0ui% Times.