Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-19
CASE OF CRUELTY.
A Little Negro Boy Horribly Treated
He'd Up by the Thumbs, Beaten and
Drenched with Salt Water.

On Monday last Alex. Washington, alias
Brown and his wife, colored, were brought be-
fore Julius Ochs, Esq, W. +. Yardley, Esq,
appearing as prosecutor in behalf of John
Houston and against the parties above named
for cruel treatment of the latter The parties
we're found guilty and bound over to appear be-
fore the Criminal Court. Yesterday afternoon
We went to see q little colored boy named john
Houston, at the house of Mrs. Grace Sliger an
cd colored woman, who lives near Bellevue
sreet, North Knoxville.
The boy was lying on bed and rested very
uneasily every movement of the bed clothing
or of his limbs being accompanied with acute
pain. He was covered with sores and scars from
head to foot and was wasted almost to skele-
ton. On the back of his head was a large sore,
while his side and back bore the marks of Sc
we're beatings. ... ....#
His father is named John Houston and since
his mothers death in September last he has
been living with his half uncle and aunt Alex.
Washington, alias Brown, who seem to have
been actuated by the most fendish malice in
their treatment Of the child. Before he was
beaten he was bright, intelligent boy, but now
he is lying perfectly helpless and it is doubtful
ii he ever RECEIVERS, and even if he does he will
probably be a cripple for life. t.
The beating Is said to have occurred at the house
on the southeast corner of Main and Prince
streets, about Christmas, little over three
weeks ago. though until Monday nothing was
said about it, the boys injuries being such as to
prevent his removal previously.
Considering the boys age, it is a source of
surprise that he did not die under the dreadful
beatings and punishment to which he was sub
jected. The climax of cruelty was reached du-
ring the holidays, when, after being whipped,
he was knocked down and kicked on the leg,
dislocating his knee, we are told, tied up by the
thumbs and left hanging for several hours, and
his lacerated body wet with salt water and pep
per, and in addition rubbed with creosote: Such
barbarity is almost incredible, yet the pitiable
condition of the child speaks for itself more elo-
quently than his feeble tongue.
The conduct of the wretch in Illinois who
whipped her child to death was mild compared
TO this instance, which exhibits a degree of
hendshness that savages would blush over.
We are told by the colored people at whose
house he now is, that the gentleman who went
the bail of the fends was misled, the woman
having been house serYanti in his family during
the days of slavery.
Our information is derived from what we
deem reliable sources, and we hope that justice
Will be done and that the severest punishment
OF the law will be meeted out to the guilty par
ties, whoever they may be. Is is crime that
Is gradually becoming more common, and I'M
less checked, the life of no unprotected child is
Safe Cases of this nature arouse the indigna-
ton of any community, and as the law is no re-
spector of persons punishment should await all
who forget humanity in the commission of
these diabolical crimes.