The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-03
LOCAL MATTERS.

A CASE THAT DEMANDS 1NvEsTIGA-
TIoN.-Last Friday afternoon marketman
named Joseph Maj tin, whose home is near
Alley Station, on the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, was seen lettering about the circus
tents, in a state of intoxication. About
four or five o'clock Mr.. Burke, who keeps
grocery on The corner of Jackson and
Second streets, saw Mr.. Martin, with
whom he was well acquainted, sitting
in the shade near his store. He
induced him to take seat in the
store, and then went in search of Martini
cart, which he found in the possession of
some boys. This he brought to the front
of the store. and persuaded Martin to enter
it and start for home. The cart contained
a small sack of flour and a few other
articles. Martin got iuto the cart, and
slgnifying his ability to drive the horse,
started out the Meadow Bridge road toward
his home.
But it seems he did not go directly home.
He was heard of about nine o'clock at night
near the old market. He purchased pint
and a half of whisky at Swayne's, we be-
lieve, near the old market. He then start
ed for home again, and it seems had small
boy with. When he reached the foot of the
hill, near the poor-house, the boy says
Martin got out of the cart, and went off
out of sight on one side of the road, and
was gone about half an hour. When he
returned he was accompanied by man,
whether white or black, is not stated. The
man said to Martin, NOW, you had better
get into your cart and 60 home" This he
did. When he reached home, it was dis
covered that he had received a blow in the
forehead and was badly injured. A doctor
was sent for. The physician soon found
that the wound was very serious one.
Mr.. Martin continued to grow worse, and
died at 2 o'clock on Monday morning.
We should have stated above that Martin
had some money, the proceeds of his
marketing, in his pocket. This Mr.. Burke
tried to induce him to leave with him, but
he objected, declaring that he could take
care of it, and probably could, had he pro-
ceeded home at that time. When he arrived
at his home he had neither money nor any,
thing else, the articles that were in his cart
having disappeared.
The circumstances of the case are suspi-
cious, and demand an investigation.
BABIES. - There are babies in every
well-regulated family. They are the
source of much joy and sorrow in broken
doses. They are to be our future men and
women. They are to rule in state and
print newspapers in the dim future. 1t is
the duty of those to whom they are given
to see that they are properly fitted for the
high places they are destined to occupy /.
Not only their minds, but their bodies
should be so trained as to become perfect
men and women. We fear that neither
their bodies nor their minds are likely to
develop into very perfect symmetry under
the treatment they receive from Richmond
nurses. 10 say nothing of the general
neglect which the little ones daily suffer
at the hands of the nurses, they
are often subjected to positive
cruelty. No longer ago than Sunday, a
nurse who had charge of small child,
whose parents reside at No. 81 Eighteenth
street, was guilty of conduct toward it
which should at least secure her summary
dismissal, as not only wholly unreliable but
fiendishly cruel. In order to give her the
desired opportunity for amusement she
tried to force the child to be quietly seated
on stone bench, and when the little fell
low demurred, wishing to have romp, she
dashed him back upon the seat with force
enough to do serious bodily harm. Cases
of neglect and abuse on the part of SER
wants almost daily come under our observa-
ton, and we refer to them here in the inter-
est Of the iniantile community. We adj
wise parents look after their little ones.