Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-06-21
Starving a Family of Children.

THE DIABoLIcAL WORK OF FRONT
STREET FIEND-How SHE SAVED MONEY
IN TRYING TO KILL HER CumDREN-A
SAD AND DRPLORABLE CASE OF CRUELTY.
At the Mayors office this morning De.
teclive Lyon brought to the attention of
Mayor Evans one Of the saddest and
most deplOrable cases of inhumanity aud
ill.trealment that has come to light IN
this city for some time.
At No. 35 Front street, there lives John
kruppenbacher, his wife or reputed wife.
Cathariue, and three children, the latter
Of a former wife. About Is months ago
tue poor unfortunate mother OF the chill
dren died. She had been out of her mind
fully TWO years before her death. Afer
seasonab.e time the above Catharine
was brought 10 the house and placed over
the children as step-mother. She is said
TO have three husbands at present living
in Reading.
When she took charge Of the family
the children were in good health, stout
and robust. Until last August Maggie,
aged II years, was In excellent henlth.
and weighed fully 100 psuncs. From
that time can be dated the womau's cru
city and inhumanity. BY degrees she had
grown averse to the little children, and
as the time passed, bringing none Of her
own to take care of, her heart hardened
to the rest and slowly she commenced
starving them. Little rs little was denied
them until at last the pangs of hunger
l.ii their marks upon two of The Young ST.
The healthy pictures Of the little ones
departed and suspicion was aroused
among the neighbors.
The little ones were driven out early In
the morning to pick coal were never
teen respectfully dressed on Sunday, aud
lowry they were noticed to grow thinner
anu thinner The n.ighbors gave the
little ones whenever opportunity pre-
scented itself, aud information was made
TO the father. He is employed at the
schuylklll Navigation Works, aud is
SAID 70 be very line man. Notwith.
standing this, the woman Is boss. ana
what She says Is law. Gradually matters
became worse, until few mornipgs apo
tue liltle children were seen eating cast
on articles out Of neighbours swill tub.
Detective Lyon was informed of the
facts and the little girl was brought to
the Mayors Office with TWO Of the neigh
bors.
She presented deplorable sight. What
mad once been q stout healthy girl was
now but skins and bones. She had
never been sick, but said that the reason
was because she had not enough TO. eat.
Auy portion of her body can be spannrd.
and her features look sharp and punched
she told plain story II The cruelty she
had received. Her breakfast consisted
OF halfsllce of unbuttered bread and a
cup OF water. At dinner she was given
whole piece and potato supper the
same as breakfast. Another child was
treated in the same manner. The stem.
mother favored the oldest, and gave him
little more, hut not much. She had a
particular aversion to the girl Maggie.
Her father did not dare to saw a word.
some days ago, he came CRYING to
heighoor and telling of the cruel treat
neht meted out to his children. Hethrn
gave an amount OF money to purchase a
par ol SHOES lot the little girl. lie did
not dare give 1t to his wife.
Last Sunday the woman told the bow
70 take Maggie out walking along the
noy TO take the girl near the water.aud TO
push her in If il was possible.
Many acts of cruelty were told nv the
little girl, which would not look well in
print at this time.
warrant was Immediately issued for
the arrest Of the woman on the charge of
lnhumau treatment, and placed In the
hands Of detective Lyon ana Chief
Cullen. The little girl has been placed
In the hands of a family that will take
proper care Of the almost starved crea-
ture The remaining children will also
be placed IN proper hands.-Rsadi,
Eagle Of The l7M.
FURTHER.
The revolving details of the child starver
OF NORTH Front street, as appearing In The
Eagle OF yesterday afternoon, have Gre
aled considerable talk In the community.
Inc Mayor remarked that IL was one Of
the very worst cases Of the kind he had vel
had, ard that he felt Justified In bolding
defendant la $1,000 bail to answer tie
eharg at the August Sessions Of Cont.
MIS-. kruppenbacher asked leave 10 re-.
main al the station house until evening
IN order to give her sister more time 10
hutt up somebody to furnish the r, ouired
security She was, therefore, remanded
10 ecu, out being unable TO procure the
hquiIec bail. she was taken to Prison
lhht hight The childen will hereafter
receive proper care. Maggie Is Ii wears
o'd, aud The two boys are respectiyelv ~
ana years Of age.-Rsadi,g Eagle, isr1