Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-12
A PitiTuI story "f Neglected ChfI-
dNen

This morning, in the Police Court Kate
J0Ies was srrsigned on the charge OF assault
ard battery on Ida Jones, her ltto crippled
daughter, about four years old. Mrs. Jones IL
a widow, some thirty or thirty-fre wears OF
age, and according 20 her ONn statement, rents
a tent ment on sth, between g and streets
$ utheast, where she leaves her children every
day while he works in the printing bureau of
tie Treasury department. In the dock during
the hearing she was pretty GLIB on the tongue.
Sic fas evidently been govd-loOking, though
SOmt What faded nov.
Mr.. Thomas :. Denbsn, a gentleman Who
hves neat dO'T to Kate, testified that She moved
il to The neighboThoOd about two or three
months ago. siuce which time she has Teen In
the Gahit # looking her children U? in her
house, with Tan OF water 20 driuk from aud
few cTusts Of breed. one child r. a boy about
seven OF eight yesn q age; the next a little
siTl about four years Oh. who las become de-
foimed; ana the Youngest lot more than two
years cid. The bCv sometimes escapes aud rOams
about begging, while tie OtheTs, being to-
mall for that, iingeT alone from hour 20 ho1r
AID DAY 20 dsy without auv one 20 care for
their personal condition, and so As thew pass
the time in a filthy and nearly starved condition
they cry all the time they are not asleep. The
neighbors attention having been attracted from
their cries and mOans, they have been in the
habit Of tossing bread and biscuits through the
window slets; this, II seems, has Ofie nded the
mother, who appears TO be anxious TO conceal
the real condition OF affairs. Yesterday the
neighboTs became excited at the pitiful sight OF
there children Gagged mp In a hot room, the
yoIngest IN terribly filthy condition,
stove, where che appeared 10 hays
been cTCuChing 80 long ~ TO have become de.
formed. The mother returned home from the
department yesterday at q late hour, and iins-
ing that the DeighbOrs had been interesting
themselves about the children, became quite
Indignant, AID cured them. telling them q
Mid their owl business. She then flew at her
children and beat them 81 very cruelty, with
out any cause whatever. This appeared TO have
been done AZ parently 20 show her neighbOrs Der
disspi probation OF interference, and 20 punish
the children for complaining. Witness hsi
never seen 20 pitiful q case before. The moth,
ct lager teer gardens lsSe at night leaving -
chilcIen in this same condition. She keeps NO
or three MARINES about her house when at home.
and rOams about with them.
THE testimony vas oOFrOborktei by several
ladies who live In the neighb0ThoOd.
Aft6r the testimony closed Kate told the
Judge that ste was obi ed 20 leave her chill
dren as she bad 20 work for q living and was not
able TO employ q nurse or servant; that IL was
not true that she kept them In a starving con-
clifton; they had enough 10 eat, but she al her
rent 20 pay and was also paying q debt due on
her furniture, which kept her short OF money.
She charged that the witnesses were pref udiced
The judge said this was one of these cases diff
rcult 10 dispose OF. The Police Court was not
q Humanitarian institution, 70 take care OF the
poor and needy, although IL wa his endesvOr
TO conduct lis proceedings In accordance with
humanity. He hsd never had q case Of this
Kind where such evidesce OF cruel and un-
natural neglect had been developed. IL he
sent her 20 jail the children would suffer, and
he was at a loss what 20 do. She had shown
her own offspring, yet there seemed TO be no
other natural protector or guardian; and as he
had alre sdy fined her $40 For profane and in
Decent language he would let her of by giving
bonds b keep the peace, and should there he
any repetition OF these offences, some more
stringent measures must lie taken.