The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-30
A,rocious Cruelty to Children.

SIX INFASIS APPARENTLY DllNG fDR W AM Ot
FOOD AND CARE.
The New York Tribune gives the follow
ing particulars OF case OF atrociOuS cruelty
occurring in that city: The cries OF infants
on the first floor OF the house at No. So east
Twenty fifth street have Tor some time past
been heard by the neighbors day and night.
The apartments are occupied by Mrs. Mar
garet McCloskey. who advcrtiseS herself rs
a "wet nurse" Mrs. Elizabeth Clifford,
OF No. 123 west Third street, hearing that
the infants were improperly cared for, Wis
tied the floor and discovered that they were
sickly, weak, and apparently dying. She
reported the case at the Eighteenth Precinct
station-houSe, and officer Alexander Ger
ner, OF the Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty to Children, was ordered
to investigate the matter. He went
to the place with Police-Officer Gold
wait. At the house they found six
small children, most OF them only a few
months old, though one was about three
wears Of age, lying about the room in a most
Ditiabc condition OF neglect, some OF them
apparently dying for lack OF food. There
was ONLY one cradle. Two Of the children
were held by the women in the room, OF
whom there were three, two OF them ser.
wants out OF situations. The third, Cathe.
rine Conkling, had lived with Mrs. McClos'
kew for three OF four months. The babies
| appeared neglected and dirty, the legs and
| arms OF some OF them being no thicker than
| n mans thumb. The officers sent for ice,
food, and physician, and left the children
for the night in charge OF the woman who
owned the house. Mrs. McCloskev herself
was not ut home, but came during the night
and carried away one child. She called upon
the mothers Of two others, who reclaimed
their children.
Officer Corner arrested Mrs. McCloskey
Yesterday afternoon, and took her to the
Fourth District Court, in Flfty-ScVenth
street, where she was held for trial In
81, 900 bail. Catherine Conklin was held
for examination. One of the servants sale
that Mrs. McCloskey had kept IN establish
ment on Second avenue between Thirty
first and Thirty-second streets until about
week ago, but the neighbors were curious
to know why there were so many chlldIen
there, and the woman had moved to hel
present residence Mrs. Clifford stated thai
an English friend OF hers who had been dc
serted by her husband left her two chill
dren-one few weeks old, the other TOUR
teen months old-with Mrs. McCloskey
while she flied position as Wet-nurse
agreeing to nav SIS month for their board
During the last two weeks Mrs. CATHERINE
French, OF No. 123 west wenty-third street
visitedthe babies, and last Friday, seeing tina
theseldest one was failing, took it away. Or
Monday Mrs. Clifford found the yollnges
child apparently dying from starvation, ant
was told by one OF the women that Mrs
McCloskey had been angry because the othe
| infant had been removed, and had strucl
the little one, saying, "Let it die; it's pait
for" Mrs. McCloskey says she moved t
No. 324 east Twenty-tifth street about weel
ago that she lived on Second avenue, aboy,
Thlrty-first street, for the six weeks pre-
vious, and that before that she had lived II
Fifteenth and Forty-ffth streets. She sale
she Kept 4 servants clearinghouse, tool
tchilGren to board, always taking good car
OF them She is slim woman, neatl.
dressed, Of medium height, with black eye
land hal: and thin face.