The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-02-16

On Iuesday, the Ist DAY OF reDrtla'
ry, Joseph Bshfori, on going to a tree
top which had blown of and fallen
across his spring branch, found the
body of a female baby, which had the
appearance of having been dead some
days. The body Of the unfortunate
little waif was lying upon board in
the branch, and Ashford took it and
deposited it about a foot beneath the
surface Of the ground for the time be-
ing. 1t being late in the afternoon
when he found it, and the weather in
tensely cold, he told no one of his dis
covery till the next day, when he told
his sister, Mrs. Hughes, and Mr.. N.
B. Wilson, his brother-in-law. both of
whom lived in the same neighborhood
with himself, but neither of them
would go over to see it, and it was sew.
eral days before he got any of the
neighbors to take it up, till finally he
got Mr.. Obed Lyles and Mrs. Temper.
anee Wilson to 60 over, and Mr. Lyles
took the child up, and he and Mrs.
Wilson examined it, but found no
marks of violence upon it. Mr.. Lyles,
however, notified coroner Boswell.
who summoned DR.. n. j. Raines, and
held an inquest upon the body of the
child. What the verdict of the coro-
ner's jury was, we have not learned,
but suffice it to say, that Squire E. F.
Tilford, deeming that there were rea>
sonable grounds for believing that
Miss Jimmie Ashford, (sister to 10,
seph), was the mother of the child,
and had concealed the birth of it, and
that Joseph was pa1iceps. erimiiaiis, is
sued a warrant for the arrest of Miss
Ashford; accusing her of having con-
cealed the birth Of the child, and also
for the apprehension of her brother for
completely in the matter. and they
were arrested and tried at Rosine, this
county, Friday last, before justices
Tilford and Afford, the Common
wealth being represented by Mr.. San
derfur, County Attorney, and Sam. E.
Hill appearing as counsel for the ac-
cused, and after the introduction of the
proof on the part Of the State. The
attorney for the defense moved the
court to discharge Joseph Ashford, be-
cause of failure Of proof, which motion
was sustained, and Mr.. Ashford was
released from custody. The defense
then waived further examination, and
submitted Miss Ashford's case to the
court, who held her in the sum Of
$500 bail for her appearance at the
Circuit Court to answer the charge,
and in default of bail she was on Sat
urday last, committed to Jail. From
those who were present at the coro,
ner's inquest, and at the examining
trial, we understand that it was proven
that Miss Ashford was suspected Of
being in a delicate situation for some
time previous to the finding Of the
child, that she had q short spell of
sickness at Joseph Ashford's just pre-
vious to the finding of the body, but
had left there previously, going away
to her sisters, whs lived hard by, on
foot, and carrying q large satchel of
clothing. She was confined only a
few days, and protested that there was
nothing the matter with her save q
dysentery, occasioned by eating ,Oalnais.
She is good-looking young woman,
quite small, and apparently about. %
or "a years of age, and has previously
borne good reputation, and We hope
that she may find bail, and on her
final trial be able to satisfactorily ex-
plain the circumstances which attached
suspicion Of maturity to her. In JUS
tice to her, we would further add, that
she expressed herself willing to be ex-
amined by . physician or intelligent
matron. 1t seems that Joseph Ash
ford is an ignorant, well-meaning man,
and being scared by some of his neigh>
bors, who told him that he had com.
mitted penitentiary offense in NOV
ing the child before the coroner saw it,
acted somewhat strange in consequence,
and hence his arrest, but the proof abb
solved him from all guilt.
On Monday, Jimmie Ashford, an
account of whose arrest, trial and COM
mitment is given above, through her
attorneys McHenry & Hill, filed with
Judge Gregory her petition for a writ
of hdbcas corpus, directed to Mr. Wise,
the jailer, to produce the petitioner |
before the Judge without delay. The
petition alleged that in accordance with |
the organic law Excessive bail should |
not be required, excessive fines i'm