The Morning herald., 1876-04-22
LOCAL NEWS.
4 HORRIBLE CRIME.

A HORRIBLE CRIME.
An lsshMnsGn Deed A WOnsan Accused
Of Atarvtn0 a Little Boy-Ths Reart''l
Before Esquire HaOany.
Last evening before Esquire Hagany
Mary E. HURT, alias Wiley, was arraigned or
complaint of Caroline jackson, and charged
with committing an assault and battery
upon the person of John Fl. Dow, a little boy
aged about eight years, and also of attempt.
ing to starve him. The circumstances o1
the case are these: About four years ago
the plaintiff came to this city with the boy
mentioned above, which is her son, and not
having means to support herself and child,
she left It with the accused, who resides on
McCaulley street, between Lombard and
Poplar streets. The woman promised that
the child would receive the best attention
from her that she could give, and the
mother left It.
By some cause the parties did not remain
as friendly as at first, and at last quarreled,
which terminated their friendship. About
four months since, the mother made an
attempt to gain possession Of her child, but
did not succeed; she afterwards made other
efforts, but her success was as before, the
last time she called, the door was abruptly
slammed in her face. After that, the boy
was never seen outside of the house, until
last Tuesday morning. His absence from
the street caused general inquiry from the
neighbors, yet they could learn nothing Of
bis whereabouts; but occasionally they
IN o,,11 hoo nviao a &c covvno nno IN dis
tress, coming from the house. On Tues
day, however, the child succeeded in get
titg out into the yard, and making an at
tempt to escape, but his persecutress was
upon him before he could get away, who
seized him by the neck, dragged him into
the house and beat him until he was blue
and raw from her bruises.
On the same day, the mother entered
complaint before Esquire Hagany, who
commanded the woman to deliver up the
child to its mother, which she did, but in
such condition of emaciatton, as to be al
most unrecognizable. The little fellow
was indeed almost starved, and food was
given him, which he devoured with the vo-
racity of hungry dog. The state of affairs
was such that the mother brought suit
against Mrs. HURT. She was accordingly
arrested, and her case tried before the JUS
tice mentioned. The child was exhibited
at the trial last night, and upon examina-
tion it was found to be
Y ALIvING SKELETON.
His eyes were sunken, the cheeks reduced
to little else than skin, through which
could be seen the bones of its face. Its lit
tie arms had wasted away until they were
Aho 4ro poopto tbv,vvnh "a
hands were shrivelled and long, and almost
transparent; its elbows were red and raw.
and the bones were plainly visible, Its
legs had wasted away, till their smallness
seemed scarcely possible. When the child
attempted to walk, 1t was unable to do SO.
and tell to the floor. I''
The principal witness examined in the
case was DR.. Smith, q colored man, living
In the neighborhood, who stated that he
had made an examination Of the child and
found that II was suffering from no organic
disease, and had 1t not been liberated could
not have lived more than two or three days
longer.
Other witnesses testified to the fact that
the child had been shamefully treated IN
every possible way; that 1t was kept con-
fined in the house, and only allowed lin
tied amount of food. It was also stated,
but the evidence was not given 81 the hear
ing, that the child was confined in dark
closet where it was compelled to exist In its
own filth, and to subsist upon potato skins,
and the heads of salt herring, which was
the only food It's inhuman keeper allowed
1t.
After hearing oil the evidence, Mr..
Hagany held the woman in the sum Of $500
for her appearance at Court, and in default
of bail she was committed to the custody
of the constable.