The New York herald., 1876-12-06
A TERRIBLE TEMPERANCE LECTURE.

CHILD sUFFocATED Dy IT'S DRUNKEN
pARESrs-THEy SWEAR THE DEED on EACH
orHER--THE INQUEST.
Quite dramatic inquest took place last evening at
lhe Fourth district court room. corner OF South First
and Finh streets, Williamsburg, before Coroner No
Ian The death Of aninfant, named Joseph McDevitt,
supposed have been soveraid" by It's parents, Was
The subject for investigation and the evidence was SO
conflicting that both ts father and mother were com-
nitled for the action OF the District Attorney.
The evidence was in substance as follows
Ann Owens, n neighbor, testified thai the McDeviti
family resided at No. Go Franklin avenue; that the
husband did drink occasionally but that the wife was
frequently drunk and that on day before the child
died so drunk she placed the childs iees to
her breast TO nurse it,
A DARK HOME
Mrs Emily McDevitt testified that she lived happily
with husband when he was sober but when be Was
drunk he abused her; but AS he never knew what
he did when drunk she always iorgave him; her hus-
band came home Thursday drunk; went to bed at
four p. NJ, got up al eight I. N. and went out lie
soon came back drunk he could not speak lie came
30 and lay the outside There we're then lve IN
the bednamely Eddie aged three. at the WALL herself
next, then Willie, aged seven, next the baby, and
ON the inside her husband She nursed the child at
A
hali-pas, five A. N. on Friday morning November
Bo she woke and found the child dead Her husband
reused her by cries got up and begged her not TO talk
about IL He out at seven, and came back drunk
~ twelve O'Clock, when he was arrested.
In response TO the jurors she SAID she founa tho
child at hali.paS FIVE A. NJ just where she laid II
after nursing at one o'clock she could not say how
the child killed, but lay between him and her,
otherwise could have done 1t as well as he he may
have thrown his over it; during the day she had
drunk beer, ac, whiskey and gin but not enough to
make her drunk she had never been drunk but threo
in her life, and never thoroughly under the
Influence OF liquor.
When she said this the women in the rear
Of the room set up howl OF incrcduty, one ex
claiming what lie, y at which the witness bristled
up and said, .'Ils true as Gospel"
When asked why she placed the child next her hus-
band of by her side she replied. 1T was
10 paciiy him, ior did not as usual mako him lie on
the lounge when he was drunk"
Detective Riggs, OF the Fourth precinct, was then
called TO the stand, and he that when he made
the he the dead child and its lace was black
but the mother told totally different story than TO
what she has told here She said at the station house
that McDevitt took the child out OF her and
hugged death. Then he told her not 10 cry, but
he would dig hole in the yard and bury IT.
Mrs. McDevitt was al once recalled and then stated
that she remembered making the statement spoken Of
but does remember that her husband took the baby
in his arms She made the statement not 10 screen
herself but because she thought So But she
thought II not SO except SO TAR as the hole
was concerned The exact words used were, keep
st, and will dig big hole and put i out Of the
way when have couple OF hours sleep"
ASTECEDENTs.
Alexander Ryan, grocer the first floor OF the
house. testified that McDcvt had been arrested some
time ago for somo difficulty. McDevtt ana his wife
both interrupted him, and said II was no such thing,
It other family; he had never been arrested
before
Officer Hand, OF the Fourth precinct, next testified
that he arrested McDevit for quarreng with his Wife,
that Justice Riley sent him 10 the enitentary, and
his vile begged HIM OIL before the term was served out
THE MANS STORY.
William McDevtt then called up and testified
that he had been spree IRON Saturday to Thurs
day; he did not remember giving his vile black eye
sunday. but he might have done ION Thursday
woke up at haiipas five A. NJ. that was the first time
got up Then rising and pointing TO his wie he
loudly kissed the book again and said:-"On my SOL
emn oath, she ies she is guilty OF perjury
now ana on times before; she had me arrested on
Washington's birthday for perjury and then sot me
ouS again" He continued saying that they had lived
vty unhappily together for four or tive wears owing
her habits of drinking ana but for the poor children
he would have lett her years before.
POOR CHILDREN.
The case was then gwen 10 the jury. Ono OF them
asked Tor the eldest child as a witness.
Mrs. McDevtt at this burst into tears ana said that
her children were home alone with one TO take
OF them. McDevtt with a scowl rcjoincd:-"fhen It
is time some one did take care OF then you amt
GID
They wero both quieled and the jury returned tho
following verdct:-.Ioscph McDcvltt 10 his
death by asphyxia consequent upon the
negligence OF ns mother" Coroner Nolan
then said that in view OF the contradictory
evidence he should hold both parents to await
the action Of the District Attorney. Another dra-
matte scene occurred the friends ana relatives Of
William McDevIt crowded around HIM, his fmother
and sister, who were evidently opposed TO his wife,
Insisting on getting charge OF the children. NcDevt
however pteousy appealed to the Coroner for his wife
10 be allowed to 20 home and tor the children
This he could permit, however, and on his suggcs-
lion both prisoners consented that the grandmother
should the children until their parents destiny
Is settled by District Attorney Brton this morning.