Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-11
Mechlin and His Daughters.

STATEMENTS OF THE FATHER.
When our report of the Mechlin assault cases
IN the Police Court closed yesterday, Mr.. Mech
lin. the father of the compliments, was giving
testimony i'm relation to his assault upon Char
l2tte, alleged to have taken place on the 4th Of
November, and on cross examination said he
did not remember that she was so indisposed
from the effs3ts of the punishment he inflicted
as not to be able to receive visitors at the house.
In relation to the assault on Aimee on the 4th
of November, the witness recited the circum-
stances of her carelessness in letting the table
her on the face and the blood spouted from her
nose. She went up stairs, and ne directed her
to hold her hands to her face, SO as not to soil
seemed to brighten her, and She showed signs
of one of her weak spells to which she was sub
ject He had no hammer in his hand at the time.
Der. was the next case to which his attention
was directed. He testified that the fault of her
taking the oysters and then trying to throw
the punishment. He took up piece of pine
Stat used on the childrens satchels to carry
books to school, which he kept for the purpose
OF Slapping the children with on the open
hand, and bent Willie over the bed and in
ficted about ten blows on her person. Saw no
signs afterwards Of any injury from this whip
ping. Witness did not generally exclude his
daughters from the table with him at meals
Sometimes, as rebuke for the SlOvenly ap
pearance they presented, he would exclude
them. Afforded them all the means in his
power to make presentable appearance.
The next case was that of the assault on
she was sent to market and ran away. He
learned of her absence when he got nome from
his office, and sent Ella to look for her. He
got in the car. Aimee had a strange, wild
look, and he thought she was not altogether
| responsible for her actions. Her only eXpa-
in the world by herself: He got home. and
after talk with the girls they came to the
conclusion for her safety, to cOnfine her in
the room upstairs, as has been described. He
did not scOld or abuse her. The next morning
he took the precantiOn to screw some Stats
across the window to keep her from jumping
with her or near enough to be on the watch
1t was warm spell, and she did not suf-
fer from cold. His purpose was to. make
ing herself. She had had very bad spells of
hfEsteerla, and from her appearance he was
in this room in the way he did to prevent any
physical suffering and to secure her. She
nan nan never 3e attempted to jump out OF the win
her condition Of mind from her strange ac-
lions, one of which was to throw her arms
around the doctors neck and:kisss him; and
her remark that she wished to make her way
III the world by herself, and by the unnatural
stare from her eyes.
MR.. wM. 3. WEBB TESTIFIED
that he had known Mr.. Mechin since they
were boys. He had learned of some of these
differences from Mr.: Parkman. A paper was
shown witness which he said was shown to
HIM by Mr. Mechin. The paper was read by
was power of attorney for Webb to draw $50
per month of his salary for the support of his
four youngest daughters. to be disbursed
under under his supervision and approval, and an
order on James. Eveleth, pay clerk, Engineer
bureau, to pay Mr.. Webb that amount monthly
out OF his (MechlinS) salary account.
NOT THAT STICK, BUT ANOTHER STICK.
Willie was recalled, and said the stick shown
in court was not the stick he used in furnishing
her. That stick was curved, and was larger
one She had been struck with this stick also.
Mr. Mechlin was recalled, and testified that
the stick produced in court was positively the
one he made use of.
The court here adjourned
ARGUMENT TO-DAY.
Mr.. Hugh Taggart, counsel for Mechlin,
commenced his closing argument in the PO-
lice Court this afternoon, all the parties inter-
eSted being present and a large number of
spectators. Mr.. Taggart reviewed the testi-
m1ny, taking up each case seriatim and tax.
ing the ground that the parent, during the
whole of his trying experience in his domestic
affairs had been actuated by humane and
children.
Mr.. Coyle, for the prosecution, made brief
reply to some Of the points presented by Mr.
Taggart.