Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-19
The MechIin Case in the Criminal
CSHFf. ~

In the Criminal Court. Judge Wylie, yester-
day, the trial of the five cases of assault
against Joel Il. Poinsett Mechlin, preferred by
his daughters was continued after our report
closed. Major A. G. Richards, late chief of
under his direction. The defendant was then
placed on the stand, and denied that he pun
ished Charlotte with a chair-rocker, or hit her
merely cuffed her with his closed hand He
chasiiSe Willie because she told a falsebOOd
about the oysters: he did not think the WbipI
ping severe. In fact, she bore it so well that
intended. Aimee got her lamming for permit
ting the table to slip while he was trying to oil
the rollers, but it was not particularly yio-
lent blow that was given.
1hls morning there was larger audience
present than on the previous days. Officer
shelton testified to having arrested Willie
SAID that she had not run away in consequence
of ill-treatment by her father. She was poorly
dressed at the time.
again took the stand and in detail related the
manner in which his daughters had acted to-
wards him, and gave his version of the alleged
assaults, denying that he had struck any one
OF them with the hammer. He admitted tying
Aimee, and said it was to prevent her running
away, and because she was subject to hys.
and 1t was to prevent this that he tied her. He
related that when his daughters returned from
school they were shiftless and careless, and
that to buy them good clothes was like casting
pearls before swine. On their return from
school Charlotte was placed in charge, but she
was SO lily fitted for the position that he re-
heved her and gave Ella the charge. He re-
lated that on the oath of February, when he
and Ella returned from a concert. they found
the house empty and a note under the door not
in the handwriting of any one he knew. OF
his salary, Sl33, he spent all in his household
expenses. Heshad never given them so small
sum as two cents to buy meal, and had
never refused to give them money to buy
provisions when asked.
The defence offered in evidence the paper
dated April LIST, signed by MechIin, proposing
to make provision for the children.
was 50 years of age; Ella is q years old; the
next between 10 and 20; the twins II, and the
youngest Is. He repeated that several of the
alleged assaults he knew nothing about. He
had punished Ella by sending her to her room
to remain until she learned how to behave
herself: He locked up Willie for two or three
weeks because she had run away without any
inst cause: not as apunishment but as security.
Willie could not well see the stick he whipped
her with.
DR.. Okey. testified that he had attended
with hysteria, her mind being somewhat
affected: Mr.. Taggart related the circum-
stances tOt the tying of Aimee, and witness
said that it did not strike him as the proper
She came from the WOman's Christian Asso-
clalOn Home She was looking particularly
we'll. 1t would be injudicious to infiict cor
pOreal punishment or confinement in a room
on person in the condition the girl then was.
Ii the father was satisfied there was danger of
her jumping out of window it would be
proper to cOnfine her, but it would have been
better for some one to have watched her.
VIM. b. Webb was next called and testified
that Mechlin called to see him as to his
children having left the house, but objection
was made and the evidence was ruled out.
Maria button, cOlored, testified that she
went to Mechlin's house in March to do wash
ing and to clean the house, and found some of
the clothes very good but very dirty.
FRANK Howe testified that the stick in ques-
ton weighed two ounces.
The defence rested their case here.
The defence submitted several prayers for
instructions, which after discussion, were
passed upon by the court, and Judge Wylie
remarked that it seemed to him that in the
In I'd Humphreys. 2S3, the rule is the most
clearly laid down. He read that the right of
parents to chaStiSe their children is so neceS-
sary that no mOrallst OF law maker has
and the punishment must not be beyond mod
Grafton OF excessively cruel. 1t is the excess
OF punishment which constitutes the offence,
and this is question of fact for the jury. Pa
rents have the rlget to intiict punishment in
moderation, even up to the age of q. 1t is
not to be inflicted for light and frivolous Of
fences, and it should be proportionate to
the the offence dkaaed The parent or Guardian must
Judge as to whether the punishment is eXces-
Slve. They were to be satisfied that the
parent has been cruel and immOderate, taking
all the circumstances into consideration. 1t
was not Tor the court to decide whether the
facts show case of excessive punishment
They ought not to assume that parents have
10 right to chaStise their children, and at the
same time they should not forget that children
have rights also.
Mr.. Coyle commenced the argument for the
prosecution.