The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-03
WHAT A CHILD DID AT NIGHT
GOING From ROOM TO ROOM AND
STRINGLING THE HOUSEHOLD.
The CatIike Trick In which EuEenie Burton
says her Mother Instructed her 80 that
She Might Get her GuRrdinn's JeweIs-A
Marvellous story from n Police Court.

Marvellous story from n Police Court.
Eugene Elisa Burton was disposed OF
yesterday by Justice Kilbreth. who decided
that she was unfit to remain at home with her
guardian. Eugcnio Is the girl who said that
she came to this country to murder Mile. FL
frida de Wailly OF 343 East Fiiticth street and
all the inmates of her house. Mile. do Wailly
was born in Paris. and is the tutor Of French in
the Normal College; but her family were long
famous in the West Indies, whore they owned
several extensive estates. They were large
slave owners. Misiortunes came. and while
Mile. de wailly was still young the estates were
rcnQuished and the members OF the family
were scattered. Alfred Burton. a family SER
want and slave. went with the head OF tho fam
fly. He was young man. mulatto. He had
been educated by tho De Waillys and reared in
their household. and had declared it to be his
intention to cling to them but eventually he ro-
turned to tho West Indies. married. and
became the father OF girl. He corresponded
with the De Wailys. and told them that ho had
named his daughter Dora after member Of
their family The De Waillys were living in
Paris. They lived there until after another
child was born to the slave Burton by
second wife. 1t was not until after
Mile. de Wally had come to New York
aud was teaching in the Normal College. that
she heard that Burton was dead. and his widow
and children were left extremely poor. At the
solicitation Of Mile. de Wailly Dora was sent to
New York and given home In East Fifteth
street. She is now ~ years Of age. and is a
bright Intelligent child. She Is not pretty but
she has an interesting face. and is dutiful and
aiTectionate to her guardian. Her origin is
plainly visible in her features.
Three years ago the mother OF the second
child who had parted with Dora. wrote to Mile.
de wailly asking her to adopt the younger girl.
The kindly Frenchwoman folt no interest in
this second child but the mother wrote many
letters and used every persuasion. and ut length
II was agreed that she should become a COM
panon 10 her stepsister in New York.
This second child. Eugene. came to New
York early in the spring OF 1877. A bright
golden lock Of hair. purportinR TO be hers. had
been sent In advance by the mother who wrote
that the child was white. She proved to be a
mulatto with kinky hair. and the peculiar
creamy white eyeballs and white finger tips that
distinguish the muattoes. She was decidedly
pretty. however and Is so to-day. She was then
seven years OF age. Her mother sent to New
York a copy Of the certificate Of baptism, which
showed that she was baptized Engenie Elisa ="
IN the Roman Catholic Church OF the city OF
Kingston, in Jamaica. on the 18th OF May. 1871.
Her birthday was Nov. 6. 1870. Her fathers
name was given. and her mothers was declared
70 have been Emily Robinson. The certificate
bears the signatures ol Father Dupont, Matthew
Mattos. and Elisa Carr-the latter two being the
Eueenie Elisa was from the very first Pc
cullar child. She was 30 stubborn and sullen
that her brightness was at first problematical
But as soon as she began to feel at home with
Mile. De Wailly she became more tractable and
took readily TO the lessons that her guardian set
for her as the beginning OF the education that
was TO be given her. Despite her puny frame
tnebd ,ae gira M dsyeops eve temper that greatly dis,
was wllful and extrayagantly ,vindctiye at
frequent intervals and IN one Of her freaks she
bit and fought and did what damage she could
70 every animate and ingnimate thing around
her making shreds Of the bed clothing and
strips OF the upholstery. In degree deceitful.
she tried TO asten upon her stepsister. Dora. the
mischief she herself wrought She went with
out her meals sometimes only to steal from the
self burden in the De Wailly's home.
Recently strange Illness seized every men,
Der OF the family except Eugenie. lts symp-
toms were sore thrOats. restless nights. and a
sunocating sensation at night that took chok-
ing sensation Throughout the daytime. Dora
WAS frequently i'll OF these troubles Mile. de
Maily complained a long time. and finally was
obliged to stay at home and recuperate for
nearly week. Her invalid sister. who dwells
with her, suffered from the mysterious malady.
Eugene's active condition and heathful un-
concern happened not TO arouse the suspicious
OF any menber OF the family, One night, a few
weeks ago. Mile. de Wailly awoke from
troubled sleep to Ind heavy, warm weight
pressing her down. an external tightening OF
her arynX, and an indeiluable sensation at her
mouth. as though warm ar was being forced
into II. She awokc with fright and found Eu-
genie lying fiat on her chest. sucking her
breath. and clasping her throat with her hands.
Eugene discovered. fled to her own room. the
bed IN which she shared with Dora. She lay
there wide awake. but refused 10 answer Mile.
de WHilly's questions for long time: but at
length she confessed that she had been endeay-
orlng 10 kill every member Of the household.
The girl said that her mother had taught her
that method OF infctng death upon the family.
She was sent 10 New York with that object. Her
mother had told her To kill every one. even her
els and other possessions Of the household.
When all were dead the little girl says. she was
20 have sent for her mother to come and share
thespols. Eugene was taken before Justice
kilbreth on Saturday. as was reported in THE
SUN and the Justice gave the disposition OF the
child to the officers Of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty 10 Children. II was after
this that Mile. de Wallly took the little girl To
the omce ot that society and narrated her story
% Mr.. JeIkinr. The Little girl was questioned.
She admitted all that was charged against her.
Her story did not differ from the one'she had
previously told except that she added that If
Dora DID not die II was her intention drive
Mr. jenkins said 10 a sun reporter III at he be-
lieyed the case did not properly concern the So
eiety as the cruelty was practsed by the child.
He said. however. that he thought it consistent
Tor him To- see that th9 child was properly dis
posed OF, in case the charges against her We're
hrers OF the society cautious, and they We're not
satisfied with hearing the chid's confession In
ihe presence OF her guardian. They postponed
hnal action. aud yesterday sent Officer Chlardi.
VINO speaks Spanish, 70 question the child in
that language. and 70 henr the versions OF all
Rcter OF the tale warranted this in their opinion
officer Chiardi found that Eugene could not
speak Spanish, but he took her aside and cross
examined her In English. She again confessed
that It had been her intention TO choke the in
mates OF the apartments Her deep black eyes
met those Of the officer tearlessly as she spoke
and. 10 use his own words, she eynced neither
shame nor fear The tenor OF her childish
Rverment was that she was performing the part
OF an obedient child in carrying out her mothers
Instructions.
Onicer Chiardi next questioned Dora He
was Aslonlshed at her sell -DOssessi ion and clear
mind. She said that Tor weeks before the
practices OF Eugene were exposed she had been
feeling very ILL., All sorts OF Illnesses visited
her. and she WIS seldom wei. She was sleep
ing with Eugene AT this time When Mile. de
Wailly told OF the discovery She had made
Dora determined TO be on her guard. She had
been a sound sleeper before thet time, but she
was so afraid Of death al Eugonle's hands that
hhe awoke easily. and caught her stepsister
more than once. Dora says that Eugene be-
hayed exactly like "a cat She crept noise
lessly and slowly across TO where she
tDOral lay. and drew herself gently upon
Doras stomach and chest, where she
remained with firm but gentle pressure. mo-
tlonless and catlike. With her hands Eugene
then paved and strOked the under girls neck
and chest. now Rrasping her throat. and again
relaxing her hold upon IT, Her hands moved
rapidly, and fell softly upon her victim, and
THIS paving and strOking. choking and releas-
kent nm until WAS thrown off or