The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-17
DEATH UNDER THE LASH.
A COLORRD CHILD TWELVE YEARS
OLD WHIPPED TO DEATH BY
HER FATHER.
The Arrest Of the Accused and Particu-
lars Of the Tragedy.

The Arrest Of the Accused and Particu-
lars Of the Tragedy.
Last evening at o'clock, at the house No. 81
Religious street. a murder was committed
which is without parallel In the annals of
crime Of the city of New Orleans. 1t was the
whipping to death Of a colored girl. aged twelve
years, named Maria johnson, by her father,
Riley Johnson
The brutal father, after committing the un-
natural deed. withdrew from the house where
he had bathed his hands in the blood Of his Off
spring aud was no doubt arranging to make
his escape when he was taken In custody by the
police and locked up Ia the Second Precinct
Station charged, from information received.
The reporter visited the scene of the murder
and viewed the body of the child. Its body was
lacerated from head 10 foot. Its left eye pre-
scented a scar. which is said to have been in
flicted, by the father for the reason that the
nursing. confused wound of the breast
looked as IL 1t had been caused by a kick.
The mother of the child stated that Maria
stole 50 from her armoir in the morning and
ran away.
That she started out In search of her. and after
securing the city she found her on Melpomene
street In the evening; Upon bringing her home
she searched her and found that she had spent
all the money, save. fifty FIVE cents. She then
said to her: You little devil, will FIX you this
time: will freeze you to death. and you shall
go ar ound barefooted."
She then made her take, OIL her shoes. After
the child had taken off the shoes she took n
piece Of rope and tied her to the bedpost When
her father came home she left the house and
went to wash some dishes for the lady she was
working for. On her return to the house she
was about to go into the door. when she heard
her husband exclaim.S BY God, bslteve have
killed herl"
then entered the house and found my child
dead In the bed, having bJen whipped to death
by her father
CROSS QUESTIONED.
This Is not the lrst time he has whipped her
He has whipped her several times before and
left bruises on her.
On the twentieth of June. 1878. he kicked her
In the face
The accused was next seen and he said:
l returned home yesterday evening and
found my daughter tied to the bed post MY
wife told me she had stolen three dollars
from the armoir. and made up my mind to
chaetse her As soon as my wife lett the house
/ stripped her, and then. taking my leather
strap from around my waist, | commenced to
whip her. | suppose L whipped her twenty
minutes.
While was whipping her she tainted away.
then cut her down from the bedpost and sat
her in the chair. then took some water from
the basin and threw 1t on her face. She came
to and said. Il want to lay down." | placed her
In bed. and as she then commenced to look
queer. / ran to my next door neighbor and
asked her to come into the house and look at
her.
She did 50. and as soon as she saw her she
dressed her. My wife then came in. That's
all.
The strap with which the whipping was done,
together with the piece of rope with which tho
child was tied. was brought to the station for
evidence.