Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-08

A Negro Fiend BrutaIly BMts Little
Girl Until Her Body IL a Ass Of Raw
FIesh-Hfs Arrest and Incsr~ lon.
Coroner sheftalI brought to light
through an inquest yesterday one OF the
most cruel and barbarOus child murders
that has ever been placed on record.
Early in the morning he was notified that
a coIored girl about II years Ofage named
Ella Elizabeth MacMUTTay was dead at
the Hermitage plantation, about three
miles from the city, on the Augusta road.
1t was reported that the child had been
killed bv whipping and cruel treatment.
The Coroner FASTENED 10 the house
where the body lay. It was trlghtful
sight. The whole Of the child's lett leg,
and a portion OF her body nearly TO the
waist. was a raw piece OF nesh greatly
swollen.
named George Oliver, a dark-skinned mu-
latto about "a years old, who was the
steD-father of the dead girl and the sup
posed author Of her punishment and
death. The negro claimed to be
sick, but was 1T once placed
under surveillance. A jury was sum-
mOned, consisting OF isaac marion;
Charles Jones. Brutus Edwards, Daniel
Lewis. Thomas Jones, James Dixon and
Simon Parker. all cOlOred. The story Of
the crime was ELECTED from the testimony
OF the witnesses who were found and
brought before the jury.
Hannah Oliver, the mother OF the
girl. testified that she was whipped
by her father, George Oliver, about
three months ago, using heavy leather
strap with which to intlict the punish
ment. She was unable 70 state what was
the matter with the girls leg, and also
failed to state what prompted the WHIP
ping.
Jack Williams. a negro farm hand, tes-
titled that about two months ago the glrl
came to his place to get some wafer ana I,
while there asked for a piece OF bread. he
told his wife to give her the bread. soon
qffprwards the mother, Hannah Oliver
came along. and he asked her what was
fbe matter with her child. as she seemed
to he all swollen up. The mother replied
that the girl had fever one morning. ana
that her stepfatheT got up and measured
out a task of work for her 10 do, ana that
the child falling to perform II, he whipped
nor three times that day so hard that she
could not crv out. The mother also stated
that She begged her husband not TO Kill
her child.
,Tobn ri. Won Lehe testified that during
JuIv the Girl came to his house 10 get a
drink of water. HC noticed the condition
OF her leg ana d1hcN ACA WAAt 80 81
matter. The child said that her father
had whipped her the Saturday before
with a hard sun-dried strap which he
had picked up in the field. He
had her turned ShOg fashion,"
and though her mother begged him not to
whip her so he didn't stop. The witness
stated that he asked tue child where
her mother was the day the CONVERSE
ton was being held, when she told him
that she did not know, as her pa mad
given the mother a beating on Saturday
night and that she had run on.
The Coroner explained to the jury the
nature of the injuries, and said they
might have been aggravated by erysipelas
and subsequent want Of proper treat
ment.
The Jury retired and in few minutes
returned a verdict, attributing the death
Of the child 10 whipping at the hands oil
her stepfather. George Oliver and that
they considered il murder. The coroner
at once issued a commitment, and Oliver
was arrested by Officer Nathans and
brought To the city and lodged IN jail.