Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-04-10
a BRUTAL OOLORED WOMAN,


A Child Beaten and Burned on a
stove-rhe y. p. q. U. Interferes.
The first scene at the municipal court
last night thus opened 'Yessor, | be.
lieve WAS drunk dom remember"
-one dollar aud costs, were defense and
sentence In running comment SIS Judge
Cummins disposed Of Hugh Mcfarland,
q mild-looking drunkard. Charles
Bradford WAS fined % for q similar
otfense
Denis Quill WAS placed In the dock for
the larceny Of arubber hose, so feet in
length, valued 8. sl8,a wringer and some
personal apparel. The goods had been
Identified by the owners, who were
present In court. They were found in
junk shop kept by jacob Kroner,
lO8 Tatnall street, by Sergeant Black.
burn; KRONER testified he had bought the
goods of Quill. The court reminded him
that this was the third time he had been
suspioiously oonneote with the larceny
OF goods. Kroner stated he paid 81 so
to Quill for the hose and within an hour
had refused %. Hevalued It at about $40
Denis Quill was held for $500 for appear
anoe AZ court.
Immediately after the disposal of the
above GASES Austin Harrington, Eaq.,
rose to his feet and addressed the court
saying that in the case OF the oolored
child, Margaret Wesley, he was not sure
that he could proceed, as she WAS tn
only witness and Was in a very critical
condition.
Subsequently, the child appeared In
court in her mothers arms; she appeared
unable to maintain an erect position.
Large white bandsges covered her head
and her right hand. The child moaned,
evidently with pain, as her mother
gently changed her 10 a reoumbent posi-.
ton. Mary Ellen Smith, the accused,
who has had charge of the child since Sep.
TENDER last, is stolid, brutal looking
oolored woman OF medium hight, broad
shouldered and stout. The mother held
the child in her arms during the whole
course Of the examination.
The story OF the oase is that Kezia b
Wesley, the mother, being in extre nelly
INDECENT circumstances, was in the habit
of leaving her child in the care of neigh
bors and friends. Last September Mrs.
Smith was made custodian. On visit
paid to her child some four months ago,
the mother noticed the soars and marks
upon the body which led to Mrs. Smiths
subsequent arrest.
Keziah Wesley stated that the child
was six years OF age last summer. The
child stated distinctly that Mrs Smith
had burned her on the stove; that she
had used the cowhide to her, had
whipped her, and had stuck a fork down
her throat
Mr.. Harrington stated that the child
had been put on the stove in nude
state, and further testimony showed that
the back part of her body had two large
sores upon 1t, the cutiole of the oontigu.
GUS parts being In relative condition of
decomposition. There Was hole IN her
tongue, and her lips were badly swollen.
Charles Hall, oolored, testified that he
never struck the child. As Hall spoke
the child sharply Dried, "You did you
didl" He stated that the reason the child
was bandaged WAS that she had broken
out all over. He did not know anything
about it.
Hannah Russell testifl I'd she knew the
child to be a bright aud reliable one.
Annie Briggs, ooloied, said that the
defendant had treated her son 30 badly
that be had to leave her.
Jane Wilmington, oolored, said she
had heard the llcks. The defendant
lived in the house at the rear of hers.
She added that the sounds she heard
were the same as when she used to lick
her own children. She had rot heard
any screams yesterday.
Sergeant Biackb burn, being sworn, said
the first he knew OF the case, was when
the mother brought the child into the
Office. DR.. Grimshgw had ordered some
medicine and ointments. He said that, to
him, the wounds looked like old aores or
burns not recently inflicted. The rags
she had on were sticking fast to the
body. There were deep res behind each
ear. 1t seemed as ii the ears would drop
of the head. There were also numerous
sores and scratches over the head and
body and hole In the tongue. He con-
oiuded his testimony by saying that from
what he saw of the wounds in the body +,
head and tongue, he would certainly
judge il to be the result of a designed ip-
Fiction.
The defendant said, when given an
opportunity to question witnesses, that
the child was thief in small store mes
sages. al gave her some bread ana
when she would mot swallow it, | took a
fork aud pushed it back down her
throat. didn't stick no fork ia her
tongue - The defendant COD
tinued, explaining that the child
was personally filthy before
she had charge OF her. 1t was imposeibl.
to Keep her bsd clean, and her person
WAS covered with veimin Hsr continued
lazinsss and lying in bed caused the
rotten sores. In the Id weather l used
to place damp rags on the stove, and
when they were quite hot placed them on
Msggis's back. | told her mother she
was dirty, and wanted her to take bel
home.
Mr.. Harrington said that the woman
had been cruel, absolutely cruel to tn,
child, had starved it aud that it had
received treatment that wonld not be
given dog.
The court stated tina. in the absence o
DR.. Grimshaw, whose testimony was
necessary for disposition OF the case, ht
would postpone it for hearing in tn,
morning.
Margaret Smith was then held in &2O(
bail. The oolored man, Charles Hall
was also held for same amount.
Before the court this morning, aftel
disposing of the cases of Mary Reed anC
Maria Hawkins, two oolored women, NJ
for drunkenness, in fines Of 81 and s
severaliy, the case of the oolored child
Maggie Wesley, was resumed.
DIR. Grimshaw testified that there wer'
extensive wounds, evidently burma, no
scalds, upon the child's buttocks ant
fingers. In reply to an inquiry from thu
court, he said he was satisfied that the,
were not the result of running sores sucl
as caused by filth, &c. They were large
well-defoed sores, and looked as if th'
parts had been ia contact wild
the stove. The sores could no
have been produced by plae
ing no. rags to the parts. They woul
have soslded the hands of the person ap
plying them. Hs had not noticed thu
wounds on the ears and tongue, as he di
not wish to Distress the child with fur
ther examination.
In sentencing the defendant the coui
said: "Margaret Smith, there Is III
doubted evidence to show tat you bav
been extremely cfuel to th's child. Ha
she been lef in charge much longer.
fear 1t would have resulted in her destl
9ou are fined $l00 and ooats."