Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-06-14
A SERIOUS CHARGE. :.
A BOY COMMITTED WITHOUT
BAIL ON A CHARGE OF
CRIMINAALA ASSAULT.

Mention was made in Fridays RE-
PUBLICAN of a case of criminal outrage
on little girl in South Wilmington,
and Friday afternoon Officers Vickers
and Cannon, with Constable Ward,
having learned that the boy was at his
parents residence, on Clay mont street
proceeded to the place, and although
the family protested that he was not in
the house, succeeded finally in finding
him between the mattress and Stats OF
a oetl.
He was taken to the ball, and this
morning had hearing before Squire
Bertolette, when he gave his name as
Alexan4er wilkins, and his age 16
years.
DR.. Springer was the first witness
examined, and he testified that he was
cal led to ses the child Emma Wright
on Tuesday, and found her suffering
from nervous prostratiun, brought on
| by n severe shock or great excitement.
He gave a detailed statement of the
child's injuries and said it was evident
rhat criminal outrage had been Conf
miited The child is quite i'll, but
in the opinion of the ply sician would
soon recover.
Sarah Wright was sworn, and testiti-
ed that she is tho mother Of Emma
| Wright and in answer to the Squire, said
| the child was between and 8 years
of age. Last Saturday morning about
eleven o'clock she sent Emma TO Cox s
briCkyard with her brothers dinner,
and she did not return until after 3 o.
clock iR the afternoon.
| When she came home the witness
asked her why she had stayed so long,
but the child did not answer, aud SEEM
ed frightened and worried. She laid
down on the settee for a while and then
went up stairs to bed, and did hot come
down again until Sunday morning,
when she acted so strange that the wit
ness again asked her what was the mat
ter, but she refused to tell
| On Monday she was still sick, and,
after the father had gone to his place ct
business, tn" witness again took her to
task, AMI she finally told her what had
happened, buG begged the witnes' nor
to tell her father. Finding that toe
child continued to grow worse, she told
the father, and On Tuesday DR.. Sprin ger
was called in. The witness said that
when Emma came home on SATURDAY
her clothes were torn and dlsarrangtd
| Officer Cannon testified 10 The facts ot
the arrest, and the Squire Informed The
prisoner that this was very serious
lcharge, and he thought the evidrnc,
warranted him in committing him
without bail to answer at the next term
of Court.
The accused says he is between II
and II years of age, but looks fully d
year younger. He has been going on
the steamer Wilmington as boOtblack
but for several weeks past has beef
Isinging in d tree aud easy on Market ST
uear Front. H. is said to have bad
lreputaiion, and this morning either di'
luot understand the enorhlty of TX
crime, or did noJ care, as he sten.e>
perfectly unconcerLed during the entls
trial, and remarked tO a person aftt,
ward. that he did not care What the,
done so they didn't hang him.
The victim told her mother that wLi
she WAS going with The dinner she ne
WiDkler, who asked her to 90 over il
the woods and he would snow he
where there We're some nice pears. oh
accompanied him, and " hen they got t
la place where there was a clamp G
trees lie seized her, and committed th'
Iun'rage.
The boy does uot deny the charge. but
lattempts to place part of the blame on
the child. His father and little Sistel
we're present at the hearing, but did no
tuke any part III the proceedings, an'
he first named, in conversation with {
reporter, said that he had no money tt
+mploy an attorney, ana the law would
| have 10 take its course.