Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-09
INHUMAN TREATMENT.
An Old Woman Kept in Filthy Room
Three Years by Her Niece.
From, the Ne,o Yook n,

From the Net0 Yoob Tribune.
NEW HAVEN, Nov. "a shocking case
Of cruelty was discovered to-day IN the
town of Cheshire by DIR. c. B. Adams,
of this city, State agent for the Connec-
ticut Humane Society. Three years ago
Mrs. Caroline Brooks, who ls widow of
Aaron Brooks, a soldier in the war of 1872,
being then 81 years old and growing in
firm, decided to turn her little farm and
property in Southington over to that town
ship in trust, she in turn 10 receive her
support from the town. Mrs. Brooks was
also the recipient of pension Of 500 a
year. She had no near relative in South
ingtOn and her reason for thus dispOsing
of her property was to keep herself out Of
the clutches OF n niece, the wife OF George
Peck IT,, OF Cheshire. She feared her
comfort would be abridged should she
pass under the control Of the Pecks. To
her grief the SouthingtOn authorities at
once placed her in the care of the Peck
family, with whom she has since been
compelled to live in close confinement,
seeing no one and undergoing inhuman
treatment. Her old friends in Southing-
ton not knowing where she WAS hal given
her up for dead. Dr. Adams was inform
ed OF the facts yesterday by a benevolent
sence of the Peck family, he forced his
way into back room OF the house which
was heavily locked. 4 distressing sight
met his gaze and a sickening stencil flied
ais nOstrlls. Covering in front Of him in
the wretched apartment stood the wrin-
kled, feeble old woman, with rags and
traces Of suffering. Her eyes filed with
tears, and she implored him TO 20 away.
81 have come to relieve YOU" said the
doctor, cbeerily.
"Who are youW she Inquired, half in
spired by hope.
~ am an agent Of the State Humane
Society"
AT last!" cried the woman, while tears
streamed down her thin checks. "My
God is It possible? l knew help would
come at last"
The apartment was in a wretched con-
dition. II had not been cleaned since her
imprisonment. The floor was a reeking
mass Of fish bones, meat bones, and hlth
OF all description, foul stencil from
which pervaded the apartment. The room
was cold, for there was no fire. Near the
door, on stool. stood some OF the dirtiest
dishes conceivable, on which were the
ratiOns for the day. They consisted OF a
piece OF cold salt mackerel, some milk
and some cold potatoes. u can't eat it,"
cried the old woman. Her bed was a mass
OF rags, auu nef uicbs consisted OF ullap-
dated skirt and chemlse, stockings full
OF holes and a shawl, the whole being so
old, greasy and dirty as TO be repulsiye.
Her hair was matted and her condition
sckenng. She told her story in full. She
has been out OF her room only once In
the three years, and then only 10 change
her room. Since the day she entered
Peck's house her life has been one Of prl-
walton and terror. According 10 her own
story she was fed once a day. II she
showed rebellious spirit or made any
trouble she says she WAS beaten. Peck
was paid 81 80 a week for caring for hor,
and II IL said that he cleared 50 37L out
Of this amount.
This evening the woman was taken 70
the southingtOn Almshouse by the select
men OF that town. IL Is said that
these men, William Y. Otis, Michael
Egan and Charles Hitchcock, will be
proceeded against for neglect with intent
to kill.