Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-24
T0RTURING EMMA BELMONT.
fourd GUILTY Sentence Deferred.
New York Herald, 23dl

Mrs. Hendrieks's Appearance In Court
foard Guilty Sentence Deferred.
New York Herald. 2sd.l
Mrs. Elizabeth Hendricks was put
upon her trial before Judge Covenho-
ven, in the Quarter Sessions, at New
Brunswick, N. j., on Monday, upon
three indictments for atrocious cruelty
to Emma Belmont, very small girl OF
eight years, whom she had pro-
cured early in the present year
from the Southern Home for
Friendless Children, in Philadelphia.
When the prisoner was brought into
court yesterday there were loud and
threatening murmurs, but the Judge
promptly ordered extra police on duty
and gave notice that he would punish
with the utmost severity any unlawful
action. Mrs. Hendricks is fcrty-tw0
years old, very fine-looking woman,
elegantly dressed in black, and having
a good education. apparently, and
prepossessing manner. She entered
heavily yelled and carrying hsshly-
bound book, entitled "The Royal Path
Of Life."
According to the evidence, on the
18th of May last complaint was made
TO Chief-of-Police Fitzgerald that Mrs.
Hendricks, wife OF blacksmith living
on Hale street. was horribly abusing
the child Emma Belmont. He went
with other officers and found the child
in bed, with her hands sewed up in a
bed-gown, from which extended tapes
that bound them folded across her
breast and tied behind her back. lie
called DIR. Rice, county physician, who
took her to the hospital, where she
was found to be in an almost
dying state from her injuries. Her
head had been beaten with some blunt
until her scalp covered a
mass of extravasated blood. Her eyes
were black and closed, but her face was
beaten until it was almost unrecogniza-
Die. Her body and limbs were black
md blue with welts and bruises from
Ter neck to her toes. She was also
burned and the raw sores were further
aggravated by the application Of mus
ard. She could not sit down, and was
n constant agony to such degree that
was at first thought almost impossi-
lie TO save her life, which hung by
bread for many days. She finally raj
led and got well, when she was sent
ack TO the Southern Home. The lady
managers produced her in court, very
right and interesting child, but tear
lily afraid that she was to be returned
} her tOrmentOr.
Mrs. Hendricks said that Emma had
eaten her head against the wall when
be was tied up for punishment. So
ieat was the chld's fear of the woman
tat she corroborated this story, but
enied it as soon as she was in safety.
was also found that the night before
he was discovered the child had been
ed up alone in a dark room from
N TO twelve hours in such a position
Ia; she could not sit, kneel, or lie
own. Mrs. Hendricks, in her defence,
nd she had inflicted all the punish
ent except the hurts to the head and
le burning. The child, she claimed.
I'D hurt herself on purpose, and the
nrns had been inflicted by accident.
le gave reason for Furnishing the
hid.
The harness with which the child had
zen tied up, the stove-hfter with which
lie had been burned. and the carriage
with whiCa she had been
,aten were produce. in court, with
of the child's injuries, and
Gated sensation. Mrs. Hendricks
as defended by Howard MacSherry.
n the first indictment she was found
lilty, with recommendation to mercy.
n the second indictment she was found
lilty, and on the third she pleaded
IN vult. Sentence was deferred be-
use of the illness Of Associate-Judge
ewtop.