The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-07-09
A HORRIBLE STORY.
A Little Girls Account Of the
Suffering She Endured While
Among the Gypsies.
Taken from an In6rmary and for Five
Years Subjected to Terrible.
Treatment.
Her Escape.

Her Escape.
A little less than three months ago
the citizens of the little town of Gettys.
burg, Darke county, o., were mortified
by Il story told them by waif calling
herself Cora Dobbins, writes Shelby.
willie correspondent of The Cincinnati,
Commercial Gazette. The child's story
was SO horrible as to create the wild.
est Indignation. and but for the fact
that she would tell some her name was
Cora Dobbins and others Cora Green,
this letter would have been written in
Ohio. with u detailed account of the
manner in which the girls tormentor
was mobbed.
An exceedingly pleasant drive OF
some seven miles. going east on the
Michigan road from this place, brings
you to the elegant. not to say palatial,
farm residence of Mr.. Leonard Powell.
This gcntlcman's home is surrounded
with all the wealth and luxury that a
successful life brings to the Industrious
farmer. 1t is just such home as all
wish for, but few ever secure. The
beautiful dwelling, the elegant lawn.
the walks, which are bordcred with the
sweetest flowers. the spacious outbuild-
ings. the herds of fine, sleek kline, with
great fields OF swect-scented clover in
full bloom, the fields of waving wheat,
the songs of the birds-make the scene
one worthy of the artists best cndeav-
ors. To this elegant home your CORE
spondcnt. this morning, wendell his
way. and there heard one of the sad
dcst, most shocking, and heartrending
tales that ever fell from the lips Of II
mortal.
In this beautiful home, taken there
through the act of pure philanthropy.
is now Cora Doolittlc, Il child only IA
years old. who has suffered all the tor
lures ever inflicted on the bravcst hero
of the days Of the inquisition. As she
stood before me this morning it was
hard TO believe that her story could
possibly M true, and were it not for the
sears that cover her body, from her
very toes to the crown of her head,
any person would be justified in disbc-
lieving her. The child is bright in the
ways OF the world, but thoroughly ig-
norant as to books. She is not hand
some. neither is she homely, her bright,
sparkling gray eyes being so quick to
see everything that she is rendered at
tractive. Her hair is blonde. complex
ion fair and ruddy, and her build is
strong and elastic. In conversation
she is adroit. and shows the cunning
of the people she has lived with so long
Dressed in Il neat. light lawn dress,
with :. pale blue ribbon at the throat,
the child was neat, and were it not for
horrible scar across the left cheek and
a bullet wound in the forehead she
would be considered by some rs hand
some. This child's mother was Susan
Doolittlc. a poor, unbcfricndcd woman,
who found her way to the county
asylum, four miles south of here, be-
| fore the child was born.
When the little unfortunate babe was
| usherel into the world, Mr.. Hugh Dob
bins was then superintendent of the in
| stitution, and he christcncd the babe
Cora, and as she grew up the inmates
generally called her Cora Dobbins. 1t
WAS this fact that made her give the
name OF Cora Dobbins at Gettysburg.
One evening in 1881, when Henry
Spcllman was acting rs superintendent
Of the asylum, man and woman
walked up to the front door of the
place, and. inquiring for Spcllman,
asked him if they had little girl they
could get to raise. The stranger CAV.
his real name, that of John Moberly,
and claimed that the woman was his
wife.
Cora was brought down stairs, and
her mother now being dead, she was
turned over to NIobcrly and the woman
They walked but u short distance wher
they arrived ut Il place where they had
left q covered wagon. and into this the,
put the child and made off. From thai
late to this the girl las been wander
inr over the country with this man il
bands Of gypsies, her travels including
all of Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. Tn,
leader gf the gypsics was Sugar
Stanley, Il brother of the gypsy queen
who was buried at Dayton, o.. a few
years ago with such great pomp an.
cclat.
As soon as the pair who had Cora i,
charge were out Of barm's way, the,
gave her to understand that the maj
Should be called John NlcTey and tin
woman Mary O'Coppel, In order I,
make her more fully appreciate thi
command, McVey took small clul
and beat her over the head and arm
till she was covered with welts and he
clothing soaked with blood. This mod
of punishment was inflicted SO ofte1
that the chiiI's back is now so coverc
with ugly scars that it is impossible t.
|iay tho hand down withou: GOVERNS
one or more of them. At the ieas
proyocation. and WITHOUT any cause
McVcy would beat her, and as til
child was forced TO beg along the roa
The more horrible they could make he
aOpcar the greater her success, so tlli
torture was often inflicted for thi
purpose alone.
On one occasion Mcyav kicked Cor
IN the side, Tic blow being 50 heav
That three ribs were broken and 1h
flesh badly bruised. This deyeiope
into a running sore. and. as She sale
III was SO lilo / could mt two tinne,
:. - e. 60 :..,a - r.,