Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-15


erly winds; warmer, fair weather, followed
by colder northerly winds.
ST. LOUIS, March 14.-Springfeld, Mo-,
is thrown into state of extreme excite
ment by the atrocious attack of frenzied
father upon the mistress of wayward son.
Effie Ellis, of st. Louis, is the victim, and
now lies in agony, with her eyes burned
out, and her face SCARED with burns from
vitriol. She WAS an abandoned woman,
and had ruined Fenton Cox. son of George
w. Cox, United States pension examiner
of the Springfield district, and a prominent
man politically and in the medical fra
ternity Worked up to frenzy by the
shame of debauched son. he inticed the
girl from St. Louis by means of kilograms
signed with his sons name, and early this
morning met her at the Springfield depot.
There was but one carriage there and the
driver hurried her to it with the assurance
that he was sent for that purpose. 1t
was still dark but as the door
closed she saw a man in the carriage
who seized her as she attempted to
step out She recognized him as DIR. Cox
and feared trouble, but the whip was put
to the horses and in a twinkle they We're
dashing down the street. Mortified she
cried to the man for mercy, and not to
murder her,
srn do worse than kill you, ! will dis
figure you for life," was the response, and
thereupon he struck her over the head
with a bottle.
A liquid poured down over her head,
face and shoulders, and burned and ate its
way into her flesh. causing intense agony.
Her eyes were also attacked by the
burning stuff. which proved to be
sulphuric acid, and she felt as
though she was being consumed. The
doctor is said to have struck her several
savage blows with his fist Her cries at
tracted the police and the carriage was
stopped. The girl was taken to Stiger's
hotel and physicians summoned who found
that one eye was totally destroyed and
the other will probably become sightless.
Her face, neck, shoulders and breast are
scared with burns, and she is horribly dis
figured for life. The doctor surrendered
to the sheriff but was soon released on his
recognizance. Later he entered into S., 600
bonds.
While Dr. Cox was in the sheriff's office
an excited crowd gathered around, and
lynching was freely talked Of, but better
counsel prevailed and since it was found
that the girls life is not in great danger
quiet has reigned. Eftie Ellis is woman
of the lower world and met Fenton Cox at
a Wisconsin summer resort last year She
infatuated him and at his solicitation
made her home in Springfield, Mo-, where
she attempted to run variety theater
Young Cox backed the venture and be-
came the prominent figure in a most
degraded den. DIR. Cox tried every means
10 break the infamous alliance and finally
drove the star and her troupe out of
Springfield with the aid of the police. She
came to st. Louis and very shortly there
after Fenton followed, taking a subordi-
nate position in the ST. Iouis & San Fran
cisco railroad office. He lived with Effie
on Pine street, and squandered about
s., 800 on her in short time while she
strove to become leading lady" of the
Palace theatre
Finally he returned to Springfield, but
did not mend his wild habits. Within the
last week seven kilograms and letters
signed "Fenton Cox" were delivered to
come to Springfield. One said that mat
tiers had been made all right with the
doctor and in responding to this one she
met her fate. The police admit that DR..
Cox sent the message. The girl will re-
cover. The charge against the doctor Is
mayhem.
Miss Ellis, physician however, said this
evening that one eye might be saved, and
that is bare possibility that both may re-
cover. DR.. Cox denied having had any
hand in the affair Nothing can be learned
from the carriage driver. The citizens are
very indignant over the affair, and the
high tones heard this morning from crowds
with which the streets We're packed, present
ed an ugly appearance, but matters were
more quiet this evening though the feeling
is not less intense what will devolope re-
mains to be seen. At present it is impos-
Sible to get more than the statement of
the two parties concerned. Those who can,
if there are such, refusing to corroborate
either statement
LATER-It is reported tonight that DR..
Cox admitted having whipped the woman,
but denies having used any acid or other
fluid to disfigure her.