Daily Republican., 1889-06-21


Last Saturday Special Agent Stout, OF
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
TO Children, received = letter from the
secretary of the Philadelphia Society
Stating that some time ago they had
placed a boy named Walter Francis with
farmer named William ]. Dolby, liv-
ing about seven miles from Georgetown.
Recently the society was informed that
the boy was cruelty treated, deprived OF
an education, half starved aud insult.
GENTLY clothed. The letter requested
Mr.. Stout to investigate the matter, and
If he found the statement 10 be correct to
take the boy away and send him back to
Philadelphia.
On Tuesday afternoon Mr.. Stout left
this city on the 3. 90 p. m. express, and
upon reaching Georgetown and making
himself known was informed that there
was case In town that demanded his
immediate attention. Upon investigation
he found that about one week ago man
named John Hurley had beat his daugh
ter Maud, aged about 0 years, in a shock
ing manner.
He Immediately had warrant issued
and Hurley was arra'gned before Squire
Thompson on Wednesday. The squire y
office was crowded, and Mr.. Stout, In
the absence OF the society's attorney,
conducted the case on behalf OF the
child. Several witnesses testified that he
had beat the child for breaking plate,
aud that he had used piece OF board
about inches wide to inflict the pun
ishment. After all the witnesses had
test led Hurley admitted that he had
beat the girl, but said that 1t was not for
breakinga plate, but for another trifliDg,
and sometimes excusable offence AS
there were marks still on her body the
squire imposed fine of $40 and costs,
which he said he would have made
much heavier had 1t not been that Hur-
ley has large family depending on him
for support, and whom he wac afraid
would suiier II the man was committed
to jail.
AS soon as this was disposed Of Mr..
Stout turned his attention 10 the case OF
Dolby, and after long, hot drive reached
his place. He found the boy, Walter
Francis, who is about IL years OF age,
and quite small, working In field with
harrow large enough for good strong
man to handle. The child had on pair
of old blue overalls and an old shirt, and
was baretooted. When Dolby called
him up to bear witness to the way that
he had treated him, the child was badly
frightened, and trembled from head to
foot. Dolby asserted that the report
was made by some one that had a spite
against him, but the actions Of the child
convinced Mr.. Stout that something was
wrong, so he took him down the road
ehort distance away from his taskmaster
and questioned him very closely. The
child wac badly frightened, but upon MIR.
5topts promise that he Nould take him
away, told terrible story of suffering
and abuse.
Ho said that last winter, even during
the coolest weather, he was compelled TO
sleep upon the floor, with no covering
except an old piece of carpet He has
only bsen sent to school part OF one
winter, and never had enough to cat or
comfortable clothes. Sometimes Dolby,
without the slightest provocatlon, would
pick up club, and after knocking him
down, would leave him bleeding and
senseleas on the ground. At other times
lie would take him in room, and aftet
stripping him OF every vestlge OF clothes
beat him with an OK whip until the blood
would stream down to his feet. On these
occasions the poor child would drag him
self TO the pump and oil his lacerated
back as best he could with the water.
The boy was very much afraid OF be ng
left with his brutal master, as he said he
knew he would beat him to death, so alter
hearing his sad story Mr.. Stout returned
TO the house and announced his intention
Of taking him away.
At first olby refused to slow him TO
60, but finding that Mr.. Stout was de-
tormined, finally furnished him with
some clothes which belonged to his own
son. and he was taken 10 Georgetown.
Mr.. Stout however found that while all
the ntighburs were aware Of the way the
boy had been treated, 1t was very i'll
Gu t matter to get them to testify, for as
Dolby frequently get drunk and is some
what oil bully and very quarrelsome,
they were evidently afraid OF him. lie
finally found young man, who when a
boy had been with Dolby, and he frankly
stated the crueltles that lie had been sub
jected TO. Mr. stout had warrant is
sued for Dolby, but before he was arrest
ed aud brought before the squire yester
day, he saw this young man and terror
lied him TO such an extent that he did
not appear against him. There was
however one or more witnesses TO the
statement he had made to Mr.. Stout, an 4
their evidence was sufficient to convict
Dolby, who WAS fined $50 and costs, al.
though there were several who openly
said that he should have been seat to
jail.
Mr.. Stout returned last evening, bring
ing the boy with him, and he was seen
this morning at the rooms OF the society
on Market street above Sixth by repre-
sentative of the REPUBLICAN. He is
very ignorant, and is unable to even tell
how long he was in the Philadelphia
Home before he fell into the hands Of
this brute. His head is covered with
gears, showing where he has been struck
with clubs and knocked down, while HE
body is a mass OF scars and cuts, the re-
suit Of the brutal whippings with an OK
whip. BE will probably be sent to the
Children's Home for few days until he
recuperaies littls, at or which he will
be taken to Philadelphia and returned to