Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-03
A STORY OF CRUELTY
That is Fortunately Almost Without
a Parallel in This Section.
A WOMAN NINETY YEARS OF AGE
Says Her Daughter and Son-in-Law Treated
Her in Shameful Way.
THE CASE is BEING INVESTIGATED

General Agent O'Brien, of the Humane
Society, yesterday investigated complaint
alleging cruelty to q 9O-year-old woman OF
Turtle Creek, but who formerly lived at
Moss Side station, on the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Ann Curry, who lived until
Wednesday of last week with her daughter
and son-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. William Barr,
about half mile from Moss Side station. is
the alleged victim of cruelty at the hands of
her daughter and the latter's husband.
during the last four years. No
intimation that the old lady was
not considerably treated ever reached the
ears of any person outside Of the house in
which she lived until last Wednesday, when
she was found wandering about Moss Side
station, She was found BY persons who
knew her and offered to assist her in getting
back to her daughters house, but this the
old woman refused, saying that she had left
there that night and would never go back.
She has several relatives in Turtle Creek,
and, as she is almost totally deaf and par
TALLY blind, she was put on board train
and sent to niece at Turtle Creek.
The persons who had thus become ac-
quainted with the situation at the house of
the Bars reported the matter to the HUI
name Society. Agent O'Brien went yester-
day to Turtle Creek, where he obtained the
old lady's story, and later made an informa-
tion against Mr.. and Mrs Barr before
Squire Hoffman, charging them with as
sault and battery.
THE OLD LADY's STORY.
The old lady told Agent O'Brien that she
was born in 1901, in wilkins township, and
was the eldest of family of eight children.
When quite young she became the mother
OF a girl baby, who is now Mrs. Barr, and
one of her alleged tormentors. Barr is her
second husband, and worked on her moth
er's farm during the lifetime of her first hus-
band, Reynolds. Soon after Reynolds
death she became Mrs. Barr, and according
to the old woman's story her troubles dated
from her daughters second marriage, as
Barr took possession of the little farm and
assumed control of its management.
As she was advancing in years, however,
she did not object, as it was a relief from a
good deal of hard work. 1t was not long,
though, she states, until her new son-in-law
told her to withdraw $500 and interest for a
long time. from the hands Of Squire Hamil-
ton, now of McKeesport, and let him invest
it in a little home. That amount, with the
money derived from sale of stock, etc..
would be sufficient, he told her, and after no
small hesitation, she agreed to turn the
money over to him, though with msgivings.
The money, she charges, was paid for a
little place, but it was bought in the name
of her son-in-law, as she subsequently be-
came aware. He has always refused, she |
says, to allow her to see the deed.
EATING WITH A CORSET STEEL.
From that time forward, the old lady |
states, her treatment was not of the best, but |
did not until about four years ago become |
brutal. About that time she says that she |
was put into an upstairs room, where |
she has lived ever since until |
last Wednesday. She was not
permitted to eat at the table |
with the family or even to go downstairs
Her food, which she states, was almost al
ways scanty, was brought up to her, but in
without knife, fork or spoon. The
only article she has had to assist her in eat
ing is curious one, and was taken charge
Of by Agent O'Brien. 1t is one-half OF a
corset steel, well worn at one end, showing
that it has had considerable use as kniie
and spoon.
She says that to prevent her from commu-
nicatiEg with anyone the windows Of her
room were nailed. No fire was provided
turing the cold weather, and to make her
still more uncomfortable her own good bed
was taken away and replaced by another
hat was of little account. She made her
escape on Wednesday night of last week,
lfter she had been beaten about the head |
Ind face by her daughter and son-in-law
The Bars are well-known people, and the
Ease is one of absorbing interest to the resi-
tents of the locality in which they live. A
rearing will be held before Justice Holtz-
nan next Thursday.